Last week, in class, we watched a webinar from the Poynter institute about creating multimedia pieces using no narration, just natural sound and quotes to tell a story. This is what we've been working on all semester, and got to put in to practice for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service covering non-profit organizations in Milwaukee.
Now, it's nothing new to experience something with no narration - that's how we live our lives, with stories constantly telling themselves around us. It's our job to pay attention to our surroundings and take them in. Watching the webinar solidified the "need" rating for a good voice recorder and camera on my journalistic wish list.
Thinking about stories in terms of natural sound and visuals heightens my awareness of the details of the sound and sights that happen around me on a daily basis. When I was home for Easter weekend, some friends and I attended Middle of the Map Fest, a music festival in Kansas City, Mo. in its second year. As we stood in line Saturday night (and a long, long line, I might add), so much was happening around us. People walking through the streets, laughing with friends, singing, discussing the festival; the bands they had already seen and the ones they were excited to stand in line to see. This particular festival and the particular neighborhood where it was located tend to attract a very eclectic crowd of people. And all I have to commemorate the night are my friend's pictures on Facebook, a free t-shirt and my admission wristband.
Now, it's nothing new to experience something with no narration - that's how we live our lives, with stories constantly telling themselves around us. It's our job to pay attention to our surroundings and take them in. Watching the webinar solidified the "need" rating for a good voice recorder and camera on my journalistic wish list.
Thinking about stories in terms of natural sound and visuals heightens my awareness of the details of the sound and sights that happen around me on a daily basis. When I was home for Easter weekend, some friends and I attended Middle of the Map Fest, a music festival in Kansas City, Mo. in its second year. As we stood in line Saturday night (and a long, long line, I might add), so much was happening around us. People walking through the streets, laughing with friends, singing, discussing the festival; the bands they had already seen and the ones they were excited to stand in line to see. This particular festival and the particular neighborhood where it was located tend to attract a very eclectic crowd of people. And all I have to commemorate the night are my friend's pictures on Facebook, a free t-shirt and my admission wristband.
As much as we cherish memories, I believe that if I were to act like a journalist on a daily basis, the memories I document could be even more vibrant and present in my mind. When I look back at those photos, I can't help but lament all the great stories from that night that I've already forgotten, despite all the fun I had at the show (which is an excellent pun, since the band playing is called fun.). With some help from the benevolent journalism fairies (Mom, I know you read my blog), hopefully, I'll be able to capture those memories in the future.