The three packages I selected for the fifth and final assignment of our Knight Center online journalism program are all human interest pieces, and at least two of them affected me so much, I could not have asked for better examples of the power of multimedia.
The “Touching Hearts” documentary mentioned by Jane Stevens in her tutorial is a favorite because it is a positive, profound and personal piece. I found it to be neat and effective. It’s well-edited and offers an outstanding combination of video, text and audio, to tell the inspirational stories of the visiting American medical team, treating Nicaragua’s impoverished kids with heart problems.
The first video feature of the doomed Oscar, sets the compelling tone for the rest of the excellent coverage. It is the most moving of the six individual profiles, and listening to/viewing Oscar’s weeping parents after he dies, is one of the toughest things I encountered in this course.
Having lived in neighboring Belize, specifically the tiny capital Belmopan, and seen first hand the same sort of problems mentioned by team members – numbing levels of poverty and the grim conditions under which people live - as well as the under-staffed and ill-equipped public hospital, made me relive my own memories and experiences.
I simply broke down at the end of the Oscar feature - which says a lot about the power of multimedia, specifically audio and video.
It made me recall sitting in the Belmopan facility, (very much like the one featured,) terrified and desperate, with my ailing son, who was semi-conscious and struggling with a drug-resistant staph infection, praying as well that he wouldn’t die and remembering the doctor admitting so softly, “it would be better if you just kept him at home, the hospital is no place for him…”
My son, Zubin, eventually recovered many weeks later, but the strength and kindness of ordinary Belizeans who, too often, had so little, but did so much, are indelible images, like those in Weiss’ story.
Even if my judgment may be clouded by my feelings, I found the multimedia format of the story perfect, comprehensive without being overly long, easy to navigate and well thought-out.
2.” Race in America” the New York Times
http://nytimes.com/library/national/race/magnolia/indexnav.htm
I can’t believe that this report was done in 2000! It must have been a pioneering piece of multimedia. Eight years on, it still sings, a sometimes haunting, poignant song that examines a controversial subject with much sensitivity and skill.
A lot of introductory text, but well written, some parts are way too long for today’s savvy online market and you have to move in between windows, so it gets clumsy at times.
I enjoyed it anyway for the sort of rich, dark, Deep South imagery and appeal, and so I looked at/listened to the entire story, (more than I can say for at least two other exhaustingly long multimedia stories I never completed) since I love history.
The “Two Tours of Magnolia” is a potent mix of audio, strong photos, interactive maps and graphics, woven around two strong contrasting women, their different stories, perspectives and lives.
Betty Hertzog, the last direct descendant of the Magnolia Plantation white owner cuts a rather frail figure amidst the lonely splendor of the Great House. While the burly historian/guide Carla Cowles offers opposing insights into the disturbing world of slavery, through her tour of the decaying shacks and structures hidden just aback the main quarters that are now part of the National Park Service. The cunning use of song spices up the mix, while complementary video, audio and even a discussion link for interactive feedback help to make this a memorable early media presentation.
3. “Liberians in Minnesota” at StarTribune.com
http://www.startribune.com/local/11608761.html
“Liberians in Minnesota” is the most disturbing and graphic multimedia presentation I ever looked at. This one will certainly keep me awake for weeks to come, and probably cause some terrible nightmares as well.
It is a brilliantly assembled, but heartbreaking story, with stark photo images, harrowing audio excerpts, and the vivid profiles and chilling accounts of the people who fled to Minnesota, to escape the terrible civil war in their homeland.
In the midst of all the horror, the child’s birthday party, the voices of hope, the lusty singing of the church choir, the haunted and empty eyes, I felt so physically sick at times listening to the survivors’ gripping accounts that I had to stop and return to the excerpts later.
A flawlessly composed production, “Liberians in Minnesota” is slick, fast and smart, and even offers the latest news updates, including the reprieve granted to people who were to be sent back.
Text stories are seamlessly inserted into the package, and everything works from just one easy to navigate window.
No wonder, journalism teacher and critic, Mindy McAdams raves about the interface, terming it “the most successfully integrated online journalism package” ever, and lauding it as “a model for everyone.”
I can easily see why. It is multimedia journalism at its finest, but humanity at its most inhumane.
A lot of introductory text, but well written, some parts are way too long for today’s savvy online market and you have to move in between windows, so it gets clumsy at times.
I enjoyed it anyway for the sort of rich, dark, Deep South imagery and appeal, and so I looked at/listened to the entire story, (more than I can say for at least two other exhaustingly long multimedia stories I never completed) since I love history.
The “Two Tours of Magnolia” is a potent mix of audio, strong photos, interactive maps and graphics, woven around two strong contrasting women, their different stories, perspectives and lives.
Betty Hertzog, the last direct descendant of the Magnolia Plantation white owner cuts a rather frail figure amidst the lonely splendor of the Great House. While the burly historian/guide Carla Cowles offers opposing insights into the disturbing world of slavery, through her tour of the decaying shacks and structures hidden just aback the main quarters that are now part of the National Park Service. The cunning use of song spices up the mix, while complementary video, audio and even a discussion link for interactive feedback help to make this a memorable early media presentation.
3. “Liberians in Minnesota” at StarTribune.com
http://www.startribune.com/local/11608761.html
“Liberians in Minnesota” is the most disturbing and graphic multimedia presentation I ever looked at. This one will certainly keep me awake for weeks to come, and probably cause some terrible nightmares as well.
It is a brilliantly assembled, but heartbreaking story, with stark photo images, harrowing audio excerpts, and the vivid profiles and chilling accounts of the people who fled to Minnesota, to escape the terrible civil war in their homeland.
In the midst of all the horror, the child’s birthday party, the voices of hope, the lusty singing of the church choir, the haunted and empty eyes, I felt so physically sick at times listening to the survivors’ gripping accounts that I had to stop and return to the excerpts later.
A flawlessly composed production, “Liberians in Minnesota” is slick, fast and smart, and even offers the latest news updates, including the reprieve granted to people who were to be sent back.
Text stories are seamlessly inserted into the package, and everything works from just one easy to navigate window.
No wonder, journalism teacher and critic, Mindy McAdams raves about the interface, terming it “the most successfully integrated online journalism package” ever, and lauding it as “a model for everyone.”
I can easily see why. It is multimedia journalism at its finest, but humanity at its most inhumane.
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