Blog #2

Backpack Journalists

A backpack journalist is a reporter who goes out on his or her own to get the story using multimedia resources such as video/audio recorders, cameras, and interviews. Jared Silfies, a journalism student, carries a backpack with what he feels are reporting essentials. For instance, a student planner, standard notebook, Macbook Pro, wireless mouse, pouch holding pens, pencils, and highlighters, SD card reader, stylebook, Gerber multitool, flash drives, digital camera, cellphone, iPod, and power adapter. With these resources, if he is in a place with wireless he is able to publish anything. He would still like to add a Smartphone, a new camera, a voice recorder and a digital videocamera to his backpack. All of which will be important in multimedia storytelling. The stylebook he is carrying is The Elements of Style. I've never read it but I think it shows that Silfies is a serious journalist and wants to gain respect for not only what he has to say but also how he says it. His future looks bright.

Rachel Youens

When looking at well done portfolios in class one by Rachel Youens caught my eye. She is currently working as an assistant editor of Community Impact Newspaper in Austin, Texas. She is able to produce videos and audio, so in her backpack she must have a videocamera and laptop with the correct software to do so. Photos were taken by Youens so she also must use a camera of some sort. Design and art are both on display which might require a sketchbook and editing software as well. I was drawn to her portfolio for the design of the heading and after entering the site I was interesting in her content. Not only was some of her multimedia about fashion but she also blogged about pop-culture. This site is modern and impressive.