While David sat at his desk, I was able to shoot footage from different angles and closeness– I captured several close ups of his hands typing on the computer, a medium close up of him sitting on a computer chair, a shot behind the shoulder at the computer screen, some face up close ups, etc. Some footage includes him speaking about his daily Twitter usage, and other shots are simply of David working at his desk and on his computer. 

My goals were pretty basic, as the interview was really my first experience with video. I used personal Flip camera. I wanted to learn to efficiently edit the footage I captured, and I succeeded in only a basic understanding thus far. I definitely need to learn to keep a stable hand; looking back at my footage I should have rested my arm on something to prevent the shaking. Another problem I ran into– David always wanted to look at the camera, even when I told him not to. It will probably just take some practice to become comfortable behind the camera. 

To follow the Heavy Restaurant Group on Twitter: click here

To view the Heavy Restaurant Group website: click here

To view David’s Facebook: click here

After several assignments encouraging me to follow journalists and varying news sources, I began to understand how Twitter can be used as a useful medium for immediate news dispersal. Traditionally, metropolitan newspapers (such as the Seattle Times) have built walls to protect from vulnerability and to establish disconnect with local news. Conversely, Twitter permits citizen journalists to disperse local reports or information on a particular niche topic.

I then became familiar with tools that both Twitter and its offspring applications provide users. Hash tags direct tweets to easily search for specific topics. Twitter search allows users to search tweets for uses of specific words. Twitpic allows sharing of photos, and WeFollow allows searching to follow users of specific interests. tr.im is very usful as well, allowing people to shorten URLs to allow more space in the 140 character limit tweet space. I gained more of an understanding after an interesting in-class Skype conversation with David Cohn, founder of Spot.Us—an open source website for community funded reporting available to the public though a Creative Commons license. His professional take on Twitter gave me a new perspective on both Twitter and the direction that media news is heading: “Twitter allows a less mediated, more direct and personable connection,” said Cohn. “Plus, there are all kinds of niches. Because people are independent, they aren’t trying to cover everything… just a specific niche, covered so well that people are going to keep coming back for that information.”

His conversation led us to a question I found especially interesting: when it comes to Twitter, can community journalists take the place of professional journalism? I would say no, and Cohn agreed: “A reporter should act as a community organizer; titles aside, there is a sense that newspapers act for communities. A reporter can work with citizen journalists. They do a good job covering things because they are already there,” he said.  I am finding Twitter more and more useful as I learn to use it. I am able to network and follow anyone I want, to receive dispersal of information specific to my interests. Although some follows are more useful than others, it is easy to tune my account in way that personally benefits me. I learned to use WeFollow and search for users that tweet about my interests. Whether I am looking for a source of news, music or travel, it is all there. Programs such as these that allow personalization increase Twitter user-friendliness.

The immediate exchange of information is unlike anything I have experienced. I was quite skeptical before, but the concept and what it means for the future of journalism actually amazes me. Twitter serves as clear proof that news dispersal will never be the same—newspapers just cannot compete with the style of short, immediate information, costumed to the preferences of the user. The Twitter community has built upon the spread of information hash tag and widespread types of tweets—such as #followFriday, a common tweet on Friday similar to a shout-out, listing noteworthy people to follow. The @ symbol before a tweet allows direct communication and replies between users, and the ability to see when someone mentions you in their updates. I am excited to see where Twitter goes; my opinion has completely changed. I now use both my personal and my class account, and it has actually become addicting for me.

@paulbradshaw – blogger and journalist

@beaconhillblog– the Beacon Hill Blog 

@maddow– Rachel Maddow, MSNBC

@Reportersource– reporter information and tips 

@iamnews– an open news room for journalists and freelancers 

NEW TWEETS

Seattle Times looks at the risks of social networking and how to make twitter useful–http://tr.im/n4dz #com466

Tweeting from space – -http://tr.im/n4cj#com466

Steve O’Hear on how twitter will make money–http://tr.im/n4a9 #com466

checkout Pro Twitter Newsletter–http://www.protwitternews.com/ #com466

RT @foxnews: GIs Use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube Against Taliban. http://tinyurl.com/m4zd8b  #com466

While David sat at his desk, I was able to shoot footage from different angles and closeness– I captured several close ups of his hands typing on the computer, a medium close up of him sitting on a computer chair, a shot behind the shoulder at the computer screen, some face up close ups, etc. Some footage includes him speaking about his daily Twitter usage, and other shots are simply of David working at his desk and on his computer. 

My goals are basic, as this is my first video editing experience. I am using a personal Flip camera. I would like to learn to efficiently edit the footage I captured. I definitely need to learn to keep a stable hand; looking back at my footage I should have rested my arm on something to prevent the shaking. Another problem I ran into– David always wanted to look at the camera, even when I told him not to.

• http://twitter.com/journalistics — solving communication problems for journalists, bloggers, etc. 
• http://twitter.com/nytimes– The New York Times news feed 
• http://twitter.com/seattletimes– The Seattle Times twitter news feed 
• http://twitter.com/JoeDuck– travel blogger 
• http://twitter.com/MrTweet– personalized recommendations for twitter

Five previous updates: 

• Twitter-based competition on TV? http://tr.im/mnGG#com466
• Iran: cuts access to Facebook http://tr.im/mnHl #com466
• APME survey: Newspaper cutbacks http://tr.im/mnIL#com466
• Read “Why David Simon Is Wrong About Blogs and Local Reporting” http://tr.im/mnJx #com466
• Newspapers have ‘essential strengths’– http://tr.im/mnJW#com466

Pogues video, in a nut shell, is similar to a TV-quality story. As Briggs notes, the video is shot in several locations, includes other performers, includes music and credits, and includes title transitions. Mossberg, on the other hand, shoots his video in a much more informal, personal manner with his webcam. Besides a lead-in and lead-out with music and credits, there is little to no editing. 

Mossberg’s style actually fits better with the direction journalism is taking. It is real and relatable, as more commonly citizens are becoming journalists with cell phones and youtube. It is less expensive and can be dispersed immediately, and that is where news seems to be going.

On the other hand, I can definitely understand how the video became viral. It is structured in a way that surprises viewers and provokes emotion and excitement. Still, it just doesn’t have news value. There are no facts with the exception of her name, age and mention of her cat. I viewed it as simply a touching moment.

Another good example comes from CNN.com as well, called Baptism in Jordan River. It is exciting from the beginning, capturing the views attention with a crying baby submerged in the river. The video shows real footage of the baptism. The narration is clear and interesting as the narrator actually walks along the river for part of the story telling.

The final example I found is a little bit different than the first two, called Party with the Obamas. In the video story, celebrities are about to join the President for a reception at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. I enjoyed the video because it has no narration, and instead tells the story with a few interviews, video and snap shots. 

This particular infographic helps the viewer to understand potion control. The graphic helps one to picture the actual portion sizes, and uses text for more specific and accurate portion sizes. 

The final infographic I came across is a little different than the first two. It basically only uses text to describe where people’s tax dollars go. It caught my eye because it uses graphics and words are on top of toilet paper… It is an interesting usage of a flow chart.