(Preface:It’s not about the technology. It’s about the story and how you tell it. Technology is just a tool.)
Kevin Koehler, contributing editor at the Wake Forest Old Gold & Black, asked a question via Twitter Tuesday evening:
kev097 Need to recommend HD camcorder for newspaper today. Probably going with hard drive. Suggestions on models, accessories, research?
KyleHansen (TheSpartanDaily.com editor at San Jose State), Kevin and I discussed ideas via Twitter and I volunteered to post the equipment The Miami Hurricane plans to purchase before next fall:
Canon HV20 a mini-DV, HD video camera (2) [should we get the HV30 instead?]
Canon BP2L14 battery (2)
Rode shotgun microphone (2)
Sennheiser Evolution G2 EW100 wireless mic combo kit (1) [looks like this this has been discontinued from B&H]
Includes EW100 G2 Combo System, EW100 G2 Lavalier System, ENG Handheld Microphone, Storage Case and Cables
Hosa MIT-156 XLR to mini connector (1)
EH 150 supra-aural closed back stereo headphones (2)
Sunpak 7001DX tripod (2)
Three-way pan/tilt head with quick release
Tiffen 43mm UV filter (2)
This year we have primarily used Flip video cameras after starting off with point-and-shoots (Matt Bunch and I). These have worked OK, but the big problem was audio. The best quality videos came when we checked out equipment from the School of Communication.
And I’ve used my HV20, which I bought during spring break, for the paper. For example, a video of the PD press conference after a student died on campus:
(This is the pretty one the assistant multimedia editor, Matt Wallach, edited. Here is the quick-and-dirty version I posted right after the press conference, sans b-roll. I miked the chief with a lav.) I love my HV20. It’s not perfect, but it does everything I need.
It’s over. One year. Fifty issues. Many, many great memories.
Monday’s issue was my last as editor in chief of The Miami Hurricane. We made great strides forward this year in print and online, and I can’t wait until our new Web site debuts in August (yes, I still need to do an update post on this).
I’d like to thank all of this year’s editors for their hard work and wish those who are graduating the best of luck.
For the continuing and new editors, keep on rockin’ the news — you guys are going to do great things. Here’s the new staff list:
Editor in Chief Matthew Bunch (moving up from sports editor and blogmaster)
Copy Desk Chief Nate Harris (promoted from copy editor)
I’m still undecided on what my role with the paper will be next year, but I plan to do something with online and multimedia. For one, Brian Schlansky and I will be working on the new site during the summer and beyond.
Now, back to working on a final project and (trying) to study for my two finals.
I learned last school year that MTV would be doing a multi-part “documentary” about my high school newspaper, The Circuit. I was skeptical of how the network that brought you “My Super Sweet 16″ would cover a journalism class/newspaper and I’ll let you be the judge of that.
The show premiered Monday night after being released Thursday for free on iTunes.
I’ve met most of the kids featured and I didn’t notice any such rancor when I visited, but obviously there’s a wee bit of tension — or more than a wee bit. Nevertheless, they’ve put out some great issues this year, so I can report [spoiler warning?] that the newsroom does not burn down.
As a “reality show,” it is of course not actual reality because people are always going to play to the camera, particularly when two of the featured staffers have been in drama club. Try to guess which ones by commenting below.
I’ll be visiting again sometime during the week of April 28 and perhaps I will do an interview with the featured players and Mrs. Weiss, the most awesome high school newspaper adviser ever.
Stay tuned for that, and the rest of the series — Mondays at 10:30 p.m. on MTV.
Side note: The Miami Hurricane was approached last year by a group that wanted to a reality show about us called “The Chronicles.” We got a good laugh from the mock-up flyer/poster, which hangs in my office, because of how hyped the concept was.
We thought it would be a pretty boring show since there was no office drama and declined.
Weigh in: Did you watch “The Paper?” What did you think?
We had an assignment a few weeks ago in my online journalism class to do a “video bio.” After two tries that involved yawn videos, I decided to try something completely different.
Sports Editor Matt Bunch joined me on April 7 to help shoot the third version. We put our heads together to get what you see in this final video. Enjoy!
In an interesting twist, I recognized in an early tweet that one my fellow Miami Herald summer 2008 interns is on staff at the Sagebrush. It’s a small world after all.
Weigh in: Does your news organization use Twitter?
Canon HV20 a mini-DV, HD video camera (2) [should we get the HV30 instead?]
This year we have primarily used Flip video cameras after starting off with point-and-shoots (Matt Bunch and I). These have worked OK, but the big problem was audio. The best quality videos came when we checked out equipment from the School of Communication.
