Sites discussed in class

I discussed two sites worth of special attention today in class.

The first is stock xchng. This site allows you to search and download free stock art with a free subscription.  The site will show you options available for free and for purchase. I have found that I'm able to meet most of my general needs for templates, etc. with free stock art. Of course, you always have the option of shooting original photos, which always is preferred. When we reach the point in the semester when you are required to post a photo with your blog posts, you will not be allowed to use stock art.

The second is Instapaper. This site allows you to install a "Read Later" button on your computer's browser window. You can then use the button when you want to save a website for later viewing. As I showed you in class, I use Instapaper to save and organize items from my RSS Feed (I use Google Reader) that I want to read later.

I hope you find these tools useful for finding and reviewing content.

Learn more about blogging through online chat

As you begin creating your news blogs, you may discover that you're much more interested in blogger than you previously realized. If so, I might recommend that you participate in #blogchat, a Twitter chat hosted each week to allow bloggers to share information.

Blogchat is a one-hour chat at 8 p.m. Sundays. 

I posted this blog about participating in these types of online chats. 

Writing an 'About' page

The "About" page is one of the most highly read pages on any blog. It also is one of the least planned and updated pages.

In preparation for writing your own About page, take a look at my blog post, About the "About" Page.

Guidance for 'Snow Day'

The snow day throws us off of our course schedule, but it doesn't mean we can get behind. Therefore, I wanted to provide you with the materials you need to be prepared for Tuesday's class.

First, be sure to drop Assignment 1 (beat assignment) into the dropbox I created before the end of the day (Thursday). Once you receive my feedback (which I will send electronically), you are ready to move forward with your assignments for next week. 

Before Tuesday's class, you should:

• Review the Blogger tutorial from D2L.
• Create a Blogger blog, using my handout and Assignment 2 (both on D2L) as your guides.
• E-mail me when this is done (before class). 
• Read the first two chapters in Elements of Journalism
• Write your first reading summary (due in class)

You also will have your first quiz on Tuesday. This will be about the syllabus and items from the blog so far. 

Finally, I have posted on D2L your first blog assignment. You cannot complete this until you've done Assignments 1 and 2 and received my feedback. However, you can start thinking about your approach and read my blog post on writing the About page.

I hope this helps prepare you for next week. Stay safe!

Pet peeve post

I enjoyed sharing our pet peeves during the last class.

I promised that I would write my pet peeve post before the next class. I have posted it on my journalism blog, www.profkrg.com. It's called 10 Ways to Tick Me Off.

I hope you enjoy it and the site in general!

Required equipment

As you organize your semester, I wanted to provide more information about the additional equipment required for this class. Each of these items also is listed on the syllabus. 

I provided you with a handout in the first class about the external drive you need. You will need the drive by the third week of class. It will help you store and manipulate the large files your video projects will generate. Unedited video files are far too large for storage on flash drives, cheap hard drives or the Gaylord College's overtaxed file servers.

We recommends that you buy an OWC Mercury On-The-Go, 7200-rpm “Combo” (FireWire 400+USB 2.0). This is a reasonably priced and extremely versatile drive that can handle the demands of video editing. It should suffice for all of your future video coursework at Gaylord College. The cheapest model provides 250 GB of storage for $90. You can get it here at Other World Computing.

 

You’ll also need a FireWire 800-to-400 adapter so you can use the drive with the iMacs in the new wing of Gaylord Hall. The adapter costs $10. You also can order it here at Other World Computing.

It's fine if you'd like to compare prices, just be sure you’re getting a 7200-rpm model with FireWire capability.

In addition, you will need at least three mini-DV tapes by the third week of class. You may purchase them anywhere. I think Best Buy has the best price. Check it out here. 

Please go ahead and purchase these items so you're not in a bind as the class assignments start to get more in-depth.

Naming your blog (the sequel)

Students,

Here is another great post to help with naming your blog, Important Tips When Naming Your New Blog.

KRG

Naming your blog

Future news bloggers,

As you begin considering your news blog's topic and audience, you also should consider what to name the blog. Here is a great post by ProBlogger that addresses 5 Blog Naming Basics. This may assist you in completing Assignment 1.

KRG

Welcome to JMC 3003

Hello, students! Welcome to JMC 3003, Multimedia Journalism.

My name is Kenna Griffin. I am a Ph.D. candidate in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications. I also am an assistant professor of journalism at Oklahoma City University.

This is my third semester to teach at OU. It is my first time to teach Multimedia Journalism in Gaylord, as I taught Mass Media Law the other two semesters.

I am excited for this opportunity to help you advance your journalistic skills. I hope you enjoy the course. Please feel free to e-mail me with questions or concerns.