Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
JESSICA LAFOREST FIINAL PROJECT
LINK TO HOMEPAGE
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~jlaforest/final320project/usgelections.html
Link To Blog
http://usgelections.blogspot.com/
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~jlaforest/final320project/usgelections.html
Link To Blog
http://usgelections.blogspot.com/
Final project due time
It has come to my attention that there was some confusion about the time the final project is due today.
The initial extention was to 4 p.m., but I will extend that to 5 p.m., as some students were operating under that assumption.
I look forward to seeing your work.
The initial extention was to 4 p.m., but I will extend that to 5 p.m., as some students were operating under that assumption.
I look forward to seeing your work.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Student collapses at Roth Regatta, pronounced dead at Stony Brook Hospital.
The sounds of a cotton candy machine and the Stony Brook Pep Band are drowned out by the cheers of hundreds of students at the Roth Pond Regatta -- the most notable of Stony Brook University’s spring semester festivals, students, alumni, clubs and organizations on campus make boats out of cardboard and duct tape and attempt to sail them across the manmade pond in the center of the Roth Quad dormitories.
This year though, the day would not be remembered for the gun and glee had by the participants and spectators.
Stephen Stakey, a 19-year-old freshman, collapsed around 1:45 pm after helping his team, the Stony Brook Marching Band, launch their boat.
Stony Brook’s Volunteer Ambulance Corps was immediate in their response to Stakey and subsequently rushed him to the University hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
“Steven fell directly in front of the SBVAC team. He fell directly where the ambulance was. So the response was instantaneous,” Jeffrey Barnett, assistant dean of students, told a reporter from the Stony Brook Independent.
Facebook, the social networking website, has been flooded with responses to Stakey’s death. A group titled “R.I.P. Stephen Stakey 5/2/08” was up within 12 hours of his death. The group is currently up to 805 members, who use discussion boards to pass around information about his life, death and funeral arrangements.
Postings on his personal page, from friends started at 9:40 pm the night of the tragedy, May 2. Geoffrey Bansen wrote on Stakey’s “wall,” the posting area, “Stakey we all love you. God bless.”
Lately, the postings on the group page, have become skeptical of the procedures taken by the ambulance corps and the hospital. “The autopsy is still pending?” posted Ivy Liu. “I’m an emt-b…does anyone know why Steven was not resuscitated on scene? I think he should have been,” posted David Francis.
Some students did not even know Stakey, but leave their condolences on the group page. “I have never met him. But rest in peace Stephen,” posted Ken Udoji. “I have never met Stephen, but from the messages and videos he seemed like an amazing, bright young man. It makes you realize how life is so unpredictable and you should live life to its fullest. I give my deep condolences and prayer to his family and friends. May he rest in peace,” posted Jennifer Angley.
Stephen gave an on camera interview to Rohma Abbas, editor-in-chief of the Stony Brook Independent, approximately two hours before his death. “He looked extremely healthy and full of life,” Abbas said, adding, “I was shocked when I found out he had died two hours later. I got chills.”
Stakey was a computer science major from Laurel, NY. He lived on campus and was an active member of the marching band, or as he called himself, a “lavagator”.
The university has not released information about Stakey, including the cause of death. His family could not be reached for comment.
Monday, May 12, 2008
Photoshop Layering Exercise
Jenna Bush Has Wedding at Crawford RanchPresident Bush’s daughter Jenna Welch Bush married Henry Chase Hager, a graduate student and son of a former Virginia lieutenant governor, on Saturday.
Photos After the Deadly Quake
Over 13,000 Dead
Interactive Map of Sichuan Province-the site of the deadly disaster
Wednesday - virtual office hours
I will not be coming to campus on Wednesday, but I will make myself available from 7-9 p.m. or longer, if necessary, for anyone who is looking for some extra help.
If you need a hand, call my cell - 201-988-2721 - or email me at dliss.nj@gmail.com, and we can arrange how I can help you. You could certainly send me any files you're having trouble with, and I have arranged a WebEx meeting in which we can speak over the phone and I can directly observe your computer desktop.
If you need a hand, call my cell - 201-988-2721 - or email me at dliss.nj@gmail.com, and we can arrange how I can help you. You could certainly send me any files you're having trouble with, and I have arranged a WebEx meeting in which we can speak over the phone and I can directly observe your computer desktop.
Extra credit opportunity
I am offering an opportunity to earn up to 1/2 of a letter grade boost for your final grade by doing some extra blogging for your final project.
You are already doing aggregation and interactivity in your final project blogs. For extra credit, you need to go beyond that with an entry or series of entries that takes your project in a some new direction - either deeper or farther afield.
Turn-in method: Make it part of your homepage. Indicate in your class blog entry in which you turn in your link for your final project a specific link to the extra credit portion of your blog. It is do with your final projects on Friday, May 16, at 4 p.m.
Suggestions:
You are already doing aggregation and interactivity in your final project blogs. For extra credit, you need to go beyond that with an entry or series of entries that takes your project in a some new direction - either deeper or farther afield.
Turn-in method: Make it part of your homepage. Indicate in your class blog entry in which you turn in your link for your final project a specific link to the extra credit portion of your blog. It is do with your final projects on Friday, May 16, at 4 p.m.
Suggestions:
- A sidebar
- A diary-form "the making of this project," including perhaps the directions you would have liked to go but didn't, what you'd like to do next with this project, difficulties you had along the way, etc.
- Run some thoughts by me tonight if you like.
Search Engine Optimization slide show
John Shehada, our guest speaker on May 5, has made his slide show available in PDF format.
You can grab it on the Journalism drive in our class folder - it's called Search Engine Optimization 101.
You can grab it on the Journalism drive in our class folder - it's called Search Engine Optimization 101.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
HTML work: Common pitfalls and proper practice
Here are some common mistakes I saw when the class was working on their HTML exercises. I will add to this file as I think of more things.
- Not resizing images before using them. Remember to open photos in photoshop and use the crop tool, setting your crop size to the file size indicated in the image slot you're working with in the template. Remember also to set your Photoshop rulers and grid preferences to pixels.
- Misusing relative links. I recommend using absolute URLs for all image calls and page links. They are safer, and it's easier to diagnose problems. If you put your images (as you should) in your final project's image directory, your image call should look like this:
Some tips for using the final project templates
Here are a few things to keep in mind if you have any trouble when setting up your final project homepage.
- First step, just like it was for our html exercises, is to copy the folder from our class folder to your mysbfiles public_html folder and renaming it something appropriate to your final project.
- Do some work on the hompeage before next Monday's class, and get some help from me if you need it.
- If you do something to blow out the page and you don't know what it was, here are some options: a) apple-Z your way back, step by step, saving and refreshing your browser to see if you found the problem step you took (combine with option c below, so you can save copy, links you liked); b) note that there are html comments that divide the index page into segments ("begin x section," etc.) - you can grab a clean copy of the template and sub it in for a section you're having problems with, thereby not losing other parts of the page that are working; c) don't be afraid to start over with a clean copy of the template - save-as the page that isn't working, preserving any copy or links you liked, and pasting them into the clean template carefully.
Rules for equipment check-out
I've been asked to post the following message from Prof. Rick Ricioppo regarding procedures and rules for checking out equipment from the newsroom.
Now that the end of the semester is here and final projects are due, camera usage and editing time are at their peak. There have been some issues that have come up that need clarification.
- You must get permission from the instructor or from Paul to take any gear out. Gear must be back and available for classes. Class times are posted.
- If you require a camera during non-business hours (nights or weekends), you must get prior permission from Marcy McGinnis or Rick Ricioppo. No Exceptions. Permission will be granted on a case by case basis, and requires a 24 hour advanced notice. No equipment will be loaned out past noon on Friday without prior approval.
- Do not ask Paul or anyone else to watch your equipment for you.
- Do not enter the equipment room without permission.
- Do not prop open any doors at any time. Do not leave or enter the news room from the lower level or from the door that leads directly outside. Use the main doors only.
- Carefully check in and out gear. Do not rush the process. Make sure you have what you say you have and return what you say you are returning.
-Charge batteries that need charging. Turn off the mic and receiver.
Now that the end of the semester is here and final projects are due, camera usage and editing time are at their peak. There have been some issues that have come up that need clarification.
- You must get permission from the instructor or from Paul to take any gear out. Gear must be back and available for classes. Class times are posted.
- If you require a camera during non-business hours (nights or weekends), you must get prior permission from Marcy McGinnis or Rick Ricioppo. No Exceptions. Permission will be granted on a case by case basis, and requires a 24 hour advanced notice. No equipment will be loaned out past noon on Friday without prior approval.
- Do not ask Paul or anyone else to watch your equipment for you.
- Do not enter the equipment room without permission.
- Do not prop open any doors at any time. Do not leave or enter the news room from the lower level or from the door that leads directly outside. Use the main doors only.
- Carefully check in and out gear. Do not rush the process. Make sure you have what you say you have and return what you say you are returning.
-Charge batteries that need charging. Turn off the mic and receiver.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
New FCP export settings
I have found an improved set of settings that you should use going forward. Also available online here
They are explained in a document called "best_FCP_settings.doc" in our class folder.
Look at the top video here for an example.
They are explained in a document called "best_FCP_settings.doc" in our class folder.
Look at the top video here for an example.
Notes after seeing Video project 1
After looking at and grading your first video assignments, I have some thoughts about how to make video assignment No. 2 and your Final Project video work better.
- Read the assignments. I continue to be amazed at how many people are missing things that are in the assignments.
- Lower thirds - Watch your backgrounds. If the default while lettering is getting lost on a light background in your video, then you should look at using a "background" for your text. Backgrounds are inside the lower third "controls" tab. Experiment with them, and seek help if you need it.
- Narrative: Remember, your next videos will be evaluated more rigorously for content and reporting than your first one was. Your video should tell a story - not necessarily like the classic broadcast-style one with a "stand-up." It can be more impressionistic than that (especially for the final project, where you'll have other supporting elements), but it still needs to clearly tell a story. Yo should use the stand-up style if your topic would benefit from it.
- Plan ahead, shoot more than you'll need and deal with problems early. Some of you had some major audio issues that you were scrambling to fix at the last minute, finding yourselves unable to come up with new video or another work-around. Some of you were having content issues of the same nature, where no work-arounds were possible because it was too late. If you have plenty of footage, it makes a plan B much more possible if you have problems approaching deadline.
- Get names and other lower-third info clear, and if possible, get contact info written down for each video subject in case you need to go back and get something else. That's some basic reporting.
- Wide shots should be used sparingly. Remember, your audience is watching on a pretty small screen.
- Don't suffer in silence. Many of you have still not turned in your assignments and at the same time have not been in touch with me to discuss any difficulties you are having. I am eager to help, but I have to know BEFORE the due date that there are problems.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Adrian's Video Project 1
Ironically I titled it adrianfinalwithsound. Its in the folder for your class.
Video assignment 2 - due-date change
Please note that Video assignment 2 is now due at the end of class May 7 so you may devote your full attention to our guest speaker on May 5, John Shehada, who will be talking about search engine optimization.
Final project templates
I have set up three final project templates. You may choose any of these, use them as they are or modify them carefully and within reason.
If you feel they don't meet your needs, you need to meet with me during one of the work sessions to discuss possible alternatives, which include setting up a brand new blog and working from a blog format.
The templates are available to grab in the class folder on the Journlism server in a folder called "final project templates"
If you feel they don't meet your needs, you need to meet with me during one of the work sessions to discuss possible alternatives, which include setting up a brand new blog and working from a blog format.
The templates are available to grab in the class folder on the Journlism server in a folder called "final project templates"
Previous Assignments
web #2
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~ebolte/aprilhtml/aprilhtml.html
____________________ Photoshop #2
I got this picture off of the official Hillary Clinton Website
______________________________________
Photoshop #1
This Champion Sandplum Ridge Pot of Gold named Pogo from Azle Texas shows off after the show at the 132nd Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY WILLIAM PERLMAN/THE STAR-LEDGER
Miley Cyrus on stage performs during her concert at Prudential Center, Newark. 12/29/07 Mia Song/THE STAR-LEDGER
What I did: Despeckle, Noise, Sharpen
http://erickabjrn320.blogspot.com/search/label/Web%20Critique <---- web critique here (I don't want to lengthen down the entire blog w/ it)
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~ebolte/aprilhtml/aprilhtml.html
____________________ Photoshop #2
I got this picture off of the official Hillary Clinton Website The article that this would go well with is:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NjA5OTJmZDZhM2ViMGNmNjE2MTVlMzkyNTE3NTU5Njg=
This would go well with this article: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/ny-usgop205584369feb20,0,770400.story
Photoshop #1
This Champion Sandplum Ridge Pot of Gold named Pogo from Azle Texas shows off after the show at the 132nd Westminster Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in Manhattan, NY WILLIAM PERLMAN/THE STAR-LEDGER
What I did: curve to lighten, Despeckle, and then I cropped it. After cropping I then sharpened it.
____________________________________________________
Miley Cyrus on stage performs during her concert at Prudential Center, Newark. 12/29/07 Mia Song/THE STAR-LEDGER
What I did: Despeckle, Noise, Sharpen
______________________________
Web Critique
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Photoshop Exercise 1!
Bobby Bandiera sings Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" at the Count Basie Theatre. At the Count Basie Theatre a Review of "Hope Concert III, " benefit featuring Jon Bon Jovi, Southside Johnny, Gary U.S. Bonds, Bobby Bandiera, Mark Pender, Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg, Tim McLoone & the Shirleys. Photo by ARISTIDE ECONOMOPOULOS/THE STAR-LEDGERThis photo is an all-encompassing photo that basically captures Bandiera in a seeming act of adulation to his audience. For this photo, I cropped it down to 220 px x 332 px. After cropping, I used curves for color adjustments and lastly, sharpen for a clearer image.
The 332 px x 220 px crop of this is purely selfish. I simply wanted to stare at his gorgeous electric guitar that probably cost a fortune. To get this, after cropping it down to desired size, I did auto color first to see how it would adjust it and I like how it did it. After doing that, I adjusted color and sharpened. Voila!
--------------------------------
Three Seasons Chamber Music organizers, Joel Suben, left, and Muriel Leyner, are posed at the Community Church of Hoboken where the concert is being held. Mia Song/THE STAR LEDGER
This photo I cropped to 135 x 101 px. Since the photo is so small, I wanted to keep it simple and limited my actions to a slight adjustment to the color with curves and sharpening it.
This photo is also super small but it has a different focus. I wanted to concentrate on the beautiful artwork inside the church, the stained glass windows and the two painting-that are partially cut off on both upper extreme corners. I first cropped the image to 280 px x 100 px. I pressed auto color first just to see how it would change the picture. I love how it brightened up my main focus, the glass windows. To reduce yellowness, I used curves again and sharpened it and there goes a beautiful masterpiece.
Please note recommended Final Cut Pro settings
I have posted recommended Final Cut Pro export settings for best results on YouTube. Here's a link to the blog entry.
I have also added a link to these settings from the video assignments blog entry and the final project blog entry.
I have also added a link to these settings from the video assignments blog entry and the final project blog entry.
HTML news exercise 1
News about the beauty industry:
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~jegustavson/march26/
http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~jegustavson/march26/
Web 2.0 definition
*Long story short: I'm re-posting this entry so that it will be listed under my name (in order to receive credit)
Definition: According to The New York Times: "Digital utopians have heralded the dawn of an era in which Web 2.0—distinguished by a new generation of participatory sites like Myspace.com and Youtube.com, which emphasize user-generated content, social networking and interactive sharing—ushers in the democratization of the world: more information, more perspectives, more opinions, more everything, and most of it without filters or fees. Yet as the Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Keen points out in his provocation new book, 'The Cult of the Amateur,' Web 2.0 has a dark side as well."
Opinion: I agree with Keen's view that "because Web 2.0 celebrates the 'noble amateur' over the expert, and because many search engines and Web sites tout popularity rather than reliability…it's easy for misinformation and rumors to proliferate in cyberspace." Social interactivity and community policing are some positive aspects to this new era, but it's shameful how so many people are misinformed on a daily basis and are not even aware of it.
Source: Michiko Kakutani, "Books of The Times: The Cult of the Amateur," NYT, June 29, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/books/29book.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=%22Web+2.0%22&st
Definition: According to The New York Times: "Digital utopians have heralded the dawn of an era in which Web 2.0—distinguished by a new generation of participatory sites like Myspace.com and Youtube.com, which emphasize user-generated content, social networking and interactive sharing—ushers in the democratization of the world: more information, more perspectives, more opinions, more everything, and most of it without filters or fees. Yet as the Silicon Valley entrepreneur Andrew Keen points out in his provocation new book, 'The Cult of the Amateur,' Web 2.0 has a dark side as well."
Opinion: I agree with Keen's view that "because Web 2.0 celebrates the 'noble amateur' over the expert, and because many search engines and Web sites tout popularity rather than reliability…it's easy for misinformation and rumors to proliferate in cyberspace." Social interactivity and community policing are some positive aspects to this new era, but it's shameful how so many people are misinformed on a daily basis and are not even aware of it.
Source: Michiko Kakutani, "Books of The Times: The Cult of the Amateur," NYT, June 29, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/books/29book.html?_r=1&scp=6&sq=%22Web+2.0%22&st
Monday, April 14, 2008
Final Cut Pro tip: Export settings for YouTube uploading
Note: I have found the definitive settings and have posted a MS Word document called "best_FCP_settings" in the class folder on the Journalism drive
The settings explanation is also available online here
The settings explanation is also available online here
Final project topics
Reminder: Your topics MUST be approved by the end of class Wednesday. I will do my best to respond to emails between today and Wednesday, with priority to students who have already started a dialog with me about their topic via email April 9, as required.
Students who do not have their topics approved by end of class Wednesday may have to wait for approval until the following Wednesday, effectively erasing an entire week of potential work time.
I will not accept final projects from students who have not had topics approved.
Students who do not have their topics approved by end of class Wednesday may have to wait for approval until the following Wednesday, effectively erasing an entire week of potential work time.
I will not accept final projects from students who have not had topics approved.
HTML news exercise 2
This is a 90-minute exercise to be completed in class today.
Setup:
Setup:
- Go to the class server inside the "html practice sites" folder and copy the folder "april14" to your mysbfiles public_html folders. Note the contents: an index.html file and an empty images folder.
- In a new browser tab/window, open your new april14 site at http://mysbfiles.stonybrook.edu/~yourNetID/april14/
- In Dreamweaver, open the index.html file
- To turn this project in, post a link to your page in the class blog. Don't forget to label it with your name.
- You are the current homepage producer on a New York City *local* website, on a 90-minute deadline to set up tonight's homepage that someone has left blank.
- Fill in all the parts of the page using today's news, sports and feature stories, images and interactivity. Your links (with the exception of interactivity links - see below) should be real, going out to real stories on the Web. You are lucky that the entire Web can be considered under your website's ownership, so you can link to anything as if it were your site's own story.
- You should have at least one interactive element on each vertical layer of the page (total of at least 3). These should be links that go to your personal blog, to comment sections of new entries created for this purpose, where you will set up teaser questions for your audience to interact with.
- You may add additional links where only one is shown, being careful not to completely destroy the overall balance and design of the page
- Where there are images, you should include images you grab (and credit) from the web. They should be sized properly in Photoshop, saved to the images folder in april14 and called with an absolute URL from index.html. Don't change the size of any image. Find the image size required by looking at the code in the image call.
- For the bottom layer of ther page, you must have at least one sports item and one lifestyles/entertainment item. The third slot is up to you - go with an additional item of those categories or find another category altogether. Make sure you alter the label bar to indicate your category
- Although you are linking to items not truly your own, all teasers, captions and headlines *should be * your own writing.
- Remember - you are on deadline. Set yourself some internal deadlines so you keep moving through the page.
- Don't be intimidated by the code - use the split feature of Dreamweaver to find the page parts you are looking for.
- Don't get bogged down with doing fancy stuff to the images - find them, size them and get them up
- No polls - use your impulse to create polls and instead create nice interactivity teaser questions.
- Try to create some nice packages in the top sections especially - find multimedia out there to link to as extra links.
- Think local
- Try for a nice balance of items to appeal to a broad interest.
- Snappy headlines and teasers. You want people to click, so make your items interesting.
- Leave yourself some time to proofread
Exercises that need to be blogged
Here's a list of all the class exercises and where they need to be posted by the last day of class. Please make sure everything you posted to the class blog has your name as a label. If you have a posting in the blog that isn't labeled with your name, you may not receive credit.
- Web 2.0 definition - class blog
- Photoshop practice exercise 1 - 10 images in your blog
- Layered Photoshop flag exercise - 2 images in class blog
- Gunman-on-campus reporting exercise - each team's work in an indexed blog item in the class blog, with each team member's name as a label
- Soundslides project - embedded in your blog and in the class blog
- HTML news exercise 1 - "March 26" (or the date of your folder in mysbfiles) - Link to your mysbfiles page posted to the class blog - Note: This is under the syllabus category "HTML & design exercises"
- HTML news exercise 2 - "April 14" - Link to your mysbfiles page posted to the class blog - Note: This is under the syllabus category "HTML & design exercises" (Due mid-class, 4/14)
- Video assignments - post both to your blog; post Assignment No. 2 to the class blog as well.
- Final project - Some elements will be in your blog; link to homepage in class blog
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Reminder for students who missed class 3/31
Reminder: You must show me a written explanation from an instructor for your missing class to cover Ann Coulter covering the two hours of class time that you missed, or your absence is not excused. I need to see that by the last day of class.
Class calendar the rest of the way
Wed. 4/9 - Working class: Video assignments; topics for final project due via email by the end of class.
Mon. 4/14 - HTML assignment - one day news assignment working in Dreamweaver
Wed. 4/16 - Working class; Final project topics must be approved
Mon. 4/21 - No class - Passover
Wed. 4/23 - Working class; Video assignment No. 1 due, end of class
Mon. 4/28 - Instruction on final project templates; Working class for the balance
Wed. 4/30 - Working class - video assignment No. 2 and final projects
Mon. 5/5 - Tentative - Search engine optimization; working class for last hour
Wed. 5/7 - Working class; Video assignment No. 2 due, end of class (note this is a change from the original due date, May 5)
Mon. 5/12 - Last day of class - wrap-up; working class; All class blog exercises are due
Friday 5/16 - Final projects due
Mon. 4/14 - HTML assignment - one day news assignment working in Dreamweaver
Wed. 4/16 - Working class; Final project topics must be approved
Mon. 4/21 - No class - Passover
Wed. 4/23 - Working class; Video assignment No. 1 due, end of class
Mon. 4/28 - Instruction on final project templates; Working class for the balance
Wed. 4/30 - Working class - video assignment No. 2 and final projects
Mon. 5/5 - Tentative - Search engine optimization; working class for last hour
Wed. 5/7 - Working class; Video assignment No. 2 due, end of class (note this is a change from the original due date, May 5)
Mon. 5/12 - Last day of class - wrap-up; working class; All class blog exercises are due
Friday 5/16 - Final projects due
Two video assignments
Overview: You have two short video assignments to be completed in Final Cut Pro, each worth 10 percent of your final grade. The first assignment is to be 1:00-1:30 minutes. The second is to be 1:30-2:30 minutes. They should each be stand-alone clips. They are to include the following components:
Topic for assignment No. 1: With a maximum of 1:30, you shouldn't be too ambitious. Pick a campus issue close to home that you can have some fun with. This assignment is mostly for practicing the Final Cut Pro techniques we have discussed in class, and you will be evaluated mostly for technical accomplishment and your successful posting to the blogs.
Topic for assignment No. 2: With some more time to use, this can be a more involved topic, though still a campus issue close to home. This assignment will be evaluated for content and reporting as well as technical accomplishment.
Due dates: Assignment No. 1 is due end of class April 23. Assignment No. 2 is due end of class May 5. Late work will be penalized two letter grades. Revision as of April 23 - Assignment 2 is now due end of class May 7.
Important note: You should use the recommended Final Cut Pro export settings for YouTube that are now posted in this blog
- At least 2 uses of B-roll video
- At least two uses of "lower third"
- Some reporting on a campus issue
Topic for assignment No. 1: With a maximum of 1:30, you shouldn't be too ambitious. Pick a campus issue close to home that you can have some fun with. This assignment is mostly for practicing the Final Cut Pro techniques we have discussed in class, and you will be evaluated mostly for technical accomplishment and your successful posting to the blogs.
Topic for assignment No. 2: With some more time to use, this can be a more involved topic, though still a campus issue close to home. This assignment will be evaluated for content and reporting as well as technical accomplishment.
Due dates: Assignment No. 1 is due end of class April 23. Assignment No. 2 is due end of class May 5. Late work will be penalized two letter grades. Revision as of April 23 - Assignment 2 is now due end of class May 7.
Important note: You should use the recommended Final Cut Pro export settings for YouTube that are now posted in this blog
Monday, April 7, 2008
FCP Practice - Embedding video
Note: These are works in progress - practice finding the right settings for FCP exports. I have NOT found an export setting that I'm happy with yet. More info to come.
Note: This next one could be it:
These settings come courtesy of the Star-Ledger photo desk and are detailed here
The one below is with "letterbox" checked in size settings
And here's a higher quality export - setting "Broadband - high.
Here's a version that used export using quicktime conversion to MPEG-4 - broadband-high, option selected to preserve aspect ratio with letterbox, but that doesn't appear to have worked at all
Here's a version with settings recommended by Adam Abramson, instructor of the other JRN320 section:
Here's a version with settings suggested by my co-worker:
Note: This next one could be it:
These settings come courtesy of the Star-Ledger photo desk and are detailed here
The one below is with "letterbox" checked in size settings
And here's a higher quality export - setting "Broadband - high.
Here's a version that used export using quicktime conversion to MPEG-4 - broadband-high, option selected to preserve aspect ratio with letterbox, but that doesn't appear to have worked at all
Here's a version with settings recommended by Adam Abramson, instructor of the other JRN320 section:
Here's a version with settings suggested by my co-worker:
Final Cut Pro Web resources
Here are a few online resources for help in Final Cut Pro -
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html - This site has some advanced tips for experienced editors
http://users.design.ucla.edu/~jbishop/FCP/FCPtutor.htm - Extensive tutorial - lots of focus on settings, but good info
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kC3-zn_JmwI , http://youtube.com/watch?v=QSmJDn5M6w4 - You tube 2-part training series - plus 39 more videos from YouTube user emeek77
http://www.kenstone.net/fcp_homepage/fcp_homepage_index.html - This site has some advanced tips for experienced editors
http://users.design.ucla.edu/~jbishop/FCP/FCPtutor.htm - Extensive tutorial - lots of focus on settings, but good info
http://youtube.com/watch?v=kC3-zn_JmwI , http://youtube.com/watch?v=QSmJDn5M6w4 - You tube 2-part training series - plus 39 more videos from YouTube user emeek77
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Week of March 31
Monday:
- Final project assignment intro
- HTML work
- HTML work - Note: There will likely be just one hour for work on your "march26' websites. If you are not going to be finished within that hour, you shold work on that on your own time.
- Video project introduced
- Cam and FCP orientation (probable)
Final project
Overview:
Your final project will be a mini Web site whose homepage will reside on your mysbfiles web space and whose contents may reside in a variety of other web environments, such as blogger.com and flickr.com.
Your topic must be approved by the date below and should be sufficiently news-worthy, a definition which may be broadly interpreted to include feature and enterprise journalism.
Your project will contain five elements that may overlap a bit but that accomplish separate aspects of the project. Each element is worth 20 percent of your grade. The elements are summarized here and explained in greater detail below:
Important dates:
Topic approval: You are welcome to begin discussions with me at any time about a suitable topic for your project. By April 9, you are to send me a couple of paragraphs that get into some detail. Include the main idea of your main bar, the main idea of your video and how you intend to use the blog beyond its required uses. I will turn those around and either approve or ask for revision. By April 16 at the end of class, your topic must be approved, leaving you one month to complete it.
Your topic should be current, exciting and capable of supporting the bulk of the material you are being asked to package. Keep in mind that you will be reporting for your main bar and shooting your own video and stills, so the topic should have a local component.
The elements:
Homepage: Using a sufficiently journalistically styled template out of Dreamweaver (see additional note below), you will create a homepage for presenting all of the other elements of the project. It should include at least one photo. It should present the other elements in an enticing way, packaging each one with at least one interactive component. The overall look of the homepage should be neat and reflective of the relative weight of each of your elements. You may use either the code or the WYSIWYG features of Dreamweaver to construct your page.
Revision as of April 23: Please see this blog entry for a description of available templates and options.
Main bar: You will report and compose an original 900-1,500 word main story. The actual length should be determined by your topic and how much space you need to accomplish your reporting goals. Do not go over 1,500 words without prior approval.
The main bar will be a blog entry linked to from the homepage. It should contain at least one photo. It can, and probably should, contain links (internal or external) where they help enhance your audience's experience with your project.
Video: You will produce a two- to three-minute edited video, created in Final Cut Pro, uploaded to YouTube, embedded in your blog and linked to from your homepage. The video should enhance but not repeat what your main bar does. It should contain some B-roll. Note: Be sure to use the recommended Final Cut Pro export settings for YouTube posted in this blog.
You will have normal access to the video cameras from the newsroom.
Photo gallery/Soundslides: You should produce a photo gallery or Soundslides presentation of 7-10 unique images, and present it from your homepage. These images may be used in other places in your project as well as in this element. You may use a commercial photo tool like Flickr.com to house your photo gallery, or you may choose to create a gallery manually in your blog. If you like, you may do a Soundslides presentation, keeping in mind that the sound need not be music - it could be a voice-over. If music is used, it must be credited. Each photo should have a well-written caption.
Blog: The blog must be used to host your main bar and video - perhaps also your photo gallery/Soundslides element as well. You blog should be used as a place for interactivity, with links inviting comments that go directly from the homepage to the comment space for your entries. You should also use one blog entry to aggregate links for your audience to explore your topic further. Finally, you can also freely use your blog in appropriate ways not covered here to enhance the project and your audience's experience.
Additional notes:
Your final project will be a mini Web site whose homepage will reside on your mysbfiles web space and whose contents may reside in a variety of other web environments, such as blogger.com and flickr.com.
Your topic must be approved by the date below and should be sufficiently news-worthy, a definition which may be broadly interpreted to include feature and enterprise journalism.
Your project will contain five elements that may overlap a bit but that accomplish separate aspects of the project. Each element is worth 20 percent of your grade. The elements are summarized here and explained in greater detail below:
- The homepage
- The main bar - a reported article of 900-1,500 words that should be the anchor of the project.
- A video, two to three minutes in length
- A photo gallery or Soundslides presentation of original photos
- A blog, to be used for, among other possibilities, aggregation on your topic, interactivity, hosting your main bar and other elements (some via embedding). Aggregation and interactivity are required enhancements.
Important dates:
- Wed., April 9: Deadline for topic "pitches" to be sent for approval. Send to dliss.nj@gmail.com
- Wed. April 16, end of class: Deadline for approval of topic.
- Friday, May 16, 5 p.m.: Project due date. No late work accepted.
Topic approval: You are welcome to begin discussions with me at any time about a suitable topic for your project. By April 9, you are to send me a couple of paragraphs that get into some detail. Include the main idea of your main bar, the main idea of your video and how you intend to use the blog beyond its required uses. I will turn those around and either approve or ask for revision. By April 16 at the end of class, your topic must be approved, leaving you one month to complete it.
Your topic should be current, exciting and capable of supporting the bulk of the material you are being asked to package. Keep in mind that you will be reporting for your main bar and shooting your own video and stills, so the topic should have a local component.
The elements:
Homepage: Using a sufficiently journalistically styled template out of Dreamweaver (see additional note below), you will create a homepage for presenting all of the other elements of the project. It should include at least one photo. It should present the other elements in an enticing way, packaging each one with at least one interactive component. The overall look of the homepage should be neat and reflective of the relative weight of each of your elements. You may use either the code or the WYSIWYG features of Dreamweaver to construct your page.
Revision as of April 23: Please see this blog entry for a description of available templates and options.
Main bar: You will report and compose an original 900-1,500 word main story. The actual length should be determined by your topic and how much space you need to accomplish your reporting goals. Do not go over 1,500 words without prior approval.
The main bar will be a blog entry linked to from the homepage. It should contain at least one photo. It can, and probably should, contain links (internal or external) where they help enhance your audience's experience with your project.
Video: You will produce a two- to three-minute edited video, created in Final Cut Pro, uploaded to YouTube, embedded in your blog and linked to from your homepage. The video should enhance but not repeat what your main bar does. It should contain some B-roll. Note: Be sure to use the recommended Final Cut Pro export settings for YouTube posted in this blog.
You will have normal access to the video cameras from the newsroom.
Photo gallery/Soundslides: You should produce a photo gallery or Soundslides presentation of 7-10 unique images, and present it from your homepage. These images may be used in other places in your project as well as in this element. You may use a commercial photo tool like Flickr.com to house your photo gallery, or you may choose to create a gallery manually in your blog. If you like, you may do a Soundslides presentation, keeping in mind that the sound need not be music - it could be a voice-over. If music is used, it must be credited. Each photo should have a well-written caption.
Blog: The blog must be used to host your main bar and video - perhaps also your photo gallery/Soundslides element as well. You blog should be used as a place for interactivity, with links inviting comments that go directly from the homepage to the comment space for your entries. You should also use one blog entry to aggregate links for your audience to explore your topic further. Finally, you can also freely use your blog in appropriate ways not covered here to enhance the project and your audience's experience.
Additional notes:
- I need to research homepage templates. Look out for further blog posts.
- As we approach the end of the term, we will dedicate a decent amount of class time for you to work on the project and confer with me. I will try to have a list of dates when we get closer to April 16.
- I reserve the right to alter this assignment sheet any time through April 16, though I don't expect any major changes.
- Plan ahead. The resources of the newsroom will be tight as the end of the semester approaches, and this is far too much work to do in a hurry. The other 320 section will have a nearly identical final project.
- I encourage you to rely on your peers for help shooting video, editing main bars and whatever else makes sense.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Monday, March 24, 2008
Hillary Clinton Vs. Obama... The race for a better tomorrow
To see credit for the song, hit "credits"
The name of the soundslide, which got cut off was "Hillary Clinton Vs. Obama.. the race for a better tomorrow"
How to put your Soundslides project in your blog
- Open your SB drives and create a folder there called "public_html"
- Make absolutely sure you have exported a Blogger-friendly file size for your publish-to-web folders - even if you have to do it again just to be sure. Your size should be 380 px wide and 285 high.
- Copy your publish_to_web folder to the public_html folder you just created.
- Go to the Soundslides embedding utility page
- In a separate tab open your soundslides project at http://MySBfiles.stonybrook.edu/~NetID/publish_to_web
where "~NetID" is your NetID and publish_to_web is the name of your folder. You will see your project open up. - Copy the URL of that page into the "Slideshow URL" field in the embed utility and click continue
- At the bottom of the page will be the embed code that you can then copy to a blog entry.
- Note: If you haven't sized your project correctly, it will be cut off in the blog, and you will need to go back into Soundslides, "modify" the size, re-export and do steps 3-7 again.
Class week of 3/24
News that should make things easier: Your SB drives can be web space if configured properly. We will be using them for your Soundslides projects and for the html training we will be working on over the next couple of weeks.
Today: We'll ease back into class with work getting your Soundslides projects into your blogs, and then we'll take some time showing them off to each other. If there's time at the end of class, we'll start setting up your personal web space for the html exercises we'll be doing.
Wednesday: We'll be spending time doing html exercises and learning some basics.
Today: We'll ease back into class with work getting your Soundslides projects into your blogs, and then we'll take some time showing them off to each other. If there's time at the end of class, we'll start setting up your personal web space for the html exercises we'll be doing.
Wednesday: We'll be spending time doing html exercises and learning some basics.
Embedded soundslides show
As you can see, this is Kate's Soundslides show.
We'll be working today so that you can use your SB storage space as Web space to host your projects.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
New experimental blog in Blackboard
I haven't decided how/if we will use it, but my initial response is good.
I posted some info in there about our practice html work, which we'll begin tonight.
I posted some info in there about our practice html work, which we'll begin tonight.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Layered Photoshop flag exercise
According to The New York Times, Gov. Eliot Spitzer has been caught on a federal wiretap arranging to meet with a high-priced prostitute, according to a person briefed on the inquiry.- Wiretap Recording Said To Implicate Governor As Client
- Affidavit: Client 9 and Room 871
- It Wasn't Sex; Suspicious $$ Transfer Led To Spitzer
Gov. Eliot Spitzer, with his wife, Silda, made a statement to the news media on Monday.
Read or post comments here.
Important updates to Soundslides assignment
Nothing I haven't said already in class, but there are three important points I have highlighted that you don't want to miss. They all involve the final steps of finishing your work and turning it in.
See the assignment here.
See the assignment here.
I Hope I get Some Extra Credit for this-Mixing Two Songs
Since I didn't want to just edit for length but combine two songs as well I looked around for a program to help me do it. I know we can't download anything in the newsroom because Paul is the all-powerful computer Czar but you can do this with the mp3's you have, from the comforts of home. Here are the steps:
1) Go to this site and download Wavepad. Click the link right under the picture. There is also a mac version on the right side. Wavepad Download
2) Load your song. It will start to play and you can stop it wherever you would like the song to end. Then you can select the rest of the song using the mouse and then press command/control to get the right click options and press cut. Now you have the piece you want.
3) Then click Edit, and Mix File. It will give you the option to load the second track you want. This should add on right to the end of your other song. If you want any cool effects or zany transitions then I don't know what to tell you. I just downloaded this program 15 minutes ago.
4) You can repeat the steps above if you want to shorten the length of the combined track at the back end.
5) Then click save as and give your combined track a name. It will save as a .wav but you can use switch, as Professor Liss detailed, to turn it into an mp3. I did this from my room so I don't know if any unforeseen developments will occur on a Mac or if I left anything out in my euphoria over this actually working but those are the basics.
Cheerio.
1) Go to this site and download Wavepad. Click the link right under the picture. There is also a mac version on the right side. Wavepad Download
2) Load your song. It will start to play and you can stop it wherever you would like the song to end. Then you can select the rest of the song using the mouse and then press command/control to get the right click options and press cut. Now you have the piece you want.
3) Then click Edit, and Mix File. It will give you the option to load the second track you want. This should add on right to the end of your other song. If you want any cool effects or zany transitions then I don't know what to tell you. I just downloaded this program 15 minutes ago.
4) You can repeat the steps above if you want to shorten the length of the combined track at the back end.
5) Then click save as and give your combined track a name. It will save as a .wav but you can use switch, as Professor Liss detailed, to turn it into an mp3. I did this from my room so I don't know if any unforeseen developments will occur on a Mac or if I left anything out in my euphoria over this actually working but those are the basics.
Cheerio.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
OBAMA HAS THE AUDACITY OF HOPE
OBAMA IS RIDING THIS CAMPAIGN TILL THE WHEELS FALL OFF!
Senator Barack Obama still has hope of winning this years democratic ticket, despite Hillary's recent wins in Texas, Ohio, Vermont, and Rhode Island. He still holds more delegate votes and is confident that he is the better candidate to run the nation.
How to cut an MP3's length
Here are some basic steps to shorten an MP3 and get it ready for Soundslides.
Part 1 - Editing for length:
- Open the application Soundtrack Pro
- Open the MP3 file you want to edit
- You will see visual representations of the stereo tracks. Using the cursor, the play button and repeated efforts, find the selection you want to keep and make a note of when it starts and how long it lasts. (Note: If you are familiar with "marks" in Final Cut Pro, there may be similar functionality here. Feel free to try it that way.)
- Highlight by dragging your cursor through the tracks, and delete sections of the song until you are left with only what you want.
- If you want to fade in or fade out, highlight sections of the beginning and end, and go to the "Process" menu, an sselect fade in or fade out.
- Save the file to a place you can access it again, making sure to save it as a "WAVE" file.
Part 2 - Converting back to MP3 (Note: You can do this in iTunes or do it as explained below)
- Open the application "Switch"
- Click "add file" and find your file you edited for length
- Click check box "Output to same folder as source files"
- Make sure your output format is set to MP3. Click Encoder options and make sure the "Bitrate" is set to 128.
- Click Convert
You should now have your edited audio file as an MP3 in the same folder where your edited wave file was. You can import the new MP3 file into Soundslides.
Photoshop Layered Exercise Example
Wind, a Profitable Alternative to Petroleum in TexasOnce the oil capital of North America, Texas is rapidly turning into the capital of wind power.
Layered Photoshop Flag Exercise
Two new cookbooks offer recipes to turn cupcakes into works of art.
• Kaye Hansen and Liv Hansen, "Little Cakes" (Clarkson Potter) | Karen Tack and Allen Richardson, "Hello, Cupcake!" (Houghton Mifflin)
Trump promises to push Jones Beach project to reality through the courts.
Photoshop Flag Exercise
Politics on the Brain? Relax with these humorous websites:
My blog and my photoshop flag assignment...watch out for the killer babies.
My blog and my photoshop flag assignment...watch out for the killer babies.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Stephanie Brumsey Layered Assignment
Biker Week 2008 Veeved Up, Ready To Go!
Go to Sunny Florida To Participate in Bike Week 2008!
• Want More Info? Go Here!
• Other Things To Do In The Area That Week |
Upclose And Personal
• Want More Info? Go Here!
• Other Things To Do In The Area That Week |
Upclose And PersonalBest Index Page Ever
Police: Pizza Perp Possibly had Gun
It turned out there was no danger at all, but at that moment, everyone at Stony Brook University thought a gun toting pizza thief had escaped on campus. The event does show a trend of uneasiness among universities.
Where you around for the escapades? Do you feel that Stony Brook failed you in some way? SPEAK UP and SPEAK OUT, comment.
• Lynn Hsieh's coverage of the robbery, announcement of a gunman on campus and the following press conference, including a timeline of events.
• Bill Lind covers Stony Brook's emergency alert system.
• Sarah Asselta's coverage of student's personal accounts of the event and their reactions to it.
• Jennifer Gustavson's gathering of campus broadcast coverage,plus her cheesy humor - get it, its pizza.
• JC Chan's photo gallery from the first moments of the scare, courtest of the Stony Brook Independent.
It turned out there was no danger at all, but at that moment, everyone at Stony Brook University thought a gun toting pizza thief had escaped on campus. The event does show a trend of uneasiness among universities.
Where you around for the escapades? Do you feel that Stony Brook failed you in some way? SPEAK UP and SPEAK OUT, comment.
• Lynn Hsieh's coverage of the robbery, announcement of a gunman on campus and the following press conference, including a timeline of events.
• Bill Lind covers Stony Brook's emergency alert system.
• Sarah Asselta's coverage of student's personal accounts of the event and their reactions to it.
• Jennifer Gustavson's gathering of campus broadcast coverage,plus her cheesy humor - get it, its pizza.
• JC Chan's photo gallery from the first moments of the scare, courtest of the Stony Brook Independent.
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