I grabbed the chance to improve my skills at video storytelling and other multimedia features following the death of a retired Catholic archbishop

I wanted to accomplish:

• Timeliness. Using my iPhone, I filmed, edited and uploaded the video as soon as possible.
• A flavor of the unfolding events for people who couldn’t be there but could check in through social media. On Twitter, I focused on color as prayers and rites began. Pictures sent via Twitter put people in the scene.
• I followed the routine of: Twitter, photo, Facebook, video. I interviewed a lot of people using the tried and true pen and notebook.

You can see them at the Youtube Channel for the Georgia Bulletin.

The first video was a reaction piece from the current Catholic archbishop and my efforts concluded with a slideshow using Animoto.

The video below was the most popular of the group:

I found a link to a website that can generate a simple looking resume. It draws the information from a LinkedIn profile, so I didn’t have to import every details.  But it makes sense to spend a little time tweaking the presentation.

Tell me what you, do graphic resumes make a difference versus text?

I shot this video about a panel discussion with my iPhone. And in a first for me, I edited it from an app on the phone too.

And you can find the story for the newspaper here.

I’ve recently attended Toastmaster meetings near my office.

I had heard good things about the organization and I thought know I could benefit from improved public speaking, especially thinking on my feet.

Funny enough, at my first meeting, the folks thought my brief speech – which is supposed to resemble an elevator pitch on the job – was the best. But I think they were just being kind to the new guy. Me.

Now, you may ask, “Andrew, you are a reporter, you talk with strangers all the time. Why do you need to practice public speaking?”

Aaah. That is the power of the notebook. When I am working, or even on my own time, it is very easy for me to ask questions. I notice I do it often to keep a conversation going.  That’s a good trait, but when I am the one answering questions, my responses aren’t as fluid, or as good as they could be.  My goal with Toastmasters is to be more comfortable answering the questions, instead of asking them.

I just put up a brief video I shot.

I used my Flip camera, used the option to make a still photo to break up the player and her ball tricks and then cropped it to have the voice over. It provides a little more depth to just the written story. (I’ll link to that when it’s online.)

I am working on another post for my ongoing series “In Person” a one on one interview with interesting people. I add multimedia to the posting by including the recording of the interview.

The interview was done on an outside patio at a pizza shop. I set my digital voice recorder on the lowest level but it still picked up nearby diners talking and laughing. That’ll make the sound editing a little trickier.

I use the free program Audacity for my editing. But I have some time to play around so I think I’ll be trying to work with Apple’s Garage Band.

This blog is under construction.

Meanwhile, go enjoy some music on Pandora

–Andrew

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