In a Web 2.0 environment where tech-savvy individuals consume every possible multimedia resource, universities are soon tapping into some of these resources to reach out their targeted audience.
With a large undergraduate population turning to numerous Web spaces, the need to communicate with this group through such sites has become a necessity. That’s the reason why Kent State launched its YouTube and Facebook pages recently.
Flo Cunningham, director of University Communications and Marketing, said such an effort is important as other universities have already begun using social networking sites.
“This is about connecting people,” she said.
The university’s UCM made the recommendations to use social networking sites as the Web is increasingly becoming the main source to obtain information. While the YouTube videos present the university’s academics and facilities, the Facebook pages have photo albums, announcements of upcoming events, stories from KentNewsNet.com through RSS feeds. UCM hopes that this will “allow future and current students to feel more connected to the school.”
comScore.com reported a surge in Facebook use last year with the maximum use from the age group of 18-24 years when it opened to addresses other than the .edu accounts. This college-going population use numerous sites that UCM plans to incorporate.
Lin Danes, electronic communication and Web content manager, believes that this initiative will also attract potential students though this is not used as a marketing tool.
“We don’t see this much as a recruitment tool so much than as an engagement tool,” she said.
Why social networking?
Many students who use such social networking sites see this as an opportunity to meet their peers and associate with their interests groups in the virtual world.
As a freshman Nick Allison, 18, Spanish major, joined Kent State’s network to find people he could go out with as he did not know anyone in the campus.
“Facebook helped me a lot. I met my best friend through Facebook,” he said.
Allison is a fan of Kent State’s page, but is unaware of the YouTube page.
Many students are unaware that these pages exist. The UCM has taken an integrated marketing plan to make these sites popular. Manager Danes said that if the UCM’s media team picked up something interesting, chances are that it will appear in the homepage, online magazine, and print magazine. There is an effort to tie these contents into the social media sites.
The social media ratings and report services, developerAnalytics, says more than 128 million people use Facebook in nearly 60,000 networks. Kent State network has more than 36,000 unique users including alums and part-time students. The university’s Facebook page is registering an average of 70 fans per week. The largest university in the state, Ohio State, has the highest number of fans with more than 10,500 people joining the page since its launch in December 2007. However, it has not enabled the Wall for comments much like the Ohio University.
University authorities seem very cautious at what type of contents to allow on such pages. Despite its large fan base, officials at Ohio State believe that they might not have enough control over the messages.
The cost of maintaining these pages is another factor why the university is reluctant to activate the Wall for more interactivity.
Ted Hattemer, director of New Media at Ohio State said, “At present we don’t have the resources to maintain social media sites.”
Like Bowling Green State University, even at Kent State, only content administrators have the option to post photos and videos as a separate unit of staff has not been assigned to manage the social networking site. Danes, who also moderates the Wall, hopes people will “respect the space.” The privilege to post also comes with a warning that comments will be edited for “profanity.” Since it’s too early to determine how people will abuse these pages, parameters on content management have not been formulated.
The university had banned the use of Facebook profiles in the past. Student-athletes were asked to withdraw their profiles in June 2006 as the university felt it compromised the university’s image.
UCM’s future plans
Corinne Galvan, 18, undecided major freshman, says there should be interactive features to visit these sites. Though she has been using Facebook for two years now, she was unaware of the university’s page. She believes the pages should have videos and pictures that reflect what it is to be like a student at Kent State.
“I’d like to see videos about campus life outside of the classroom,” she said after watching some of the YouTube videos and becoming a fan.
As the pages are template driven, manager Danes feels that the contents they produce should be more appealing than the page itself. All contents on YouTube and Facebook are now produced by UCM’s media team with some student support. Prior to launching these pages, UCM relied on its past research with high school students on what kind of contents appeal them, but the viability of social media pages have not been tested. Usability testing on social media sites, using the resources of the university, is planned for Spring-2009. Until then, UCM will continue to add other social networking sites such as MySpace, Flickr, Twitter, Del.icio.us, Digg in an attempt to offer alternative platforms to both current students and non-students.
Danes said it may be too early to establish whether these sites actually help in the promotion of university and keep the student community vibrant on the Web space, but she is optimistic of the benefits.
“It’s very early in any kinds of return on investment with social media…but not trying getting into those niche areas would also be a pitfall,” she said.
September 24, 2008
September 12, 2008
First impressions in “America”
“Look!” Pema grabbed her friend’s hand as she pointed toward the entrance of Save-a-Lot. Both girls giggled, and then they looked at each other and burst out in silent laughter.
Just by the entrance where the grocery carts were lined up, two adults were kissing, lip-on-lip. It was barely dark.
These exchange juniors from Nepal had seen such scenes in western movies, but for Pema this encounter was a little too early.
“Aren’t they both females?” Pema asked, startled.
The girls did a double-take at the couple unmindful of the people going in and coming out of the store. As they approached the entrance, their dying giggle died abruptly. Now their eyes watched their own steps – left right left right. They were like those firm steps of uniformed men marching in a ceremony. Quietly, they walked on the dark carpet. From the left corner of their eyes they saw the entrance door sliding open and from the right corner they saw four white feet. One wore sandal with strings the other had flip-flops.
Pema, 22, had been in “America” for just three weeks, and she was not impressed at all. She thought it was the country of tall buildings with “wide wide” roads. At least that’s what she thought she saw from the plane as it passed through the shimmering Chicago sky. Here in Kent, the tallest building she has seen is the university’s library, a mere 12- stories high. She regretted not being in a city that would have meant living in real America.
“Kent is not even like Kathmandu!”
Did those Hollywood movies lie? Where are those skyscrapers and the rush in the street? The yellow cabs, busy traffic, glass-caged mannequin wearing Lacoste or Nike – where are those images?
“Of course, I am not in New York, but people think we live in really tall buildings and eat only burgers.”
Her dad was not carried away by such American myths; he simply did not want Pema to go abroad as she already had good education in Nepal. But her mom knew education in a foreign land would do a lot better. Even when Pema’s elder sister went to the UK for her MBA, she wouldn’t want to go.
In fact, Pema had rarely gone out of Kathmandu, except while visiting some nearby cities like a tourist with a hotshot camera.
With three daughters in the family, Pema played the “boy” in the house. Now she has grown into that role and wants her parents to stay with her when two others go to their husband’s home after marriage.
“I came here only because the program is for less than two years.”
In the first week of her class she emailed her best friend --
“I hardly understand the teachers... I miss home.”
As she talks with her family and friends through free internet calls, she mentions what food she cooked or which new place she visited. With few close friends, that’s the only pastime she has for now.
“American students don’t develop friendship easily. They only smile for a second. You only have few friends here and not enough places to hang around.”
The formal atmosphere defies the instant possibility of building casual relationship among her peers. The only thing that impressed her instantly was how her mails arrived on time, how the garbage cans are cleaned daily, and how neatly people formed a line in the rush cafeteria.
“I also want Kathmandu to have some of the good things found here. But it will take 20-30 years to change. Nepal is only influenced by bad western culture.” Perhaps the openness in the street and in human body is what she refers to as “bad.”
In the segment of the city where she grew up, Buddhist monks in red robes would casually walk with strings of beads in their hand silently chanting Om mane peme houm. Elders would be called by the name of the relationship and not by their first name. Everyone who is not a friend is either an uncle or aunt or brother or sister or some in-law. Even plunging blouses are rarely seen, not even in Thamel, a tourist district in the capital city that flourished during the 1960s as western tourists bought cheap marijuana and introduced high culture.
When Pema saw those “uncomfortable” Hollywood scenes in Nepali theater, all taboos were demystified for a while. But she knows she will also change.
“I don’t know how I will be influenced. Maybe it will start with the clothes.” And she chuckles.
[Pema is not her real name.]
Just by the entrance where the grocery carts were lined up, two adults were kissing, lip-on-lip. It was barely dark.
These exchange juniors from Nepal had seen such scenes in western movies, but for Pema this encounter was a little too early.
“Aren’t they both females?” Pema asked, startled.
The girls did a double-take at the couple unmindful of the people going in and coming out of the store. As they approached the entrance, their dying giggle died abruptly. Now their eyes watched their own steps – left right left right. They were like those firm steps of uniformed men marching in a ceremony. Quietly, they walked on the dark carpet. From the left corner of their eyes they saw the entrance door sliding open and from the right corner they saw four white feet. One wore sandal with strings the other had flip-flops.
Pema, 22, had been in “America” for just three weeks, and she was not impressed at all. She thought it was the country of tall buildings with “wide wide” roads. At least that’s what she thought she saw from the plane as it passed through the shimmering Chicago sky. Here in Kent, the tallest building she has seen is the university’s library, a mere 12- stories high. She regretted not being in a city that would have meant living in real America.
“Kent is not even like Kathmandu!”
Did those Hollywood movies lie? Where are those skyscrapers and the rush in the street? The yellow cabs, busy traffic, glass-caged mannequin wearing Lacoste or Nike – where are those images?
“Of course, I am not in New York, but people think we live in really tall buildings and eat only burgers.”
Her dad was not carried away by such American myths; he simply did not want Pema to go abroad as she already had good education in Nepal. But her mom knew education in a foreign land would do a lot better. Even when Pema’s elder sister went to the UK for her MBA, she wouldn’t want to go.
In fact, Pema had rarely gone out of Kathmandu, except while visiting some nearby cities like a tourist with a hotshot camera.
With three daughters in the family, Pema played the “boy” in the house. Now she has grown into that role and wants her parents to stay with her when two others go to their husband’s home after marriage.
“I came here only because the program is for less than two years.”
In the first week of her class she emailed her best friend --
“I hardly understand the teachers... I miss home.”
As she talks with her family and friends through free internet calls, she mentions what food she cooked or which new place she visited. With few close friends, that’s the only pastime she has for now.
“American students don’t develop friendship easily. They only smile for a second. You only have few friends here and not enough places to hang around.”
The formal atmosphere defies the instant possibility of building casual relationship among her peers. The only thing that impressed her instantly was how her mails arrived on time, how the garbage cans are cleaned daily, and how neatly people formed a line in the rush cafeteria.
“I also want Kathmandu to have some of the good things found here. But it will take 20-30 years to change. Nepal is only influenced by bad western culture.” Perhaps the openness in the street and in human body is what she refers to as “bad.”
In the segment of the city where she grew up, Buddhist monks in red robes would casually walk with strings of beads in their hand silently chanting Om mane peme houm. Elders would be called by the name of the relationship and not by their first name. Everyone who is not a friend is either an uncle or aunt or brother or sister or some in-law. Even plunging blouses are rarely seen, not even in Thamel, a tourist district in the capital city that flourished during the 1960s as western tourists bought cheap marijuana and introduced high culture.
When Pema saw those “uncomfortable” Hollywood scenes in Nepali theater, all taboos were demystified for a while. But she knows she will also change.
“I don’t know how I will be influenced. Maybe it will start with the clothes.” And she chuckles.
[Pema is not her real name.]
September 11, 2008
Dasain Sacrifice
Some 200 people had gathered outside the temple. It was Navami, the ninth day of Dasahara. Another most important day in the 10-day Hindu festival when the victory of good over evil is celebrated. It was early morning. Probably around 8. A large group had made a circle around a place that had a wooden pole pierced to the ground. That placed was consecrated as holy. In early dusk, some apprentice priest had smeared cow dung around the pole. Actually, cow dung puts off the files.
People, mostly men, in sandals, boots, canvas stood waiting. Little kids with their muddy feet pushed their way to the inner circle. All waiting to see that ultimate moment.
A small crowd made their way toward the circle following a priest draped in white who carried a plate full of flowers and vermilion mixed with rice. A bundle of incense stick protruded out. Behind him was another man in white dhoti. Larger than everyone in the crowd. His chest was bare. In his right hand he carried a heavy machete that shone in the morning sun. Two strands of cloth, one in white and other in red were tied at the handle. Behind him, two men pulled a horn-less buffalo that marched quietly oblivious to its fate.
That was the beast everyone waited to appear. That was the beast that will represent this year's evil. That was the beast everyone will cheer when the large man will strike upon and separate its head with a swift stroke as the priest mumbles some obscure Sanskrit verses in praise of non-violence and peace.
People, mostly men, in sandals, boots, canvas stood waiting. Little kids with their muddy feet pushed their way to the inner circle. All waiting to see that ultimate moment.
A small crowd made their way toward the circle following a priest draped in white who carried a plate full of flowers and vermilion mixed with rice. A bundle of incense stick protruded out. Behind him was another man in white dhoti. Larger than everyone in the crowd. His chest was bare. In his right hand he carried a heavy machete that shone in the morning sun. Two strands of cloth, one in white and other in red were tied at the handle. Behind him, two men pulled a horn-less buffalo that marched quietly oblivious to its fate.
That was the beast everyone waited to appear. That was the beast that will represent this year's evil. That was the beast everyone will cheer when the large man will strike upon and separate its head with a swift stroke as the priest mumbles some obscure Sanskrit verses in praise of non-violence and peace.
September 08, 2008
Broadcast Beat Reporting: Legacy
This "Legacy" was written for Gary Hanson's incoming class of Fall 08.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to this class! Relax and calm yourself. Because the soul of BBR settles only in a calm body. Did you just read ‘soul of BBR?’ Yes, you did! This class has a soul, a personality of its own that will become your part. And Gary will release bits of this soul into your life in a way a kangaroo rears its joey. Very soon, you will slip out of that BBR pouch and hop around on your own. Until then, stay in Gary’s pouch - fully protected, fully nourished as he shows you a glimpse of the broadcast world. He is the man who will teach you to stand just on your tail.
With a pack of legacy you also must have received a syllabus. Don’t be intimidated by its detail. You will get used to it eventually. But remember, the chunks of activities you see there are similar to the ways in which we compartmentalize our daily works. For this class the first thing you must learn is to chunk out your time for BBR so that you can fit other activities. Gary will tell you that you’ll spend at least 20 hours a week. In initial weeks, I spent 40!
Let me tell you three most important things you will need right from the start.
No. 1: Acquaint yourself with the basics of making a package. [A package is the actual story that you produce for TV2. You will find the story idea, write the script, do the shooting, and edit it. All by yourself!] Don’t be overwhelmed.
No. 2: Work on your script as much as you can.
No. 3: Learn to use your camera and practice getting stable shots.
As a reporter you are expected to know your beat well. Kent State has a lot of activities going around that you can cover. If you are short of any story ideas, ask one from a TV2 producer. Once you have the story, focus on how much information you can collect for your story. But remember, you may have wonderful stuff in your camera, but if you don’t use that, it means you didn’t have it. What comes out in the package is what matters.
[some parts deleted]
While covering your beats you will realize how difficult it is to get information. Keep the tape rolling and ask questions that you did not plan. If you planned three questions, ask ten. Get into conversation. That’s how you get good soundbites.
Sometimes you may have to follow up because you did not have the right shots. You may think why, after all, it’s a two-minute story. Why should you bother? No. it makes a difference. In broadcast, the right shot is called the ‘gold coin.’ If you have that, you made it.
When you do your Viewing Assignments, take notes. Observe carefully the packages produced by the giants. Identify the key production elements, like shots type, natural sound, and the use of those ‘gold coin’ moments. The earlier you can identify these elements, the sooner you will learn to use them.
Unlike print or radio, TV reporting depends mostly on visual support. For your package you must try to get as much visual cues as possible. This means that besides getting the interviews, you need b-rolls that speak for themselves. Shoot generic as well as specific stuff. Get a variety of shots. Wide, Medium, Close-up and very tight shots. This is a tough job. You will still learn to do this in a good way even when you are in your final packages. But as you work on your script, think of an audience who might be doing something else while keeping the TV switched on. Your script must have as much information for a person who cannot ‘watch’ the story without actually watching it.
Remember my kangaroo analogy at the beginning? As the joey dares to come out in the wild, the first thing it learns is to evade away from the enemies. Do you know what’s your biggest enemy in production? Shaky videos. A bad video is no video at all. Until you are absolutely stable without a tripod, always use it. Carry a bag that fits your camera and a tripod. If you are using a small camera (ZR800 Canon), you don’t need a heavy tripod.
Your survival also depends on getting the audio right. Toward the end of the semester we came to know about the concept of ‘Mic the dog.’ This means, if you want a good audio you need to have the mic as close and as always as possible.
As you critique your packages, see how successfully you have used these clues.
As a BBR student, you are automatically a TV2 reporter. Be proud that you are getting a chance to work for a station that has live newscasts. If you have any new ideas, you can have your own TV show. You will have a lot to learn while working for TV2.
This is great opportunity to work in a converged newsroom. Very soon you will realize you are working with a producer, videographer, graphics designer and others. Since the work you do will be used in the news, take this opportunity to do something that can be used in your own package. It may not always happen, but if you plan it out with your producer, it may work out. Get an opportunity to work either as a talent (people who do the newscasts) or as tech (people at the control room). That way you don’t just do the usual chores required by the course, but pick up skills in media in action.
You are in a great class with the most committed professor. Take advantage of it. Perhaps, one day you’ll learn to balance yourself on your tail like a kangaroo.
Good luck!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to this class! Relax and calm yourself. Because the soul of BBR settles only in a calm body. Did you just read ‘soul of BBR?’ Yes, you did! This class has a soul, a personality of its own that will become your part. And Gary will release bits of this soul into your life in a way a kangaroo rears its joey. Very soon, you will slip out of that BBR pouch and hop around on your own. Until then, stay in Gary’s pouch - fully protected, fully nourished as he shows you a glimpse of the broadcast world. He is the man who will teach you to stand just on your tail.
With a pack of legacy you also must have received a syllabus. Don’t be intimidated by its detail. You will get used to it eventually. But remember, the chunks of activities you see there are similar to the ways in which we compartmentalize our daily works. For this class the first thing you must learn is to chunk out your time for BBR so that you can fit other activities. Gary will tell you that you’ll spend at least 20 hours a week. In initial weeks, I spent 40!
Let me tell you three most important things you will need right from the start.
No. 1: Acquaint yourself with the basics of making a package. [A package is the actual story that you produce for TV2. You will find the story idea, write the script, do the shooting, and edit it. All by yourself!] Don’t be overwhelmed.
No. 2: Work on your script as much as you can.
No. 3: Learn to use your camera and practice getting stable shots.
As a reporter you are expected to know your beat well. Kent State has a lot of activities going around that you can cover. If you are short of any story ideas, ask one from a TV2 producer. Once you have the story, focus on how much information you can collect for your story. But remember, you may have wonderful stuff in your camera, but if you don’t use that, it means you didn’t have it. What comes out in the package is what matters.
[some parts deleted]
While covering your beats you will realize how difficult it is to get information. Keep the tape rolling and ask questions that you did not plan. If you planned three questions, ask ten. Get into conversation. That’s how you get good soundbites.
Sometimes you may have to follow up because you did not have the right shots. You may think why, after all, it’s a two-minute story. Why should you bother? No. it makes a difference. In broadcast, the right shot is called the ‘gold coin.’ If you have that, you made it.
When you do your Viewing Assignments, take notes. Observe carefully the packages produced by the giants. Identify the key production elements, like shots type, natural sound, and the use of those ‘gold coin’ moments. The earlier you can identify these elements, the sooner you will learn to use them.
Unlike print or radio, TV reporting depends mostly on visual support. For your package you must try to get as much visual cues as possible. This means that besides getting the interviews, you need b-rolls that speak for themselves. Shoot generic as well as specific stuff. Get a variety of shots. Wide, Medium, Close-up and very tight shots. This is a tough job. You will still learn to do this in a good way even when you are in your final packages. But as you work on your script, think of an audience who might be doing something else while keeping the TV switched on. Your script must have as much information for a person who cannot ‘watch’ the story without actually watching it.
Remember my kangaroo analogy at the beginning? As the joey dares to come out in the wild, the first thing it learns is to evade away from the enemies. Do you know what’s your biggest enemy in production? Shaky videos. A bad video is no video at all. Until you are absolutely stable without a tripod, always use it. Carry a bag that fits your camera and a tripod. If you are using a small camera (ZR800 Canon), you don’t need a heavy tripod.
Your survival also depends on getting the audio right. Toward the end of the semester we came to know about the concept of ‘Mic the dog.’ This means, if you want a good audio you need to have the mic as close and as always as possible.
As you critique your packages, see how successfully you have used these clues.
As a BBR student, you are automatically a TV2 reporter. Be proud that you are getting a chance to work for a station that has live newscasts. If you have any new ideas, you can have your own TV show. You will have a lot to learn while working for TV2.
This is great opportunity to work in a converged newsroom. Very soon you will realize you are working with a producer, videographer, graphics designer and others. Since the work you do will be used in the news, take this opportunity to do something that can be used in your own package. It may not always happen, but if you plan it out with your producer, it may work out. Get an opportunity to work either as a talent (people who do the newscasts) or as tech (people at the control room). That way you don’t just do the usual chores required by the course, but pick up skills in media in action.
You are in a great class with the most committed professor. Take advantage of it. Perhaps, one day you’ll learn to balance yourself on your tail like a kangaroo.
Good luck!
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