Week of February 16, 2014

Tuesday: February 18, 2014

Chris and Aramei presented their two-way in class today, and I helped critique them. Chris just needs to watch his pacing, and that was something I had to deal with also last semester. I'm from New Jersey, and we tend to speak fast there. So I definitely had to adjust.

After, Kylie and I recorded their two-way. I think Aramei needs to loosen up a bit. I can't tell if it's nerves, or if she's just a really quiet person. But when I sit on the opposite side of the mic and listen in my headphones, she just sounds a bit disconnected. Kylie and I tried to get her to change her voice a bit and add more inflection, but she just wasn't taking to direction.

After them, Hector and Alyssa had their two-way, as I recorded theirs too. I stayed after classs to edit Chris' two-way by cleaning it up a bit. I also stayed late to help Briana find ambient sound for her story, while helping her position it where it made sense in her story. She already had an idea, and with Dr. Petrich peering over my shoulder, he agreed on a slight move. It's so nice to see a student as bright as Briana get the editing process so early in the game. It's a little bit of a teary-eyed moment for me too. My teaching, as well as other A-Team members' and Dr. Petrich's teaching, have been wearing off!

I added a promo for this week's show on Facebook, making sure to highlight the first Beat Story being aired from the Fall semester of Coverage of Public Affairs. I'm sure they're excited!

I also uploaded a picture of the in-class practice session for Aramei and Chris' two-way.

Earlier today, I received an email from Sharlene with the list of Approved Story Assignments for this week's show. I sent an email out to the Social Media Team including the document containing the story links, and made sure each member had a task of uploading each social media outlet with those promos.

Thursday: February 20, 2014

I did not attend production this week, but will be attending next week. I did create a promo for Facebook though, once I saw the Co-Host script uploaded into Drop Box. 

Week of February 9, 2014

Tuesday: February 11, 2014

Yesterday, I sent an email out to the Social Media Team including this week's promos for the show. I included that I would be updating the Facebook with the promo, and that each member should update their social media outlets as well with current information for this week. 

I sat in the practice session of Jadarius and Kim's two-way, and then recorded them in the studio. Jadarius did a wonderful job on his two-way. I was concerned while assigning the story to him because he said the area in which he wanted to cover was Broward County. So, after confirming that with him, I chose a random but impactful charter school story in the Wilton Manors area for him to cover. 

After Jadarius recorded, I recorded Andrea and Ken's two-way. I could tell that Andrea will be putting forth more effort than last semester, as I remember in Coverage of Public Affairs, she tried to ask Markella and I about our ideas for the beat story project. She almost did the same topic as me too, but I changed mine last minute so we wouldn't have the same. But, I also preferred my second choice about the texting and driving ban anyway. 

Immediately after the recording, I began deleting the mistakes and multiple takes in between; and boy there were a lot of them. But, that's okay. I'm sure my two-way recording was a mess. I was so nervous in the beginning I couldn't even remember if I hit all of my bullet points I prepared. 

In class I updated the Facebook with a promo for the upcoming show. 

...As well as linking the first week's show to the Facebook page. I thought by doing this, we could give the current students an easier way to access the show. I know googling "South Florida Journal" doesn't turn up many accurate results in finding where we put our content. 

While in class, I snapped a photo of Hector getting his spot story critiqued before finalizing it for the show. He seems to not take criticism too well, and always offers a back-comment of why his story is worded as such. Hey, it's good to have confidence in your work. 

Thursday: February 13, 2013

This was the first week I attended the editing day for South Florida Journal. I filled in as Co-Host for Robert since he was absent. I did such a cold read of the script, and I just was so happy to be in that room again. What was even better was that I was Co-Hosting with my a really great friend! I've known Markella for almost three years and this was great that she and I could experience being Co-Hosts together.

Immediately after my recording with Markella, I jumped on the editing and dropped in the two-way bites into the actual recording with multitrack. I love this portion of Thursdays and see myself doing this each week.

As a new feature of the Facebook page, I wanted to try adding a video promo for each week's upcoming show. I recorded this one with Markella for this week's show, as we're Co-Hosting.

To view the video, go visit to the Facebook page.

Week of February 2, 2014

Tuesday: February 4, 2014

It's a huge honor to be one of the Assignment Editors for South Florida Journal. On February 3, I assigned my first round of stories to the Tuesday Group 2 students for their two-ways. Then today, I sent the assignments to Group 2 students doing two-ways in the Wednesday class. Picking stories was a bit harder than I thought. Picking two-ways meant that I had to find stories that had a bit more tension that say a possible spot story article. I was looking for familiar heated debates, and ones where there was obvious tension too. I didn't want to spring hard article and issues at the students right away. Those are for the end of the semester when they become more confident!

The in-class practice session for Germaine's two-way with Briana went really well. I was blown away with how much Germaine knew, and how much thought/work she put into this practice session. I knew from the first day of class that she had a lot of potential. It made me wonder if I sounded that good when I had a two-way last semester! 

I then was the engineer and ears with Markella in the studio as we recorded their two-way. 

After that, I sat in with Stephanie and Shanea in that two-way. It was a little rough to get through, but I aided in trying to organize her wording and questions a bit. I figure that with time, both of them could soak in a bit more of what it's like to be Broadcast-like, stylistically speaking. 

I then updated the Facebook page with a promo for the first week's show, and took 2 videos of Germaine's two-way: one of the practice session and one while in the studio as teasers. 

Week of January 26, 2014

Over this past weekend, I edited Briana's Mock Spot Story via email. Nick also emailed me with his story. I can't be too critical because I'm a semester ahead and have a bit more knowledge of what makes a good spot story. So, I commented with ways to approach the story for corrections without actually saying what was wrong in each. I don't want to be that person that the students come to and expect me to do their work for them. I learned and found my voice in Broadcast, now it's their turn!

Tuesday: January 28, 2014

Because many students hadn't finished their Mock Spot Stories last week, we continued to work on them in class. I helped Briana record, edit and place together her story in the recording studios. Briana and I are familiar with each other from a previous class, and we tend to work really well together. She took such initiative today to take the mouse from my hand and edit herself, which I thought to be amazing. More and more kids seem to be less afraid of this new technology. I remember being afraid of messing my soundtracks and bites up. But that was before I knew of an "undo" button!

After Briana, Hector was ready to record so I helped him as well. I previously helped him focus his story while in class. He sounds like he has a lot of outside knowledge that he'll try to incorporate into his stories this semester. He said he worked at a radio station, or something similar, editing sound bites and things. Maybe that'll give him a leg-up this semester!

I stayed after class with Briana and Hector to have them play their stories and get a small critique from Dr. Petrich. I was so pleased to see the look on both of their faces when their stories came to an end. Briana was smiling from ear to ear, while Hector was doing the same, but made a comment about a slight stutter he made in the recording. Oh, he is a perfectionist and I see that I might have rubbed off on him already! Oh no!

During the time in which Hector was editing his Mock Story, I took some Behind the Scenes footage in the recording studio which I shared on Facebook. To view the video, please visit the Facebook page.

I also added a blurb on Facebook to see who would be our main audience this semester (as far as people who like the content) and noticed it was mostly kids who either are in Broadcast now, or are graduated. I was hoping to see some actual fans of the show outside of the University.

After class, I sent an email to my fellow Social Media Gurus and included a list of our names and tasks for updating social media each day of the week. I also attached the Approved Story Assignments for this week's show, that way we could all update each social media outlet with the most current information. 

Thursday: January 30, 2014

WORKSHOP

Today was our final workshop, and it was more of a wrap-up. We discussed what we felt we needed to still learn more about, and that was the billboard. So, in between getting into groups, we tried our hand at creating the billboard.

I wrote and edited a portion of the Co-Host script to include the tag lines for liking and following South Florida Journal on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Vine. I think that will be a vital portion of the show where a listener will recognize that we are becoming more social media friendly, and that soon we will be fully involved in it all.

I also wrote a promo for Facebook to be used the next week, and recorded a similar version for Owl Radio. Nikki and I sent an email to Owl Radio Station Manager, Anastacia. I'm excited to be teaming up with Owl Radio. I think that this will boost listener audiences! If only I could walk through the breezeway where this will be playing and hear my voice. That would be so cool.

I conducted a Social Media Team meeting in class today, and we discussed who would update what media platform each time we meet for class. We decided that we want to split up the roles of updating Facebook, Twitter, Vine and Instagram

I made sure to post a photo of some of the team on the Facebook page (pictured below).

Just for a new fresh vibe on the Facebook page, I uploaded a video that shows that the A-Team really is a family who still is young at heart and likes to joke around. Kadeem transitions his voice for a segment with South Florida Journal. To view the video, go to the South Florida Journal Facebook page. 

Week of January 19, 2014

Tuesday: January 21, 2014

Wasn't I just in Broadcast Journalism and eager to get my Mock Spot Story Assignment? I remember going off campus for an hour and a half, being the only group to get really amazing sound bites from an adjacent school Vice Principal for our Mock Spot.

Anyway, it's time for the next group of students to take the stage. Today was the big day for them- as they took a dive into getting a story within one class period. Taking direction from a Sun-Sentinel article that Dr. Petrich assigned, each person went out and got two sound bites to use in their story. They were to come into class with a lead and story outline set up so they would just edit and record later in the afternoon.

It seemed like not many students actually did work at home, since only a few students volunteered to present their leads and story ideas. This isn't such a good sign at the start of the semester, but I might be speaking too soon.

Once students came back from getting interviews around campus, I sat down with Kimberly and helped edit her piece. Editing here was more re-wording sentences and making sure each phrase was pleasing to the ear. As a class, we edited Nick's story and I contributed to those edits as well.

Alyssa was the first student ready to get into the studio to record and put her story together, so I accompanied her. I aided in setting up the mic, adjusting levels, and being the engineer/ear in this operation. I showed her how to do multitrack and put her sound bites in, after she edited her voice track and bites separately. She was the first student done with this assignment, and I think hers turned out to be fantastic. She took direction well the entire time, and was even taking notes on my instructions. I found that to be really great because editing can get tricky if you don't know what to press or highlight during the process.

The Facebook page was updated as well with a shot of the story the students were working off of for this assignment. I remember mine being school/education based. This is a really good and current story selection.

Thursday: January 23, 2014

WORKSHOP

In today's workshop, we focused on creating a billboard for the show. I took a ton of notes in case I were to construct the billboard, and they definitely came in use. I can see that finding bites from the two-ways will take a while, but those are most important snippets one will hear. They decide if a listener will be interested in the program or not. Co-Host materials are to be pasted into multitrack next, after adding the found two-way bites. The list goes on with how to construct a billboard, but I found it really fascinating. It's a real craft, and I appreciate it more now that I know what kind of work goes into it. 

I updated the Facebook page with the new logo, thanks to Markella! She and I were conversing last week about what the logo should be after bringing it up on Thursday's class meeting. I love the owl fingers. They're just so unique to FAU. 

As well as a new logo, South Florida Journal gave birth to a Twitter page. Tweet-Tweet! 

I shared the good news on Facebook. Thanks to the Broadcast class for this idea, we now have a page where we plan on adding photos, videos, and other important newsy information as the semester continues. 

Week of January 12, 2014

Tueday: January 14, 2014

I am so pleased to take on the role of Social Media Coordinator for the South Florida Journal. Today, I took the time to show the Broadcast students the Facebook page. The class suggested even more ways my social media team can utilize different media to promote the show. Some suggestions were taking photos or videos of reporters and featuring them on Instagram and/or Facebook. Another great suggestion was the creation of a Twitter page which would showcase breaking news.

After a short break, I led a couple students- Kimberly, Jadarius and Aramei to a recording room to record their own voices as they read my Beat Story from last semester. Reading a script cold is hard, so I showed them how to find words to emphasize with inflections and make it their own. We went through the basics of editing their voice tracks, seeing how much they absorbed from class time. In between the fade-ins and outs, and the adjusting amplitude, I had the students go through some possible practical exam questions to get them prepared.

I can already see how the class could see Jadarius as the next Addison H. of South Florida Journal. His deep voice is really lovely on air. I saw that from this mini recording session.

I also updated the South Florida Journal Facebook page with a picture of Shanea editing her voice tracks while in the recording studio. She seemed really excited to be starting a new-type of hands on class.

Thursday: January 16, 2014

WORKSHOP

Today we got to go into the studio and get our voices back on track. With not having practiced my Broadcast voice since last semester, I felt a little rusty. So, I went into the recording studio with Tina and Addison to listen and record their run-through of the Co-Host script for the first show of the semester. Being able to laugh over the mess-ups, and joke about them later, already shows me that my classmates and I will get even closer this semester. I'm excited for it all.

I also updated the Facebook page with a collage of the first voices we will hear on the first program of the semester. I can hardly wait for my turn as Co-Host!

Week of January 5, 2014

Tuesday: January 7, 2014

Today, I spoke in front of the Broadcast Journalism class. It was completely surreal to be past the point of Broadcast Journalism. Now a proud part of the coveted "A-Team," I explained to the students that they should NOT procrastinate with their stories. Today was more of a hint of what the semester will be like, as I, with the help of other Advanced Broadcast students, outlined each assignment the new students will have to complete this semester.

I also updated the South Florida Journal Facebook page while the students took a lesson from South Florida Journal's creator, Dr. Petrich, on Adobe Audition. This class was a nice little refresher for me too, being that it's been a semester since I've touched the software and the studio software too.

I can already see how this semester might turn out. I can see right from today that the girl in the picture actually below (I believe it's Germaine) will be a front-runner in class. She is not afraid to ask questions and that's something a true journalist should not be afraid of. I sat in the back of the class with Markella and she even agreed with me too.

Previous to this first class meeting, I updated the South Florida Journal Facebook page over Winter Break. I was so excited to start this new task of being a Social Media Coordinator, that I wanted to make sure the Facebook page stayed current.

I was thrilled to have a picture of the whole class together. I am so happy we are all moving on together and get to continue to be this "family" Dr. Petrich talks about!

I definitely wanted to thank our teachers, and wish them good luck in their future endeavors. I am very thankful for their help last semester. Especially Estelle's. She helped me each time I had a spot story and looked over my work. 

I couldn't believe the time was finally here. A new semester, and my final semester at FAU. 

Thursday: January 9, 2013

WORKSHOP

Today was more of a course orientation, and introduction. We discussed our thoughts about mentoring on Tuesday, and those who mentored on Wednesday. Some of us saw the next A-Team that would be  filling our shoes next semester just from one class meeting; while others saw ones who might need some extra help this semester. Today was really about reflecting on the fact that we're starting our final semester, and that it will be a lot of work to mentor and keep up with show production. 

I'm so excited to be updating the Facebook page and be an Assignment Editor, that I can't wait for my first time submitting stories to Sharlene for review. I can hardly wait for the show to begin this semester. Is there a fast-forward button?