My second sound story is an interview with a stranger, Veronica McClure.
I met Veronica in the halls of Prothro-Yeager. She was waiting for her next class. I interviewed Veronica while students hustled through the halls, on the way to their next class.
Veronica appears to be one of a few students who is certain about a career path.
After the interview, I recorded some of the activity (nat sound) in the halls (students greeting each other, chatting, doors opening and closing) which was used to give Veronica's story an authentic feel.
Owing to the fact that the interview was spontaneous, some of Veronica's answers were single words or phrases. To compensate for this, I recorded a third track, my narration of the interview.
I edited the sound story by deleting my interview questions.
Then I selected sections of the interview that reflected the heart of Veronica's story, her interest in a career at Disney World.
To finish, I cut and pasted the narration, then decreased the volume of the nat sound in the appropriate places to make the final product.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Friday, March 4, 2011
Sound Story
On February 25, I interviewed Brandi Stroud.
After recording the interview, I uploaded it with Audacity and began to edit.
Step 1: I deleted my voice since this story is not about the interviewer.
Step 2: I listened to Brandi's entire discourse to get the essence of her interview and the parts that reflected who she is.
Step 3: I realized that most of her answers centered around the fact that she is working toward becoming a book author and publisher. Consequently, I deleted every piece of information that was unrelated to that fact.
Step 4: I cut and pasted to help listeners make sense of parts that sounded unfinished (considering they will not hear the interviewer's questions) without changing any meaning.
Step 5: I made a decision not to delete some of her fillers ("um") because it reflected the spontaneity of the interview, added authenticity to it and showed how Brandi reflected as she spoke.
Step 6: I listened to the finished product to make sure my edits had not added or subtracted anything from Brandi's story.
After recording the interview, I uploaded it with Audacity and began to edit.
Step 1: I deleted my voice since this story is not about the interviewer.
Step 2: I listened to Brandi's entire discourse to get the essence of her interview and the parts that reflected who she is.
Step 3: I realized that most of her answers centered around the fact that she is working toward becoming a book author and publisher. Consequently, I deleted every piece of information that was unrelated to that fact.
Step 4: I cut and pasted to help listeners make sense of parts that sounded unfinished (considering they will not hear the interviewer's questions) without changing any meaning.
Step 5: I made a decision not to delete some of her fillers ("um") because it reflected the spontaneity of the interview, added authenticity to it and showed how Brandi reflected as she spoke.
Step 6: I listened to the finished product to make sure my edits had not added or subtracted anything from Brandi's story.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Editing with Audacity 2
The second time around, editing the audio stories was much easier.
The two stories I edited were the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck and Need An Interpreter.
Fillers:I started by deleting any fillers for example "uh," "um," or "you know."
Shorten: Again, I shortened the music before the introduction, so the story began with the lead.
Delete: In one instance a man laughed then spoke then laughed again. I deleted the second time he laughed.
Inferences: When the reporter said "Quinn gets that question a lot," I deleted that statement because obviously a question was asked. Instead, the recording continued with Quinn answering the question.
Extra words: I also deleted transitional words and conjunctions that did not subtract from the meaning of a statement. For example, "Oftentimes," "so."
The two stories I edited were the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck and Need An Interpreter.
Fillers:I started by deleting any fillers for example "uh," "um," or "you know."
Shorten: Again, I shortened the music before the introduction, so the story began with the lead.
Delete: In one instance a man laughed then spoke then laughed again. I deleted the second time he laughed.
Inferences: When the reporter said "Quinn gets that question a lot," I deleted that statement because obviously a question was asked. Instead, the recording continued with Quinn answering the question.
Extra words: I also deleted transitional words and conjunctions that did not subtract from the meaning of a statement. For example, "Oftentimes," "so."
Editing with Audacity: Tajik Jimmy
When I edited the story dubbed Tajik Jimmy, I removed a number of sections in order to make the story more compact but still effective.
1. I shortened the musical interludes that played during pauses in the reporter's speech.
2. If there were two sections that mentioned the same information, I deleted one of them.
3. I deleted the music before the introduction so that the story began with the lead.
4. I also deleted short phrases that could be inferred. For example, I deleted "took Russians by storm" since it was already mentioned that the video was a hit in Russia.
1. I shortened the musical interludes that played during pauses in the reporter's speech.
2. If there were two sections that mentioned the same information, I deleted one of them.
3. I deleted the music before the introduction so that the story began with the lead.
4. I also deleted short phrases that could be inferred. For example, I deleted "took Russians by storm" since it was already mentioned that the video was a hit in Russia.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Hunger and Resilience by Michael Nye
For this particular feature, photographer Michael Nye used still photos and audio to tell stories about Hunger and Resilience.
The stories I listened to were compelling because the photos helped to create a conncetion to the story. Also, hearing the passion, sorrow and pain in each subject's voice added authenticity to his/her story.
One story called "Kindness" talks about the great appreciation you have for the little you own after having experienced homelessness and hunger. It speaks of the great appreciation you have for all that people do for you when you are in dire need. The smallest kindness makes a world of difference when you have nothing else.
Experimenting with the various media that you can use to tell a story, can determine the impact that story has on its audience. For instance, if Michael Nye had simply written each person's story and coupled the print with a picture, the storytelling would not have been as effective as audio. I would have not have been inclined to read any of the stories in its entirety.
Having evaulated one of my previous blog posts, I made a conscious effort to adhere to the tips for writing for the web.
The stories I listened to were compelling because the photos helped to create a conncetion to the story. Also, hearing the passion, sorrow and pain in each subject's voice added authenticity to his/her story.
One story called "Kindness" talks about the great appreciation you have for the little you own after having experienced homelessness and hunger. It speaks of the great appreciation you have for all that people do for you when you are in dire need. The smallest kindness makes a world of difference when you have nothing else.
Experimenting with the various media that you can use to tell a story, can determine the impact that story has on its audience. For instance, if Michael Nye had simply written each person's story and coupled the print with a picture, the storytelling would not have been as effective as audio. I would have not have been inclined to read any of the stories in its entirety.
Having evaulated one of my previous blog posts, I made a conscious effort to adhere to the tips for writing for the web.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Storytelling 101
According to Ira Glass, there are TWO BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS of any story.
1. The anecdote: A story in its purest form is sequential. No matter how boring the pattern of facts, how you tell the story makes the difference. Bait your audience. Create suspense; constantly raise questions and answer them.
2. Have a moment of reflection: Show your audience why they needed to pay attention.
Usually people get into careers because they are passionate about something.
At first, your work may not be good enough. Everybody who does creative work went through a phase when they failed to translate the stories in their head. But if you are not failing, you are not creating a situation to get lucky, be successful.
It is normal to take a while to perfect your work. You will realize it takes more time to find a story than it takes to produce it. Additionally, only 1/2 to 1/3 of your story ideas will become a story that is worth telling.
Just don't create mediocre work. Sometimes you will have to abandon a story because it turned out to be different from your initial perception.
These TWO PIECES OF ADVICE will help beginners.
1. Be yourself. Don't try to sound like professionals in your field. If you have a good personality and are interesting, your audience will pay attention.
2. People want to see you interacting with other people. Don't talk about yourself more than the subjects of your story. Balance your work with information about yourself and the interviewee. It gives your stories character and drama.
1. The anecdote: A story in its purest form is sequential. No matter how boring the pattern of facts, how you tell the story makes the difference. Bait your audience. Create suspense; constantly raise questions and answer them.
2. Have a moment of reflection: Show your audience why they needed to pay attention.
Usually people get into careers because they are passionate about something.
At first, your work may not be good enough. Everybody who does creative work went through a phase when they failed to translate the stories in their head. But if you are not failing, you are not creating a situation to get lucky, be successful.
It is normal to take a while to perfect your work. You will realize it takes more time to find a story than it takes to produce it. Additionally, only 1/2 to 1/3 of your story ideas will become a story that is worth telling.
Just don't create mediocre work. Sometimes you will have to abandon a story because it turned out to be different from your initial perception.
These TWO PIECES OF ADVICE will help beginners.
1. Be yourself. Don't try to sound like professionals in your field. If you have a good personality and are interesting, your audience will pay attention.
2. People want to see you interacting with other people. Don't talk about yourself more than the subjects of your story. Balance your work with information about yourself and the interviewee. It gives your stories character and drama.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Professional Blogs
Jack Cafferty is a political analyst on the Cable News Network.
His live blog, Cafferty File, keeps Americans up to date on what’s happening in politics, with reference to education, health care, foreign affairs and more.
Cafferty provides links to breaking news, and other journalists’ media where he makes contributions. For example, every hour, Cafferty sounds off in the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer so he provides links to videos of his contributions to the Situation Room.
In addition, Cafferty provides links to the places where his followers can purchase his new book, “Now or Never,” and a video where he talks about the experiences he details in the book.
Most important, Cafferty provides for comments so that his followers can respond to the information they receive.
Anderson Cooper is an investigative journalist and analyst on CNN. Cooper manages a blog that allows his followers to stay abreast of breaking news.
During AC360, Cooper’s live news program which airs at 10 – 11 p.m. ET, Cooper’s followers can make direct contributions to the program through Cooper’s live blog which is also dubbed AC360.
If followers miss the televised program, they can read printed stories from the program or view a podcast by visiting Cooper’s blog and clicking on the appropriate link.
Cooper also provides links to the work that other journalists contribute to his blog.
His live blog, Cafferty File, keeps Americans up to date on what’s happening in politics, with reference to education, health care, foreign affairs and more.
Cafferty provides links to breaking news, and other journalists’ media where he makes contributions. For example, every hour, Cafferty sounds off in the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer so he provides links to videos of his contributions to the Situation Room.
In addition, Cafferty provides links to the places where his followers can purchase his new book, “Now or Never,” and a video where he talks about the experiences he details in the book.
Most important, Cafferty provides for comments so that his followers can respond to the information they receive.
Anderson Cooper is an investigative journalist and analyst on CNN. Cooper manages a blog that allows his followers to stay abreast of breaking news.
During AC360, Cooper’s live news program which airs at 10 – 11 p.m. ET, Cooper’s followers can make direct contributions to the program through Cooper’s live blog which is also dubbed AC360.
If followers miss the televised program, they can read printed stories from the program or view a podcast by visiting Cooper’s blog and clicking on the appropriate link.
Cooper also provides links to the work that other journalists contribute to his blog.
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