The Other Blog REVEALED

I have a new blog now for my Mass Comm course.
It's my Bloghappy page called "More Than Pictures in My Head...Trying to Navigate Old Meda, New Media and Our Constructed Reality." I'm teaching Mass Comm as a cluster course with Dr. V. Tomlinson's sociology class, Majority/Minority.

The blog will feature the links to the student blogs for that class. It will function as a place to participate in the blogosphere with our exploration of mass communications and issues raised in Majority/Minority.

Now with a second blog up and running for a separate class I'm may become blog savvy?

Local News Director Had It With Emmy Snobs

A feud has erupted between WTAE-TV’s news director and the leadership at the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (The Emmys). Channel 4’s News director Bob Longo shot off a letter resigning his position from the regional Emmy chapter’s board of directors claiming the chapter functions as a club for Philadelphia-area television stations snubbing other markets in region. The Post-Gazette has published statements from both sides of this controversy providing blow by blow accounts of the dispute.

"From my vantage point in Pittsburgh, the 'regional' chapter appears to be nothing more than a Philadelphia TV social club," Bob Longo wrote.

"Events, funds, and awards are controlled by and centered on Philadelphia. Other markets within the region, including Pittsburgh, are given token attention and, in my opinion, are ignored. The bias is palpable. When it comes time for awards, entries are encouraged openly, but once in, those awards, and the funds they generate, are put to use running a Philadelphia chapter and annual party."

Longo went on to announce WTAE-TV will no longer participate in the Emmys. He also suggested it’s time for officials from the National Emmy’s to investigate how Philadelphia has captured the regional chapter.

“If time and energy permits, I will petition the national organization to seriously look at establishing a truly regional NATAS chapter that more honestly represents Pittsburgh,” Longo wrote.

Regional Emmy Board President Paul Gluck in Philadelphia has responded with a

written statement claiming Longo never expressed these concerns while he served on the Emmy board.

"We are mystified by his inaccurate perceptions of how our Chapter works, and we would have appreciated the opportunity to have an honest and thoughtful dialogue with him, rather than respond in this public platform that he has chosen," Gluck wrote. "This organization's leadership and administrative staff have made a commitment to engage and include all of our members in Chapter initiatives, and to characterize this organization as a 'Philadelphia TV social club' insults all the volunteers who have given countless hours to supporting the Chapter."

I sense Long's criticism is long overdue. I recall my days at WPXI where management there maintained a steadfast rule of not participating in the Emmy’s. I always thought it was outrageous the regional Emmy’s required a $100 entry fee and the money did seem to come out in a lavish party for the winners. I do not belong to a regional chapter. I have a faculty membership in the national organization in Hollywood where I have more fulfilling resources and benefits as a broadcaster and instructor. I don't see any value in the regional chapter as it does appear to be geared to stroking the media elite in Philly and schools they're invited to as guest speakers in Eastern PA.

Belo Fires DC Bureau Reporters, Hires VJs

Is it synergy between newspaper and television operations driving decisions at Belo or is it a cost-saving move? According to the Washington Post, one-man bands are now part of heavy hitter Belo Corporation. The company, with it's big television and newspaper holdings, has canned it's long time television news reporters stationed in the Washington, D.C. bureau replacing them with VJs to shoot and file stories for television AND newspapers. These folks would file packages and cover events for the 19 Belo stations across the country including some of the biggest and most successful stations in big markets. Wonder when Belo will bring VJs to it's local newsrooms? Is it worth linking their jobs page?

The BC 602 Jumpstart

Before we return for the second semester of BC Capstone, I am reminding students to wrap up their assessment of their senior project. This includes reflecting on my comments to the senior project review documents you turned back at the beginning of December.

Capstone students should also be ready to write and present on the feedback gathered on their projects from an outside professional.

Finally, this is a great time for you to blog about what you've accomplished over break as well as the previou semester. Generate a list of your weaknesses and strengths as a professioanl.

This is another chance to figure out whether you're qualified for jobs now open. Once you've made these lists, then consult your resume. Does it present the experience and skills needed as you head into the job market? It's important for you to look at the details of a posted job description and see how you can sell yourself for that position.

My 2006 Top 10 List

This is the time of year when everyone puts out their top 10 lists and year enders, as TIME magazine has for several categories such as television shows.

Here’s mine for what I was watching in 2006. Actually, I sharing two lists. The first is my favorite shows of 2006 and the second list is my Top 20 TiVo Season Passes. The second list includes influences from the family, but I admit I am very guarded with TiVo's remote control.

My Picks for 10 Best TV Shows of 2006

1. Battlestar Galactica
2. Lost
3. Heroes
4. Studio 60
5. Rescue Me
6. Scrubs
7. Ugly Betty
8. How I Met Your Mother
9. Entourage
10. Medium

Top 20 TiVo Season Passes @ Our House
1. Battlestar Galactica
2. The Amazing Race
3. Grey’s Anatomy
4. Lost
5. Heroes
6. Foster's Home For Imaginary Friends
7. Scrubs
8. How I Met Your Mother
9. The Class
10. Project Runway
11. Nip/Tuck
12. Dr. Who
13. Avatar
14. Cyberchase
15. That’s So Raven
16. Phil of the Future
17. Smallville
18. Boston Legal
19. The Shield
20. My Name is Earl

How to Make Neoguri

ANOTHER MINI-MOVIE PROJECT FROM BC 251

I'm showcasing another mini-movie project. This one is from Woosub Lee. He produced this five minute short film for his BC 251 course project. So what do you think? Please leave a comment and I'll pass it along to Lee.

Wrapping Up BC 601

Students are now reflecting/reviewing senior projects. Their final two blog entries this semester will focus on addressing what they accomplished with senior projects and selecting an outside resource for feedback.

They're identifying outside professionals they will connect with over the winter break to assess the projects. Some will likely go back to the Westminster alum they featured in their alumni project. Others will go beyond the WC family.

When the return for BC 602 at the end of February we'll step back and see what can be done to enhance what they have done and focus the transition to the next step after graduation.

Mike Wolenski had some interesting comments about capstone presentations for the spring including the idea of allow students to chose alternatives to the lecture showcases that we now use. I think it would help the course if the class deconstructs the current model for presentations and rebuild it. We can make it better.

The Best of the BC 251 Mini-movie Showcase

THE BC 251 MINI-MOVIE SHOWCASE WINNERS

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We gathered on Monday for the BC 251 Mini-movie Showcase and the audience voted. The fan favorite of the showcase was Woosub Lee's RACIST FART. Lee also had a hand in producing the runner up mini-movie, A DAY IN REVERSE. Lee co-produced/co-directed that project with Alex Hines, Nicole Piszczor and Christina Roseto.




Our guest judge, Jimm Needle ('03 Broadcast Comm alum/BC 251 success story) was kind enough to take the day off from his busy schedule. He's a digital media producer and director and traveled back to New Wilmington. He offer his expert opinion on the mini-movies. Jimm selected TOOTHBRUSH by Megan Alexander, Tom Benoit, Amanda Conway and Shayna Marti as the best group mini-movie. He gave the judge award for individual project to NIGHTMARE ON CAMPUS by Shayna Marti.




You can see all the mini-movies submitted for this showcase at the MINI-MOVIE SHOWCASE WEBLOG.

Student Mini-movie Showcase

BC 251 students will present their mini-movie projects to an audience next week. You're invited!

2005 Lunchtime Mini-movie Showcase
Monday, December 4 @ 11:45
Mueller Theater/Lecture Hall
McKelvey Campus Center
Westminster College

Students will premiere 16 one-minute mini-movie projects and four group projects. The goal is to transfer the skills, experiences and professional practices learned from shooting and editing sports, news and commercials back to the domain of the home user. I want students to shift back to consumer products such as video cell phones, digital cameras and typical video editing software found on most PCs. I want them to apply the video production techniques and approaches learned in BC 251 to the digital technology now available to everyone.
This one is from Tom Benoit made with his pocket DV cam entitled "Procrastination at Work."


Here's a sample of one of the early submissions. It's "The Last Chip" from Katie Hilliard.

Capstone Presentations (Fall '07 Edition)

Chris Zinkham, Kirstan Gides & Steve Bring complete their degrees in December. Each of them offered their senior presentations to an audience in the McKelvey Theater on Wednesday night.

Things I learned from these presentations:

• Steve Brink has family connections to journalism, writing and media. He revealed he has relatives who served as writers and editors for national publications, including his grandfather at Newsweek.
• Chris Zinkham realized making the client happy is the top priority in commercial production. He proudly showcased his CCCS commercial he produced for BC 410.
  
• Kirstan Gides revealed her own, personal checklist for students studying communications closely resembles Dr. Barner's "Checklist for Success in Broadcasting."

What's left for this bunch?

• Each student will now shadow a working professional connected to their career goals.
• These three will also put together a time capsule for the Spring BC 602 class to bury in the quad in May.

Successes, Misteps, Assessment & Course Adjustments

Five Mistakes
Seniors Make in Capstone

1. Taking on too much for a senior project.
2. Taking on too little for a senior project.
3. Waiting until the last minute to work on a senior project.
4. Discovering you didn’t save enough of your work: air checks, television news packages, writing samples, scripts, storyboards, etc.
5. Failing to set up your outside review of work well in advance. This is where you gather important feedback needed to tweak their portfolio materials.

I’ve tried to address #5 in the syllabus. Students will identify, solicit and secure off-campus feedback during the winter break. When they return for the second part of Capstone they can begin integrating that feedback into their portfolios. Will it work? I’m crossing my fingers.