CHAT: Transcript of New Media Program Chat, July 27, 2007
[ See full list of transcripts and chats ]
lai2107(Q) Hi all! I have a few questions. One, will the basic new media
skills and the new media newsroom be offered again in the spring? Two, how will
new media be integrated into RW1? And how else can non new media students gain
a new media mindset/skills at the j-school? Thanks!
DeanSree(A) lai2107: Thanks for your questions.
1. NM Skills is offered each Spring and Fall. NM Newsroom is a pilot class
we hope to roll out in larger versions in other semesters. We might
consider it for the Spring.
2. RW1 is being web-ified for everyone. Among the skills you will learn:
* FATWIRE TRAINING: Learning the FatWire CMS can take anywhere between one
and three hours, so it will be interspersed with the teaching of the other
skills below.
* CONTINUOUS NEWS SKILLS
* WRITING FOR THE WEB & HYPERLINKING
* PHOTO
* AUDIO
These will be explained in detail when you get here.
3. Ways for non-NM majors to get NM
skills:
a. RW1.
b. NM Newsroom in the Fall (about half the seats reserved for
non-NM majors.
c. NM Skills in the Fall or Spring.
d. NM Elective offered in
the Spring - only for non-NM majors.
4. Ways to get the mindset, apart from the
classes:
a. Attend as many lectures, discussions as you can.
b. Read Cyberjournalist.net - Jon Dube, J’97 (and head of CBC.ca) - a blog with lots of useful tips and news.
c. Read my list of constantly updated articles about the changing media
landscape at http://www.sreetips.com/landscape.html
d. Hang out with the NM majors!
Dara(Q) How are the spaces in New Media Newsroom divided?
DeanSree(A) We have three sections of NMN. Each will have about eight-10 NM
majors and about eight non-NM majors. Part of the point of the class is to get
both kinds of students to work together.
rv2186(Q) How much background knowledge of new media will facilitate an
easier time with the program?
DeanSree(A) Given that we have a week to go before classes start for the NM
folks, I wouldn’t worry about what training you have. As long as you can do
Word and e-mail, you will be fine. Some, of course, will have much more
knowledge… We make adustments for all levels of students. But do be familiar
with the multimedia examples listed on the left-hand column of the long list of
articles listed at http://www.sreetips.com/landscape.html
rv2186(Q) Looking at the orientation schedule, it seems as if there is one
session per skill (i.e. 1 session for flash, 1 for final cut, 1 for audio
skills, etc). Is this the only time we will be learning these skills? How much
built-in opportunity is there to practice?
DeanSree(A) Good question. Most have two sessions each (Flash has three), but
you will be expected to practice, practice, practice during the two-week
period. The labs will be open 24 hours a day and during the weekend, too, so we
will expect you to spend a lot of time working solo or in groups. Plus, there
will be plenty of time during the rest of August and the early Fall.
jst2118(Q) Should we get software like Dreamweaver and Photoshop for our own
computers?
DeanSree(A) If you can afford it (perhaps getting it through the academic
discount at the Columbia bookstore when you get here or online, if available),
that is a good idea. That will mean fewer hours in our labs.
DeanSree(P) If the questions happen to be non-NM focused, fine - I will just
adjust move them to the bottom of the transcript.
lam_vo(Q) what type of equipment do we have in the computer labs?
DeanSree(A) The labs have pretty high-end machines with big monitors and fast
printers. Some labs are Macs and some are PCs. When you get here you will get a
tour and a descriptions of the labs.
Dara(Q) I already have Photoshop and my daughter has Dreamweaver on our PC..
If I switch to Mac, I’ll have to buy Mac versions of the software, right?.
DeanSree(A) Yes, I am afraid so. But Apple does offer good academic pricing
on some software, along with the hardware. If cost is a concern (and when is it
not?!), there are also open source products you can use on your own machines,
in addition to the premium ones in our labs. See my suggestions for software
alternatives at http://www.sreetips.com/software.html - BUT KEEP IN MIND THE
OPEN SOURCE STUFF ISN’T FOR EVERYONE.
lam_vo(Q) what about other equipment, such as cameras, mics, etc. Can we
borrow those from the school when needed?
DeanSree(A) Yes, you can. But if you have some of the equipment, you will
have flexibility. It’s all about what you can afford. See detailed explanation
here:
http://deanstudents.blogsome.com/2007/06/28/technology-fall-2007-technology-guide/
Dara(Q) Can a Non-NM concentrator sit in on any of the NM classes that meet
before we Print people get started? (Understanding there’s not room to use the
equipment..)
DeanSree(A) Yes, if you happen to be here, you are welcome to come to any of
the items marked DISCUSSION on the NM calendar. But not the hands-on stuff. Of
course, this is all subject to space in the room. We will be about 30ish folks,
so we can fit about five-seven others, first come, first served.
Kenan(Q) Should we go ahead and purchase software such as Dreamweaver and
Photoshop, if we do not already have it on our own computer?
DeanSree(A) You may have missed this question (and answer): st2118: Should we
get software like Dreamweaver and Photoshop for our own computers? DeanSree: If
you can afford it (perhaps getting it through the academic discount at the
Columbia bookstore when you get here or online, if available), that is a good
idea. That will mean fewer hours in our labs.
Dara(Q) When we’re out on our “beats” for RW1, are we advised to carry and
use our laptops? Will we need to find WiFi spots around the boroughs?
DeanSree(A) It’s very unlikely that you will carry your laptops to your beats
every time. If you do have your laptop, you can seek out WiFi (paid or free)…
Here’s a listing of free WiFi in NYC (may not be comprehesive):
http://manhattan.about.com/od/citylife1/a/freewifihotspot_2.htm and the largest
directory in general is http://jiwire.com/search-hotspot-locations.htm
If others have input on this, please send in your thoughts now.
mb1373(Q) What would you recommend as the best mini skills course for a new
media concentrator to take?
DeanSree(A) All are worth getting, but you might want to look at TV, radio or
photo in particular.
yg2183(Q) Last time, Dean Sree told us that we use Dreamweaver MX? Shouldn’t
we use the latest, say, Dreamweaver CS3?
DeanSree(A) I believe they are, indeed, installing CS3 as we speak. This can
be answered properly during the tech staff chat, this Wednesday at 1 pm.
Kenan(Q) Will the assignments/work for RW1 crossover into New Media Newsroom?
Or will the work be completely separate?
DeanSree(A) We are working to make that crossover as smooth as possible, so
that the amount of original reporting that has to be done for NMN is reduced.
BTW, the deans and several professors are excited about NMN and the
opportunities it is going to present to the students and for the school. More
when you get here on Aug. 6.
lam_vo(Q) How much ‘homework’ will be have?
DeanSree(A) Short answer: A lot. The fact is that you will find yourself
working harder than you ever worked in your life. Alumni who had high-pressure
jobs before coming here - Wall Street, lawyers, ER docs - tell us J-school was
much more demanding (and more fun). Students are often here very late at night
(it’s not uncommon to find people in edit suites and labs at 2 or 3 a.m.)
Unlike, say, law school and medical school, where the pressure comes from the
grading system, in our school, the pressure comes from the students themselves.
A pass-fail system means less pressure from faculty and more from the students,
as they strive to really do well. The key is to be a good time manager. Those
who aren’t have the most difficult time.
Kenan(Q) In the course description for New Media Newsroom, it says that
“students in each section will build three editions of a website, with each
four-week project covering one specific issue affecting New Yorkers.” Are the
specific issues predetermined? Or do the students determine the topics during
the course? And finally, can you give me some past examples?
DeanSree(A) Kenan: We are in the midst of finalizing the syllabus (which will
be ready by Aug. 6) and are likely to diverge from some aspects of the course
description. To see the kind of work we are talking about, see the work in
NYC24.org, the Spring workshop site (it has won awards, is read in more than 75
countries and gets great traffic). Here’s the archive, going back several
years: http://www.nyc24.org/2007/health/archive.html We expect your work to be even better
Dara(Q) Another RW1 question: Do we have classroom sessions? How many times a
week and how long are the sessions? Are you sick of my questions yet?
DeanSree(A) Here’s the outline for the Fall. Three days a week, you are
“owned” by RW1 - a combination of in-class sessions, drills, seminars and
on-the-street reporting. One day, you are owned by your elective (NMN for NM
majors). Friday is 9-11 am Law (for Americans); NYAFC (for international
folks); 12:30-2:30: Critical Issues 3-5ish pm: Master’s Project 5:30ish to
midnight: Happy Hour That’s a pretty full week!
DeanSree(P) That’s how we are able to give you an Master’s degree in 10
months, instead of the usual two years.
NON-NM QUESTIONS BELOW
Dara(Q) (off topic) Is it possible for non-foreign students to audit New York
as a Foreign Country by taking the Wednesday night section of the Law class?
DeanSree(A) Hmmm, this is a new one to me… If you are free on Wednesday
nights, perhaps you can ask for the NYAFC class during Add/Drop. But please be
sure to first talk to Prof. Josh Friedman, who runs the course when you get
here.
Dara(Q) (off topic) At the Open House you mentioned a bus tour/reporting
field trip, but I haven’t seen anything more about this in the online
materials. Was I hallucinating? When will this take place? How should we dress
for it? And while I’m on THAT subject, how should we dress for orientation?
Businesswear, shorts and flipflops, or somewhere in between?
DeanHuff(A) The bus trips will take place on August 24. Dress is student
casual here for almost everything. We will notify you in advance about events
requiring dressy clothes. And professors will instruct you on what is
appropriate for specific reporting assignments.
