Multimedia tips from Don Himsel

Here are some multimedia tips and guidelines from the Nashua Telegraph that Don will reference when he visits Wednesday.

The SMG Press: A video

Here is my first attempt at video. I offer it as proof that no matter how much success you've had as a print journalist your first video is going to be pretty rough. Don't worry. Remember the first story you ever wrote? Has your writing greatly improved since then? Video is no different. The only way to get better is to do it over and over again. Do the best you can and remember that Don Himsel from the Nashua Telegraph will be in next week with a truckload of helpful advice.

This video is posted with a YouTube embed code. The video is 22MB and took about 10 minutes to upload.

I look forward to seeing your work tomorrow.

Win Howard Altschiller's money!

Win Howard Altschiller’s money!

OK. Don Himsel has a conflict this Wednesday so here is what we are going to do.

Announcing the first and only last-minute Natalie Jacobson video contest.

You all shot footage of Natalie during her visit last week. Between now and Wednesday let’s see who can edit AND POST TO THEIR BLOG the most compelling short news video based on Natalie’s visit.

Posting is easy. Just upload your video to YouTube and then paste the embed code onto a blog post. Make sure you are on the Edit html tab.

First prize will be $25 cash on the spot, second prize $15 and third prize $10.

You can use any editing program you want and there are tons of free ones out there.

Below are some great VIDEO 101 tutorials from YouTube.

Be creative, have fun, win some money!

Videomaker’s shot types 101

Videomaker’s Lighting Techniques 101

Editing 101, School’s in session

Deceptive camera angles

Natalie Jacobson receives lifetime achievement award

Don's Himsel's hot links

transom.org
audio reporting- gear and techniques

multimediashooter.com
audio slideshow and video reporting- good site for examples and discussion

newsvideographer.com
online video reporting- good site for beginners

newsu.org
online training for journalists

northernshortcourse.com
watch the tape delay on video strategy. A discussion between Chuck Fadley and Howard Owens

masteringmultimedia.wordpress.com
A blog from Colin Mulvany at the Spokesman Review. He's the multimedia editor. Good discussions here.

Willyurman.com
Site for Rochester Democrat and Chronicle photographer Will Yurman. Great for inspiration and examples of good audio slideshow storytelling.

Regina McCombs on online video
Short primer on online video basics from a top-notch former television videographer now with the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Don Himsel on multimedia

Our guest speaker on April 2 will be Don Himsel, photo editor and multimedia producer at the Nashua Telegraph.

Here is Don's thinking on newspapers and multimedia:

"Wanting to do multimedia and doing it are different things.
"Not all stories are multimedia stories.
"Not all multimedia stories are video stories. Journalists have to decide what will work based on the strengths of each medium.
"It can be expensive. It can be cheap. You get what you pay for.
"New media projects shouldn't mirror print projects. They should be complete unto themselves but not comprehensive. They shouldn't be built like print stories (used to be).
"The Web may be infinite but my time is not. Get to the point.
"Photographers can and should be at the forefront of the new push for multimedia. They are best suited for strong visual presentation.
"Young journalists have to be familiar with multimedia storytelling. Whether it will save newspapers, who knows? It will, however, be part of the solution at least in the short term. "New media practices build better journalists."

Some "how-to" guides for video

Here is link to Mindy McAdams' tips for shooting video interviews.

YouTube offers this video toolbox with all kinds of helpful hints.

Here's a guide to Windows Moviemaker.

And for Mac users, a guide to iMovies.