In a continuation of 12 Useful online tools for journalists, here are 12 more tools for getting the job done.


Gcast
Computer-free podcasting

Who needs thousand of dollars in equipment (okay maybe hundreds) to record a podcast, when Gcast lets anyone record a podcast by calling a toll-free number on their phone? The recording isn't exactly broadcast quality, but it is useful for recording in the field.


Listen and Write
Improve note-taking

In the last post, Learn2Type was suggested as a means of improving typing skills. Well once you have the keyboard mastered, it's time to visit Learn and Write and practice recording skills while listening to actual news stories.


wikirage
Find out what's going on

Wikirage lists the pages in Wikipedia that are receiving the most edits per unique editor over various periods of time, according to the site. This means journalists can find out what's popular (or controversial) on the web and the world without leaving our cubicles.


Urban Dictionary
Speak the lingo

Language changes all the time and if you're covering teens and preteens, or just very cool adults, Urban Dictionary will help in translating those unheard of words. The dictionary was especially useful in helping a former editor understand the word homothug and whether it should be used in print.


Tablefy
Compare data

Tech savvy journalists love a good Excel spreadsheet, but if more of us use Tablefly, a useful tool for comparing one or more things to each other, then Excel may go the way of the dinosaur.


Alerts.com
Manage appointments

The free service makes it easy to juggle multiple appointments with sources, editors or whomever, by sending alerts directly to you by email, phone or text. The site can also send traffic and weather alerts, baseball scores and gas prices, or updates about your favorite websites.


Hey!Spread
Video distributor

Journalism is all about getting as many eyes on a story as possible. Hey!Spread makes it easier with their tool for distributing video to almost 20 different video hosts, including YouTube, Google Video and DailyMotion. P.S. It's not free.


SimplyNoise
Block out distractions

Newsrooms can be a noisy, raucous affair that makes it difficult to concentrate when writing a story. The white noise generator from SimplyNoise will block out your surroundings with just a slide of a little orb.


FindSounds
Find sounds (yes, it's that simple)

Producers, especially those in radio and multimedia, will appreciate this online search tool for finding all the booms, clicks, bangs and dings that make audio projects sing.


eufeeds
Stay in touch with the world

Eufeeds is a one-stop shop for finding out what newspapers around the world are reporting. Its front page can be used for quick scanning and reference or click one of the almost 30 countries to read several of its newspapers at once.


The Alphabetizer
Sort your lists

The aptly named Alphabetizer takes any lists and sorts in alphabetically in just a few seconds.


Time and Date
Distance calculator

Journalists, present company included, love to say this place is about X miles from this place. Instead of pulling out a ruler and map, use Time and Date's distance calculator to get a more accurate number. The calculator came in handy in this post when determining the distance between England and Israel.


And one bonus tool:

Tell Zell
Resignation form creator

For our colleagues at Tribune Co. properties, including the Los Angeles Times, this handy form will let you craft your resignation letter with just a few drop down menus. This would be hilarious if the situation wasn't so dire.

Labels: audio, video

The Brooklyn Museum is as traditional a museum as museums go (though one could argue that the work of artist Takashi Murakami currently on display is far from traditional). But much like journalism, another age-old institution, this museum is embracing the mobile phone and other new technology to heighten the experience of its visitors.

In the past one could meander haplessly through the halls, gawking at art and artifacts with no more understanding of each work than what was written on a tiny placard. Now, some of those placards have a cell phone icon and a number to dial that provides even more information about a particular exhibit.


At the Brooklyn Museum, visitors can call (718) 352-9589 and enter the item number displayed near the artwork (e.g. 12 corresponds to the intricate work "Flower Matango") and listen to either the artist (in this case Murakami) or a curator discuss the piece. The best part is museum guests are allowed to leave comments on the phone system as they navigate through its halls.

It is true that other museums have special listening devices, but most can only be used in that particular location. Making the audio available by phone means that any of the billions of cell phone users worldwide can access the additional information. The theory is similar to creating a multimedia project that only works in Firefox. Sure, a large percentage of users can access the content, but those that can't aren't exactly willing to download a new browser just to view the one site.


Other multimedia features of the museum include video incorporated into the exhibits through the use of high definition televisions and computers strategically placed around the museum for visitors to leave comments. At last check, one computer had 474 comments, an impressive number for any institution, whether it be a museum or online news site.

Labels: audio, mobile

Maps, video and geotagging are all coming together at Seero, a new video mapping site that aggregates citizen journalist-created video on a Google Map. Users can submit their geotagged video for archiving or broadcast it live. Casual visitors can browse video from all over the world, including footage of the Wailuku River in Hawaii and the Taj Mahal in India. The site is a little sparse right now, but shows great promise.

GPSed is also making use of geotagging by facilitating a place where users can upload photos onto a Google Map that corresponds to the exact location it was taken. A series of photos creates a mapped chronological line of the course of travel that others can later follow. Use of the site requires a GPS-equipped mobile device such as a Blackberry or Windows Mobile smartphone.


If you haven't had enough of geotagging, MetaCarta takes stories from news sources like Reuters and the Associated Press and plots them on an interactive Google Map. Clicking a link in the map markers directs users to a full version of the story with a small inset map of locations mentioned in the story. MetaCarta also suggests stories within the same region or of similar interest. Stories can be searched for by moving the map around or entering a specific location or keyword.

Geotagging stories is a growing trend in journalism, though honestly I have yet to completely wrap my head around the process. Click here for a primer on geotagging and be sure to read this thought-provoking editorial by Martin Stabe that questions the ethics of the process.

Away from the visuals and onto the audio. MyVox's API makes it less complicated for developers to integrate user-generated audio onto a map. Its Voice Map application lets users create a map and then provides a call-in number to add voice recordings to each marker(click here for a demonstration).

Lastly, the Static Map Wizard allows for creation of a Google Map without the need for messy JavaScript. Customizing the map only takes a few steps and the result is a map that can be embedded into any web site with just an URL and an <img> tag. A Google Map API key is required to embed the map and be obtained here.


This post is the third in a five-part series on maps. Previously: Exploring the Earth, Tracking down criminals with crime maps

Labels: audio, maps

At its inception, I admittedly was not a fan of the podcast (more specifically, the once common practice of posting a couple of mp3s online and calling it a multimedia page). But now that multimedia journalism is diversifying, it's time to take those podcasts to the next level.


An estimated 18.5 million people downloaded a podcast in 2007 and that number will jump 70 percent in 2008, according to a February eMarketer study. That's a lot of potential listeners. For the uninitiated, Podcasting News has a great primer on what a podcast is and how it works. Newbies who don't have access to podcasting equipment such as a microphone, headphones and software can purchase a podcasting kit from Urban Outfitters for $120 or from zZounds for $99.95.

Recording a podcast, doesn't have to mean sitting in front of a computer or in a recording studio. Sites like BlogTalkRadio, Gabcast and Yodio make it simple to record podcasts from the field using a cell phone. This is ideal for conversing with subjects who can't make it to the newsroom or podcasting from a live location such as a press conference or convention.

It's also easy to record interviews or conversations over the phone for inclusion in the podcast. You can use a gadget that will record landline phone calls or, if you are a Skype user, use Call Graph to record and save calls as mp3s. The free software indexes calls in a user-friendly way that makes tracking them down later a breeze.

Podcasters with an existing listener base will appreciate the services of K7. The site lets users call in and leave voice messages which can then be included in future podcasts. It's a unique way for integrating interactivity in what is often a one-way medium.

Odiogo is perfect for those who don't want to bother recording audio or just want a new way to present content on the web. The online service will extract text from an existing RSS feed and convert it to audio, thus making it perfect for audio-inclined visitors.

Finally, if you're looking to increase listenership for your podcast, consider publishing it on iTunes or including it in any of a number of online podcast directories, including Podcast Alley and Podcast.net.

Labels: audio

The handheld video camera is the cornerstone of any multimedia journalist's arsenal and the Sanyo VPC-HD700 is bringing high-definition recording to the party. The small and sleek camera records HD video and doubles as a high-powered still camera. It comes with a remote control, has in-camera editing abilities and saves files to SDHC Memory cards. My one qualm is that it doesn't have a dedicated audio recording feature, but with a little ingenuity and conversion, that can be resolved. The HD700 is available for $350 at Amazon.

For high-definition video without the HD cost check out the Aiptek A-HD 720P High-Definition camcorder, which retails at Amazon for $134.99. The viewfinder is small and the zoom is not much help compared to other handhelds, but its great for newsrooms on a budget (which is to say, almost everyone).


The Tony Hawk HelmetCam is a tiny camera that can be strapped on to any helmet and is great for capturing elusive action shots (I wish I had one for a project on downhill skateboarding). The compact camera is great for recording from the viewpoint of a staffer and records 640 x 480 video in a range of formats. The HelmetCam is available from Amazon for $30.


With all the useful and cool gadgets available, it may be easy to run out of room in your proverbial backpack. There is, however, always room for the ZRAD Super Mini SPY Cam. The tiny camcorder is about the size of a pack of gum and record up to two hours worth of video on a single charge and can store up to 33 hours of video. The video output is not broadcast quality and is barely web quality, but is useful for capturing spot news on the fly when a larger camera is impractical. The SPY Cam is available from Spy Gadgets for $129 (please refrain from actual spying).





If you size is not an issue and pitch perfect, broadcast quality is what you're looking for, look no further than the M-Audio MicroTrack II. The battery operated audio recorder has two-channel WAV and MP3 recording and playback and stores to Compact Flash cards. It records up to four to five hours on a single charge and connects with a USB cable for quick uploading to the web. The recorder also has input jacks for professional and consumer microphones and headphones. The MicroTrack II is available for $300-$500, depending on where it is purchased.





Recording phone calls with sources can be a pain (but not as much as the transcription), but the Teleport 2.0 makes it a little easier. The gadget connects your telephone to your PC's USB port, and records incoming and outgoing calls. It also keeps a log of calls made and is compatible with any telephone set. The Teleport 2.0 is available for around $70. A friendly reminder from 10,000 words: remember to check state laws before recording phone calls.

Labels: audio, video

Do you know what a shamisen sounds like? Do you know what it is?

If you don't, this simple multimedia project will help you become more familiar with the banjo-like Japanese instrument. After playing a couple of notes, I'm not sure if I'm ready to join a Japanese band, but I am more enlightened about traditional music. Have a musical instrument, singer or band that would make an amazing multimedia project? Get it, them, him or her into a recording booth and upload the audio files onto the web or in a Flash project. Create a replica of the instrument or take photos of the musician to make the project come alive.


Need more inspiration?
Now Play It has video tutorials that teach users how to play guitar chords from their favorite songs. The site includes from an impressive lineup of artists like Radiohead, Coldplay and KT Tunstall (who actually does the teaching herself.) The chords are shown in the foreground while the music video plays. You'll be rocking out in no time.

Buckle's virtual drum set is a killer way of learning how all the different sounds come together. The interactive project shows how basic drumbeats are constructed and allows the user to make a few beats of their own with a few clicks of the keyboard.

When you're ready to put it all together, you must check out this fun animated band. Each individual band member can be selected to make a catchy samba tune. The site is in Portuguese, but a língua da música é universal.

Labels: audio, flash

I never was a big fan of podcasts. It seems like a lot of journalists got a hold of the buzzword and ran with it, with mixed success. Now that Yahoo is closing the doors of its podcasting site, I wonder if this will have a domino effect in multimedia journalism.

Yet podcasts still reign on many news sites and internet users still download them in droves. If you still haven't jumped on the bandwagon, sites like Hipcast, which calls podcasting "all the rage," have you covered. Hipcast allows anyone to create podcasts (as well as other content) using their computer or telephone. The site is not free, but does offer a 7 day trial.


On the flip side, Podlinez lets podcast fans listen to their favorites on the telephone. Simply enter the podcast feed url and Podlinez produces a number to call and listen. The site already has a existing cache of podcasts/phone numbers, but any podcast can be assigned a phone number in minutes.

TalkShoe reimagines the one way conversation of a podcast and turns into a talk show that anyone can join. Site visitors, other podcasters or sources can join in on the podcast via phone or computer while it is being recorded. The conversation can then be store and played for other listeners.

If you're looking to turn your podcast into a readable document, CastingWords offers podcast transcription for a small fee. Impressively, the service is done by actual humans so you don't receive an illegible mess. The transcripts can be incorporated into the text areas of a site and are especially useful to those who cannot listen to audio, including users who are reading the site at work.

Labels: audio

By now most online news websites allow readers to leave comments on stories, commentary, etc. This interaction allows site visitors to have an interactive discussion with others who are passionate about the story and makes most commenters feel like their voice is being heard. The problem is their voices aren't literally being heard.


However, using a phone service that users can call and speak their mind brings a new dynamic to online interaction. The audio files can be used for podcasts, interactive galleries, you name it. Think of it as a radio call in show that doesn't have to be manned. Sites like Ring Central and Access Direct make it easy for anyone to setup an 800 number that can be made public. A phone services is also a great way to get feedback from computer phobes or those who may not have immediate access to the internet. Apple recently used the technology get feedback from iPhone users.

WordPress users also have the option of installing an Evoca widget that lets site visitors use their computer mic rather than a telephone to leave comments. The audio files are stored on Evoca's servers and can be linked to with a bit of HTML code.

Labels: audio

Recording audio with a handheld recorder can be troublesome, especially if you are using the cheap inexpensive kind that are common in most newsrooms. There are ways to improve the quality so that you (or the person who will edit the audio) don't spend hours listening to a hissy, jumbled audio track.

Record in a quiet space

It is tempting to pull out the recorder and just push the red button, but take a minute to listen to the environment. Are there other people talking around you? Can you hear cars rumbling or the sound of small animals? Find a room that is relatively quiet and record there. If there is no room available (i.e. in an outdoor area) find a wall or barrier that blocks out the noise.

Stop talking

Most people are compelled to audibly agree with the subject, adding yeahs, rights and mm-hms that can take away from what the subject is saying. Practice non-verbal cues like nodding your head or smiling or frowning (when necessary).

Don't fumble

Nothing can ruin good audio like fumbling with the recording device, especially with a handheld recorder. This creates an intense crackling sound that makes that portion of the audio unusable. Instead, place the recorder on a table, pointed toward the subject or, if a flat surface is not readily available, use a microphone.

Use a windscreen

Wind is the biggest enemy of audio recording. To cut down on its effects, use a microphone with a windscreen (the usually black foam thing on top). If you find yourself windscreen-less, turn your body away from the direction of the wind or--if you have one--place a sock or a similar apparatus on top.

Use the program that suits you best

Everyone has an audio editing program that works best for them. Many use ProTools while others use Audacity. I find ProTools to be too cumbersome for the average user and Audacity, while free, is not very user-friendly. I highly suggest using Adobe Audition which has a simple interface that enables quick splicing and has more advanced features for audio pros (try it free for 30 days here).

What tips do you have for recording good audio?

Labels: audio

So your boss wants you to record a podcast or get on camera and you've got the shakes? No problem. These tips culled from personal experience and the teachings of media trainer/stand-up comic Marilyn Pittman should give you an added boost of confidence.

• Stand up
  It's amazing how much a person sounds if they are standing up rather than sitting when they talk. Sitting is like speaking from a comfort zone. Standing gives your voice more authority and personality.
  
  
• Talk to someone
  Picture a person that you are reading to: a listener, your grandmother. Pretend you are reading it to the person for the very first time. Your voice will carry the natural intonations of a conversation rather than a script.
  
  
• Mark it up
  Instead of just reading from the script, take a few minutes to indicate where you will place emphasis, pause or stop. Visual cues will help you from turning the page into a run-on sentence.
  
  
• Breathe
  The biggest mistake most speakers make is rushing through the copy. Exhale before you begin. Relish each word as you read it. Take breaths in between sentences. Don't worry, you'll be fine.

Labels: audio