Nov. 12, 2008

Multimedia workshop

By Gil Thelen, FSNE executive director

The faculty lineup is set for the Dec. 13 multimedia workshop at the University of Miami School of Communication and registration is open at the flpress.com web site. The workshop builds on the content of four earlier workshops, adds new topics and goes into greater depth with three, all-day training sessions.

The all-day sessions are multimedia graphics, taught by Dave Stanton of the University of Florida; video editing for photographers, taught by Joann Mracek of the Sun Sentinel; and video reporting and editing for reporters, taught by Candace Barbot of the Miami Herald.

New offerings include Danny Sanchez of the Orlando Sentinel on mobile, twitter, widgets and other “new spaces” to try; Shelley Acoca of the Herald on writing and managing blogs; Rob Barry and Stephanie Rosenblatt of the Herald on spreadsheets and databases; Suzanne Levinson of the Herald on search engine optimization; and Bill Mitchell of The Poynter Institute on the new ethics challenges of online journalism. (Full course descriptions and faculty below.)

The Saturday workshop runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is open to the staffs of FPA and FSNE-member newspapers and web sites. The intent is to serve journalists within a two-hour drive of Miami. (Longer-distance registrants are welcome, of course.) The workshop will be replicated March 21 at USF-Tampa.

The cost is $35 per person and includes sessions, handouts and meals. Register at www.flpress.com. Click on the Events section.

Full course descriptions and faculty:

Multimedia Graphics

Dave Stanton, Professor, University of Florida

• Multimedia Graphics (for designers, graphic artists, reporters who want to learn to do multimedia graphics on the web); In the multi-platform newsroom, planning the multimedia components first saves time and pays off in execution. In this three-segment workshop, you’ll learn how to approach multimedia graphics and create a checklist of steps for putting graphic projects together. You’ll see how projects are executed and learn to use the tools (including the basics of Flash) to create content for the web and the newspaper.

Video Editing (Final Cut Pro)

Joann Mracek, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

• This all day class for photographers will give shooters and introduction to video storytelling, editing in Final Cut Pro, capturing quality audio and how to shoot like an editor. It will include hands-on editing.

Video Reporting and Editing (Basics for PC)

Candace Barbot, Video Journalist, The Miami Herald

• This is a basic video class for reporters that will train your how to compose a simple video, shoot B-roll, think about quality audio with time to actually shoot a clip in a digital camera and edit it into a small file that can go on the web. Editing in a PC program, adobe premier.

New Spaces

Danny Sanchez, Orlando Sentinel

• Mobile and twitter and live streaming from cell phones; Social networking widgets; Imbedded video. There’s all this new stuff to try. What’s worth my time and how does it work?

Writing and Managing Blogs

Shelley Acoca, The Miami Herald

• For new bloggers, and editors who oversee them. What makes a blog succeed or fail? How do I attract and grow my audience. What should be in a blog? Video? Audio? Tips and practical advice.

Online Story Planning

Paul Cheung, Graphics Editor, The Miami Herald
Niala Boodhoo, Multimedia Reporter, The Miami Herald

• What are the elements of multimedia story-telling and how do I work with my reporters to help make them happen? When should the planning begin, and how much time do different things take? What is worth our time and effort and what isn’t? How do I make smart choices with fewer resources?

Online Ethics

Bill Mitchell, The Poynter Institute

• What are the do’s and don’ts in the digital space? When do you hold off on a story? Are standards different for photography? What are the rules on using sound with an online story? Tips, tricks and danger signs.

Spreadsheets and Databases

Rob Barry, The Miami Herald
Stephanie Rosenblatt, The Miami Herald

• Learn the basics of Excel in a PC lab setting so you can help your graphics and multimedia departments develop tables for print and searchable data for the web. Learn what databases to ask for and who to give them to.

Audio Reporting and Editing

Suzette Laboy, Broadcast Editor, Associated Press

• You know good quality audio works well on the web. Some of your peers are doing podcasts, or capturing interviews that turn into narrated slideshows. What equipment works best? What editing software should I try? How to capture audio and edit it.

Social Networking as a Reporting Tool

Stephanie Horvath, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

• Facebook and MySpace are a great way to track down information and people, and a tool for crowd-sourcing. How they work and how they can work for you…on deadline.

SEO and You

Suzanne Levinson, The Miami Herald

• How search engine optimization impacts your website and how you write headlines and present stories to make sure Google and Yahoo treat you right. What helps and hurts you.

Gil Thelen is Clendinen Professor, University of South Florida and Executive Director, Florida Society of Newspaper Editors
813-787-3886