The Globe launched a new website in September. As part of that initiative, the Globe has created a media lab onsite to innovate technology and journalism. You can follow the Globe's media lab on Twitter @globelab.
UNH students look on as Chris Marstall of the Boston Globe media lab, at right, demonstrates an application that crowdsources Instagram photos. Pictured, from left: Sam Ueda, Julia Miller, Bri Hand, Nick Reid, Merhawi Wells-Bogues, Eliza Mackintosh, Ellen Stuart, Kristen Phelps, and Alexia Tsagaris. (Photo by Essdras M Suarez).
Go here for a short video of Chris Marstall talking about Instagram that I took onsite and Tweeted during his talk using Qik Video.
After a glimpse of the not-so-distant future, Pulitzer-prize winning photog Essdras Suarez talked about the importance of finding a unique way to frame photographs that capture emotion. Here he is, via Qik video, talking about getting close with the camera.
Last but not least, Angela Nelson, boston.com news editor, described the challenges of editing the flow of daily news at one of the nation's most-visited news sites. She emphasized the importance of young journalists learning the latest multimedia tools, from audio to video, to deepen their street reporting. But, she said, one skill is most necessary: Journalists need to know how to write, even in a digital world.
Thanks to Michael, Chris, Damon, Essdras, Angela, and Boston Globe Editor Marty Baron for the gracious hospitality they showed to UNH journalism students.
Thank you Michael, Chris, Damon, Essdras, Angela, and Mr. Baron for welcoming us to your newsroom. I found the entire operation to be mesmerizing. I was spell-bound by the Instagram city map. Michael, Chris and Damon, what you do is awesome. Esdrass, it was so inspiring to see the world through your lens. And Angela, your insight into online journalism and multimedia today was really, really enlightening. It's amazing what you and the entire team at the Globe do. Thanks so much for giving us a glimpse!
ReplyDeleteStanding in the room pictured above and taking in the theoretical future of such a technologically advanced publication as Boston.com was a remarkably exciting experience. Stepping in, I was immediately drawn the the interactive Instagram wall of monitors showing Bostonians' recent submissions over their various locations. Classically, a newspaper has shown what's going on in its city by showing a few pictures and several headlines on the front page. Given the ever-expanding possibilities of the web and all its contributors, what says the Instagram wall, in cooperation with traditional methods, couldn't replace the online front pages we see now? After all, it seems like a waste to just mimic the printed paper when the web allows you to do so much more.
ReplyDeleteIt's hard not to have thoughts like this when immersed in the hub of news technology at Boston.com.
Talking to Essdras Suarez reinforced my desire to learn more about the manipulation of advanced cameras. Looking at his pictures, it's so obvious that he commands the camera to do exactly what he sees in his mind's eye, while I merely take what the camera gives me.
The anecdote he related about our brain's comfort with seeing things from eye level--from the moment we wake up, he said, that's how we perceive almost everything we see--made me realize the importance to trying to find new and interesting angles when taking photos.
"Keep moving, keep shooting, keep adjusting," he said.
Angela Nelson gave us the run down of Boston.com and showed us the classic newsroom. She told us how much value is added by being able to quickly capture and edit a video to go along with our story, but also stressed the importance of the story itself. Pretty much anyone from our generation, she said, can take photos and video, so we should hone our writing skills to stand out.
In all, the experience was inspirational and motivational. How I'd love to one day be working in that environment and have such amazing colleagues.
Wow! What an awesome day. It was incredible getting to see the behind the scenes of the Boston Globe. It was definitely a day I won't forget. Thanks so much to Michael, Chris, Damon, Essdras, and Angela for taking time out of their busy schedules to show us around and give us some great tips and insights. Thanks also to those who helped make our trip possible, especially to Tom for organizing the whole day. It was the one of the best and inspiring experiences I've had in the journalism program!
ReplyDeleteThank you to everyone who took time out of their busy schedules and showed us a completely different newsroom than I expected.
ReplyDeleteTo everyone in the Globe media lab I was blown away by all the applications of news in this digital playground you’re creating. The monitors of geo-tagged Instagram pics were my personal favorite and I can only imagine the different ways that platform could be used to link stories to the people who want to read them.
Essdras, I managed to write down some things you said that really resonated with me. Among my favorites: “It’s easier to ask for forgiveness then to ask for permission.” Although out of context this might not make much sense, it’s pretty applicable to just about any reporting situation and I thought it was perfect. I also loved your description of capturing photos that jar people out of the perspective they have from the moment they wake up to the time they go to bed.
Angela, you said it all in a few words: young journalists today need to be able to write. I thank you for this little reaffirmation of my belief that the words come first.
Again, thank you all to opening our eyes to the newsroom of the future. I can’t wait to jump in. I applied for the Globe’s summer internship, so fingers crossed it’s in this very newsroom!