“Llamas and Lumber” Being Digitally Immersed at the S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communications Changed My Perception of Journalism Schools
I attended The Multimedia Digital Immersion at the S.I. Newhouse School for Public Communications, May 17 to 21, 2022. Presented in conjunction with the National Press Photographers Association. The workshop was promoted as, “An intense, five-day, hands-on training video storytelling workshop for visual storytellers looking to expand and grow their video skills using the latest technology or looking to up their game in storytelling.” Professional Journalists; Kelsey Kremer, Photographer, The Des Moines Register; Chuck Fadely, Independent Filmmaker, Chuck Fadely Productions; Seth Gitner, Associate Professor, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University and more (see Faculty, Speakers, and Staff) Participating in this five-day intense digital immersion workshop was transformative. It takes more than just pointing a camera and asking questions. This immersion taught us how to plan and develop a story. Utilizing state-of-the-art equipment, the latest technology in video and sound editing. There were also daily workshops taught by award winning journalists and media professionals. Navigating multiple aspects of storytelling from shooting videos to documentaries. Being exposed to editing tools that make storytelling come to life on videos that at the end of the week you’re editing the culmination of being in the deep end of the digital world. After five days having an appreciation for how to better cover events and stories of interest. Coming from a print background it fundamentally changed the way I looked at news and how to best tell stories. I also learned the importance of journalism schools, specifically the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications. Aside from degree programs people from across the nation and probably the world to take part in the many specialized programs available. I was working side-by-side with photojournalists, writers, academics, public relations professionals, videographers, and many more. Writers from the New York Times was there along with about 40 participants paired with professionals from across the country many with ties to Syracuse University. Being handed a slip of paper with an address, phone number and business or person’s name on day one. Then you must figure out the story. What is the story to be told here? I immediately went to Google Maps to see where I was going the next day. A Llama Farm in Lafayette, okay I’ll go and ask questions and come back with a story. Upon arrival I knew right away that I had more work to do. This wasn’t about a farm; it was about a man and his quest to recover from a life changing event. I’m used to taking notes, recording an audio interview, but this was the first time I had to tell a story using a video camera. The first day was a disaster. I filmed as if I were helming an episode of 60 Minutes. I must have clocked an hour of video; I knew I had done something worth viewing. Nope. It was too long; I was trying to tell a story that would’ve taken an hour using my initial footage. After a review, I was told what I had done wrong and how to correct it. How embarrassing, I had brought back a dud. The next day I went back to correct my error. Instead of being away from my subject I learned to get the best shot. They said, “We want to see the eyes of the Llamas”. So, I had to focus on having visuals telling the story. This story should speak for itself. Instead of providing a narrative of the story, I’ll let it speak for itself. It begins in LaFayette, NY on what was once a working Llama Farm with guided trails. It shows the importance of storytelling and how technology and journalism go hand-in hand. It’s a testimony to the fast-paced news and information media landscape and the need to adapt or be left behind. Llamas and Lumber – NPPA Immersion 2022 For me even after over 30 years in journalism; I started in print in 1989 and converted to website news urbancny.com in 2012 it has changed the way I plan to cover news and present information. Special thanks to Co-Directors, Seth Gitner; James Gregg, Jamie De Pould and Eric Seals. The story I produced came from a slip of paper not much larger than a fortune cookie.
