The No-Fear Guide to Multimedia Skills
This page accompanies a 90-minute presentation to journalists, mostly newspaper
reporters.
- Handout (PDF, 735 KB)
This is the same printed handout distributed at the workshop. Right-click (Win)
or Control-click (Mac) to download it.
Step 1: Audio
- Super-Fast Guide
to Audio Editing (PDF, 236 KB)
Includes instructions for how to download and install Audacity, a free audio-editing
program that works on Windows and Mac. You can print this.
- BBC: Advanced Radio Tips
Don't let the word "radio" deter you -- these simple lessons (written
for school kids) are for everyone who works with audio, whether or not
you ever go "on air." It's one page that will help you gather and edit
better audio. Another
BBC page teaches us a lot about handling the microphone,
including when to use a condom (I'm not kidding).
- Audio resources page
Here are links to all kinds of tutorials and guides to interviewing for audio
(and radio) presentation, how to edit, tips, best practices, etc. This
is my own page that I update at least once a year.
- Tutorial: An MP3 audio player for any Web page
Play audio directly on the page, whether it's on your blog or on your newspaper's
Web site. The player is free. All you have to do is copy and paste, and
upload your MP3 file.
- Links to gear (under "Audio")
This is a page I update often to provide links to specific equipment through
Amazon.com. Make sure you check around to get the best price. I'm not promising
you that Amazon always has the best deal.
STEP 2: Soundslides
Download the fully functional demo version free: Soundslides
Works on either Windows or Mac. You can learn to use this program
and even publish audio slideshows without paying for it, but you should appreciate
that Joe Weiss quit his day job at the Raleigh News & Observer to support
and enhance this software full-time. If you start using it regularly, Joe
deserves to get paid.
Here is all that you need to make an audio slideshow:
- The Soundslides software.
- One edited, final MP3 file.
- Your photos, already cropped and toned, saved in the JPG file format.
Copy them into a folder before you begin, and make sure the JPGs for this slideshow are the only JPGs in that folder.
View a
well-illustrated online tutorial that explains how to get started
with Soundslides (from PopPhoto.com; they also have a good interview with
Joe Weiss).
View a
video tutorial that introduces you to Soundslides (by Richard Koci
Hernandez of the San Jose Mercury News).
In this
fine example of a Soundslides slideshow, an undergraduate photojournalism
student tells us the story of a production of the Nutcracker ballet. She
produced this while on an internship at The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun. Notice
the diversity in shots, scenes, lenses, etc. Notice too the excellent
editing of the pictures to the content of the audio.
When you listen to this
unusual example from the Chicago Tribune, you may get some
new ideas about audio.
Step 3: Video
- Make Internet TV
This free site can teach you everything you need to know, in small, easy-to-digest
lessons.
- Red Hot Rails
Click the Videos link at the top of this package from the San Jose
(Calif.) Mercury News to see how innovation has infused the daily work
at one newspaper. My favorite of the four: "Take a ride on the Alameda
Corridor."
- The Skater
From The Star, in Toronto, this QuickTime video about an Olympic hopeful
is worth the wait for the download.
- News Videographer
Angela Grant is a news videographer at the San Antonio (Texas) Express-News,
and this her blog, where she offers us links to and critiques of
online news video from many sources. It's a painless way to learn a little
bit every day. Just take your daily dose of Angela's wit and wisdom!
- VideoJournalism
Cyndy Green spent 28 years as a TV news videographer. Now she teaches skills
on accessible, low-cost equipment to high school students in Stockton,
Calif. She shares numerous helpful tips and tricks for beginners in this
blog.
Video Editing
Do not start with a more complicated editing program, such as Final Cut
Pro. It's not necessary until you've learned what you're doing.
What About Flash?
As Richard Koci Hernandez said,
until you've made people cry with one of your Soundslides, you're probably
not ready to start learning Flash. (Unless you're a graphic artist -- then
you should skip Soundslides and go straight to Flash.)
When you're ready, start
here and advance to here.
Where I Like to Buy Gear
- Amazon for audio
recorders, headphones, point-and-shoot cameras
- B & H for
microphones, video equipment, professional gear
- eBay for anything
and everything (used gear is okay!!)
Contact Information
My e-mail:
My blog: Teaching Online Journalism