Wednesday, December 28

Best Television Shows of the Year


My Top TiVo Picks!

Everyone's issuing a 2005 Best List and so many people are doing it with feature films (like they're leading into the Oscars- LOL). Who has the time & cash to see all those films? I was lucky to get to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the drive-in over the summer. I'm telling you the day is coming when feature films will be released on DVD and on VOD the same day the hit the theater.

With TV's still free (we'll there's the cable bill, but my TiVo's free and clear because it's paid for and I have the lifetime subscription).

I put together my own 2005 Best TV Show list based on what's currently ranked on my TiVo Season Pass list.

A season pass is a feature on TiVo that lets me tell the device to record all episodes of that show without me having to figure out when the shows air, what channel, etc.

My top favorite television shows as of 12.28.05 (in order of their season pass ranking on my Tivo)
1.
Battlestar Galactica (Sci Fi)
2.
Arrested Development (Fox)
3.
Medium (NBC)
4.
Lost (ABC)
5.
Scrubs (NBC)
6.
My Name is Earl (NBC)
7.
The Shield (FX)
8.
Rescue Me (FX)
9.
Boston Legal (ABC)
10.
The Daily Show (Comedy Central)

Shows that were close:

Entourage (HBO), Everybody Hates Chris (UPN), The Comeback (HBO)

Suggested Links:
Most "TiVoed" Shows of the Week- Click Here!

Nielsen Top 20 Rated TV Shows of Last Week!

Tuesday, December 27

Battlestar Galactica on TV & the Web

Space Opera Targets Audience in Cyberspace
“Battlestar” Hits with Fans & Critics

Now that Santa has dropped off new video iPods to the masses you can expect more and more networks to take a page from
Sci Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica. In addition to selling episodes on iTunes (and marketing the first season on DVD so quickly), the show’s producers broke ground when they started regular commentary podcasts about episodes featuring Galactica EP Ronald Moore (a move mimicked later by the Lost crew).

Now Galactica is breaking with old media again in providing Sci Fi Channel's half-hour Inside: Battlestar Galactica special FREE on iTunes. The special was clearly produced for the television audience as it has obvious transitions for commercial breaks (it begins airing on TV on January 2). However, the network has broken with tradition by pitching the special free on the ‘net as a way to set up the January 6 premiere of Galactica.

Meanwhile, Time magazine has named the show its top pick of television for 2005. Fans like myself recognized from the beginning that this show was so beyond the original, 70s comic book Battlestar. This Galactica is far darker with a gritty, grown up approach to the genre supported by excellent writing and storytelling weaved with wonderful plots, subplots and twists. This show builds a mythology in a far more rewarding way than any other show but as equally suspenseful as Lost. Its stories are timely, powerful, provocative and well worth your your time.

Galactica is a ripping sci-fi allegory of the war on terror, complete with religious fundamentalists (here, genocidal robots called Cylons), sleeper cells, civil-liberties crackdowns and even a prisoner-torture scandal.”

Now half way through its sophomore season where so many shows tend to drag, the writing is just as perfect. The characters have evolved in unexpected directions and the storyline remains dynamic and edgy.

I was truly ticked off at Sci Fi when it cancelled by prized Farscape a few years ago, but with Galactica (which the Sci Fi Channel slyly field tested first as a mini-series remake before launching as a series) all is forgiven with the network.

Galactica is one of the networks highest-rated shows and clearly its best-reviewed. It clealry has a viable future on the Internet and on TV (I wish the same could be said for my number two favorite show Arrested Development).


Galactica’s innovations with iPod long before ABC and NBC scrambled to provide pay per episodes of mainstream shows illustrates a commitment the producers have made to maintaining and keeping one of the best dramatic series on television and the web. It’s clearly a sign that science fiction niche audience has developed beyond the Star Trek generation thanks to new media.


An afterthought--
Don't be alarmed by my contrast of Lost with Galactica. I'm a fan of Lost. I'm just often frustrated because the show refuses to give up its mysteries and what is presented is often unsatisfying but at the same time compelling. It's the same thing that grabbed me and made me a fan of Alias but the final two seasons have left me cheated with shoddy resolutions and storylines as was the case in the final seasons of The X-Files).

Lost has excellent writing and ambiguous stories. The show also features one of the truly most diverse casts on television today (which goes to show you can address diversity on television effectively and counter cultural stereotypes). Lost has also continued to evolve in its second season as a bigger and better show. It deserves recognition as one of the best shows currently on TV-- however, I think the people at Time may suffer from Lost burnout.

Monday, December 26

Six Ideas for New Media Opportunties in the New Year


Bringing MORE New Media &
Online Journalism into my classes…

I want my students to study, explore and create more content for new media under the umbrella of online news. I want them to prepare for the future market and understand how these changes will affect local television and radio stations and the local audience as well as redefine the roles of reporters, photographers and editors/producers. Here’s a list of some of the ideas I have for bringing more new media material and online journalism into my spring courses:

1: Take a road trip to a local newspaper. Tour and discuss the role of audio and video in the newspaper’s future endeavors. Discuss how new media will reshape the role of reporter, photographer and online producer.

2: Invite speakers to class including web designers and webmasters to join the ongoing discussions. Ask these experts to discuss old media versus new media. Discuss the implications of online news, RSS , Flash, podcasting, VOD, interactive web events, etc.


3. Assign research papers on the future of local television news reporters, photographers and producers and create these papers in multimedia formats incorporating images, audio and video elements.

4. Contribute regularly to Titan Radio News and The County Line while also incorporating content in a timely manner to our web pages and create a unique, original web program or podcast.

5. Study the BEA’s multimedia festival, its categories and previous winners.


6. Research what the Associated Press is doing with traditional and new media members and look at ways it suggests we adapted and update our newsroom.

So what do you think? Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions? I’m open and eager to bring new ideas and new projects to my students.

Sunday, December 18

Realizing the Big Capstone Payoff

This week Jason Mackey (06 BC) blogged about his journey through the BC Capstone experience characterizing it as an opportunity that served as a giant wake-up call.

"Capstone helped me to realize what I REALLY wanted to do in broadcasting."

That's the best compliment and I encourage you to visit Jason's weblog for more about this journey he's on as he heads into a winter break internship at
WJLA-TV in Washington, D.C.

Jason's senior project went in multiple directions exploring on-air efforts,
producing Coach's Corner and the Titan Radio Sports Minutes as well as sports promotion/information. His off-campus assessment efforts also went well beyond what was required and I am extremely proud of his efforts.

Visit his weblog and you'll learn how investing time, hard work and passion can create a much bigger payoff than you would ever expect.

Other recent Capstone Weblog entries you should check out:
Melissa DePaul (December graduate)
"The whole point of our capstone project is to accomplish something that you do not have or want to do before you graduate. But as we did that we also had to network with professionals in our field through papers and tape assessments. That was very beneficial because now we established a connection with someone who might be able to help once we graduate."

Heather Storm
"I've sent out my demos and resume like crazy, which earned me two interviews for on-air positions...I feel like I'm in a great position to hopefully get something for weekends in the spring semester. All semester long, I've met a ton of great contacts."

Amanda Hauger
"I concluded that I need a strong broadcast news resume CD next semester...I also want to have a strong features television package. I also want to get published at Views & Voices Magazine. I think this internship will really benefit me and allow me to gain valuable experience."

Saturday, December 17

ON THE ROAD to Spin Off a Special on WCN

Looking to what's ahead for 2006:
WCN's County Line (the area's only news magazine) features a franchise segment "ON THE ROAD" and we plan to create a spin off special in the coming months.

Producers/hosts Luke Garrett ('06 BC) & Stevi Nelson ('07 BC) hope to anchor the best segments of the past year in a 30 minute special. You can check out samples of the segment on www.titanradio.net on click on their picture above and watch.

Luke and Stevi hope to create the special as part of the Broadcast Communications Festival in late April and hold a special screening.

Friday, December 16

Anchors Away on The County Line



The County Line will see some on air changes when it returns after the winter break. The show will feature three anchor teams rotating week to week:


  • Elizabeth Farry & Mike Wolenski
  • Steve Brink & Shannon McClain
  • Kathryn Larson & Pam Marlowe
The BC 312 (Broadcast Journalism II) students will also serve as reporters/photographers/producers of packages as well as take over producing/hosting duties of the live, in-studio interview segment and producing/anchoring 89 on TCL's news update.


Other ideas we're exploring: Mini-live remote TCL'S during Titan basketball games. What do you think?

Christmas on Titan Radio & Now a Local Paper's Putting the Same Idea into Practice

LISTEN NOW!
The holidays are in full swing at Titan Radio.
Christmas music 24/7 through New Year's Day!
While Titan Radio can go from the car to the desktop PC in a click of the mouse, look at how the local newspaper's trying to get in on the act as well.


The New Castle News also features what they call a radio station with holiday music 24/7. If newspapers are doing desktop radio, then radio and TV stations should be very worried.

Sunday, December 11

TCL Wraps Up for the Semester

The County Line wrapped up the fall semester season last week. Our student staff has demonstrated excellent teamwork this semester. The staff has also done an outstanding job sharing the producing duties and working in the field as shooters and reporters.

Keep up the great work!


www.flickr.com


Tuesday, November 29

West Virginia's State Flower


The Satellite Dish Is Always In Bloom in the Mountain State

(I'm from West Virginia, but I hever had a dish).

Ever since my days in college (the mid 80s) in Philippi, West Virginia (a town that in those days fought the big cable companies to operate its own cable system) I've joked that the satellite dish was the unofficial state flower of West Virginia. Driving on any highway or back road revealed the dish constantly in bloom. As the years went by they spread across the mountains and the valleys. Back then those large dishes took up space in the front yard and were the envy of neighors for miles around. It was seen as a status symbol as much as any above ground swimming pool or trampoline.

The dishes helped people in the hollers and up on the hills tune in to HBO and other cable programming because cable TV wasn't coming down their dirt road or the terrestrial signals from the local stations faded depending on what time of summer it was.

Today one Beckley man, Al Jessup, has his own garden of satellite dishes. Many of the dishes he has are smaller (but you still see some of the large ones scattered across the landscape like so many junk cars or trucks up on cinder blocks). The house-mounted modern dishes offer so many more choices than 20 years ago. Jessup tells the Register-Herald he has 12 dishes (looking to install number 13) and he scans the sky for radio and television programming.

He says he stopped counting when he lined up 5000 channels. He has package deals from DISH network but also pulls down free signals and stations from around the globe. Imagine what it's like flipping through the channels in that house.

Friday, November 25

Senior Project ASSESSMENT Revisited

JUDGMENT TIME
Project Assessment- This portion of the senior project and it is designed to challenge you to identify how you can enhance and improve your body of work while also networking with working professionals. Each student must identify and secure an off-campus professional to evaluate their project. This professional must have a relevant position in the industry in regard to the student’s project in order to assess the work and offer genuine feedback on the materials. If you're reviewer changes from the person you identify in class, you must notify the instructor.

You will schedule a review date before the last day of class to gather forthright comments and an evaluation of your project. You will also secure documentation from your reviewer in the form of a letter or e-mail to the instructor summarizing this evaluation.

You will also create a “Project Assessment Checklist” due during your project appointment with the instructor where you present the feedback from this evaluation. Based the comments received, you will make recommendations of how you would rework your project and make improvements.

Thursday, November 24

Senior Project REQUIREMENTS Revisited

FYI
Senior Project (Details Revisited)- The objective of the senior project is to create and polish material to showcase a student’s skills and abilities in broadcast communications. Senior BC projects are restricted to the creation of content for the audiences of Titan Radio, Digital 88.9 News, the Titan Sports Network, WCN, The County Line, and Coach’s Corner.

Before you begin your project, you will draft a project proposal in which you summarize with specifics what you want to create for your portfolio(s)/resume tape(s)/audition tape(s). You will identify specific assets and weakness you have in relationship to your objectives, develop a plan for utilizing those strengths and overcoming the limitations and create a timeline for presenting your content to a real audience on scheduled, hard deadlines. You should identify specifics such as day(s), hours, etc., that you will set aside each week for this endeavor.

Each student is responsible for maintaining the regular air checks, tapes, etc., for his or her project. It is your responsibility to maintain and keep your dubs, air checks, etc. throughout this endeavor. You may not scramble at the last minute to make dubs, gather tapes, etc. Failure to maintain and progress your work week to week will not be acceptable.

To complete the project you must meet all outcomes and deadlines identified in your proposal. You must also meet the department’s minimum professional standards for audio and video productions. Failure to meet those outcomes, deadlines and standards will result in zero points.

Thursday, November 17

Class Schedule UPDATE


CLASS SCHEDULE CHANGES
We will not meet as a class on December 1 or December 8. Instead each of you will schedule an appointment to meet with me to review your senior project proposal, your project and the feedback/evaluation you received from your off-campus contact.

Mark your calendars as we will NOT meet as a class on December 1 or December 8.
Instead, each member of the class will schedule an appointment to meet with me. We will meet to review your senior project, your goals and you will present the feedback and review you received on your project from your outside source.

This is what you will need to do:
  1. You must make the appointment to meet with me by December 1.
  2. You must bring an updated senior project proposal, complete with your original material and notes of your updates on timeline, changes, etc.
  3. You must share your project with me (if it’s video we can meet in the edit bays or control room, if it’s radio we can meet in the production room).
  4. You must bring documentation when you present your information/feedback from your outside reviewer.
  5. You must have a tentative decision and protocol on what you plan to do for the senior project redux.

    Any questions?

Tuesday, November 8


Can't get enough of LOST?
ABC's capitalizing on the show's popularity with something called "Lost Video Diaries." The Diaries introduce two characters stranded with the cast featured on the primetime version. The Hollywood Reporter reports, ABC's looking to partner with a wireless company, perhaps Verizon. The series will be available sometime next year.

Monday, November 7

Searching the Blogosphere

Google now features a search engine for weblogs.

With the promise to "find blogs on your favorite topics" it should be a helpful tool for some folks since some sources claim there are more than 10-million blogs on the 'net.

I googled for my name and topics I have blogged about and some of the hits were indeed on my blog. Cool.

By the way, Yahoo! has apparently enabled it's news search engine to scan through the blogosphere for a while now so the Google search is not new. However, Yahoo! fell short in my searches of my own blog topics.


http://news.search.yahoo.com

Sunday, November 6

Remembering My Grandmother

My grandmother, Nellie Johnson, recently passed away at the age of 99. She died on October 26, 2005, in a nursing home in Kingwood, WV.

Her life in rural West Virginia was always a struggle against poverty. Whether it was growing up in Appalachia as America headed into World War I or raising a family through the Great Depression and World War II or living on her own in her golden years on a fix income in Tunnelton, she was the heart of her family. Over the decades she endured her loss of loved ones including all her siblings, her husband and five of her own children and several grandchildren.

Born in Cranesville, WV, the daughter of Ulysses S. Jefferys and Emma M. Ringer Jefferys, she married my grandfather Edward Johnson and settled in the Newburg area. She had 10 children (four sons and six daughters) while she was married to my late grandfather for 45 years.

I am one of 26 grandchildren and my daughters Tess and Emma make up at least 45 great-grandchildren we can count at this point (and there are at least a dozen great-great-grandchildren).

My daughter Tess has been busy lately writing down her thoughts about her great-grandmother and what she can remember about her. I thought it appropriate for me as well and what better place to reflect than in my weblog. I know it's a bit off topic when it comes to broadcasting and my professional domain, but my grandmother was alive for the birth of broadcasting and the invention of television, etc.

When talking to Tess about why I was not saddened by my grandmother’s death I explained I felt we should celebrate her incredible journey of 99 years. I know it’s hard for eight-year old Tess to understand this, but I suggested we think about Grandma Johnson as a time traveler.

Each time we hear a historic reference to the 20th Century we know Grandma Johnson was there for it. She was born in 1906 the year of the San Francisco earthquake which American author Jack London reported on as a journalist for Collier's Weekly as an eye-witness to the disaster.

My grandmother was born when Teddy Roosevelt held the White House—and she lived to see 13 additional presidents elected.

When she was a little girl, November 11 was called Armistice Day to mark the end of World War I. Later in it became Veterans Day. She sent sons to war against the Nazis and she saw communism rise and fall in Europe.

While the telephone, electricity and indoor plumbing were innovations when she was a child, she would not benefit from such amenities for decades—indoor plumbing came to her distant farm house in the 1970s after my grandfather’s death. It’s incredible to think of all the scientific discoveries and breakthroughs that occurred during the course of her life—from the polio vaccine to the atomic bomb to the lunar landings and the Internet. Her life span came during extraordinary times. When reflecting on her life I think about how the world has changed--contemplating 20th Century history now means thinking about my grandmother and her journey as a witness and participant on that timeline.

Wednesday, October 26

Presenting Melissa DePaul

Melissa DePaul put herself out there for the Westminster community, friends and family to inspect as she made her senior presentation on Tuesday afternoon. Her confidence and experience should serve her well going into the job market She's updated her blog with an account of how things went. Check it out!

Melissa is a great example of the student who is prepared to cope with a crisis. In addition to having her portfolio samples on DVD, she had a VHS tape as backup and she also pulled stories from PC sources and the web.

Unfortunately, the audio quality on the DVD and VHS were low and somewhat distorted. We're still trying to determine exactly what the problem was. Melissa did test both out in another classroom since the lecture hall was locked the night before. However, nothing will ever replace testing out the equipment in the room you will use and the importance of rehearsing in the venue where you present. You can identify problems well in advance and you have time to resolve these issues.

Monday, October 24

The BC Capstone Weblog "PIC" of the week...

Chris Zinkham wins the "capstone photo of the week" nod as he's added one to his profile. If you're a creative type looking for a gig in advertising, it's definitely one way to get attention. BTW...check out the profiles on each other's blog. You'll definitely learn something about your peers.



Take the BC CAPSTONE WEBLOG PROFILE QUIZ:

Which capstone student has a thing for Wuthering Heights and Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs?




Who's blogging habits mean doubling up on the blog workload this semester?



Which BC blogger sleeps with the remote contol?


Identify the capstone student with more than a casual curiosity with something called the Kingdom of Loathing?

Name the blogger who's a Scorpio with a favorite read featuring a Native American girl left alone for 18 years on an island.

What's this guy's connection with a capstone blog?

Saturday, October 22

Melissa DePaul's Senior Presentation


You're Invited to Melissa DePaul's BC Capstone Presentation at 2:00 on the afternoon of Tuesday, October 25. She'll present in HSC G-12/Phillips Lecture Hall in Hoyt.

You can also check out Melissa's Capstone Weblog at
http://melissadepaul.blogspot.com/

Saturday, October 15

HIDDEN CAMERA as part of a Network News Social Experiment?

PART 1 of 4
A few weeks ago I was channel surfing and came across ABC’s 20/20 featuring a twist on the “hidden camera” investigation that I found to be as equally as unethical as any other use of hidden cameras.

ABC News hired actors Nate and Sarah to act out a scenario in which a couple gets into a heated, almost violent, argument in public. This report was dressed up as 20/20 series about ethical dilemmas to determine if people do the right thing.

The irony of this series is in the fact the reporter and producers forgot to consider the ethics of their own behavior in using deception as a tactic in this hidden camera experiment. It was so over the top and clearly unethical from a social science point of view (informed consent of the participants-- they became participants against their will) as well as from the journalism POV.

In fact the Poynter Institute has some strong guidelines about using hidden cameras in journalism and 20/20 failed to meet the burden (just as the network did with the infamous Primetime Live case with Food Lion in the 1990s).

20/20 also attempted to present this story as a social experiment and framed it as an academic exercise to probe society. I suspect most Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) at universities would refuse to allow such tactics because hidden cameras are clear violations of informed consent.

From my read of most credible social science approaches to research interviewing and participant observation, getting permission from people after the fact violates the spirit of the informed consent on so many levels (continued in next entry).