As I mentioned in my last post, this week myself and all second year CreComm students presented their Independent Professional Projects at the Convention Centre.
I was completely blown away by the work of my peers and feel genuinely honoured to be included in a program with people so talented. I was particularly in awe of the video projects as it is something I know I just could never do if I was given years to work on. Kudos to everyone for their great work.
Too much happened for me to properly explain in a blog post, but I invite and encourage you to take a look at the #IPP11 Twitter feed where a team of first year students did an awesome job of filling the public in on and promoting everyone's projects. Give it a read, you won't be bored or disappointed.
keith
Friday, March 11, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
IPP Presentations
This week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday my fellow CreComms and I will be presenting our Independent Professional Projects at the Convention Centre.
The projects are something we have all worked on all year as a project we think up, get approved and work on completely independently (as the title implies...) all while still having to work on our regular classes. The projects have been real labours of love for all of us and it will be a very exciting time to see them presented this week. It definitely serves as a sort of culmination for our two years in the program.
My project was a promotional campaign for the Manitoba Soccer Association that centred around a blog entitled "The MSA Blog".
I chose it because it allowed me to write articles, use social media and do video all while promoting a sporting organization that is important to me. I think it gave me a chance to cover all of the bases.
Other students have done novels, coffee table books, video and radio documentaries, events, promotional videos and even live TV broadcasts or concerts.
It promise to be a great afternoon so I encourage you all to come down and support. Starts at 9 AM each day at the Convention Centre. Hope to see you there!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Charlie Sheen...
I just got back from a reading week trip to the States with my girlfriend and while we were hanging out in the hotel room between shopping and dinner, we came across this crazy interview with everyone's favorite wacko Charlie Sheen on the Free Press website.
This seems to finally be the last straw in this year (or decade really if you have followed Sheen's career) of scandal for the Two and a Half Men star. After some shocking comments in that interview, the show has been pulled by CBS, will likely be cancelled and may just end Sheen's career.
The interesting thing is how much coverage Sheen has received through all this, much of it potentially defamatory. Check out some of the articles on Chuck's "indiscretions" if you want to learn a bit about journalists covering Hollywood, covering controversy or if you just want a good laugh.
This seems to finally be the last straw in this year (or decade really if you have followed Sheen's career) of scandal for the Two and a Half Men star. After some shocking comments in that interview, the show has been pulled by CBS, will likely be cancelled and may just end Sheen's career.
The interesting thing is how much coverage Sheen has received through all this, much of it potentially defamatory. Check out some of the articles on Chuck's "indiscretions" if you want to learn a bit about journalists covering Hollywood, covering controversy or if you just want a good laugh.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Here we go again?
I've noticed a change in some of the normally constant billboards and bus bench advertisements in my neighbourhood of St. James as I have been going to and from school this past week.
Ads for real estate agents and small companies have given way to election candidate billboards. And I don't mean provincial election billboard either.
There are now at least two sightings of Rob Clement billboard. Rob Clement, aside from looking like a bit of a weirdo, is the candidate for the federal Liberals in my riding of Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia.
Is this merely a just in case, pre-emptive strike by the grits? Maybe. But there have also been a number of election ads on recently from the Conservatives attacking Michael Ignatieff.
I couldn't find any of the ads to post on here but, if you're like me and watch TV at all, you've seen them.
It all feels to me like a storm is brewing and we're headed towards another Federal Election campaign. Just what the vast majority of the country doesn't want but what political junkies like me love.
What do you guys think? Is an election coming? How do you feel about it?
keith
Monday, February 7, 2011
I am a television broadcaster
I fulfilled a lifelong dream this weekend.
For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to broadcast a sporting event live on television and this past Saturday and Sunday I got that chance. Myself and a group of 18 crecomms helped out Steve Dreger with his IPP and I served as the play-by-play announcer.
Steve and I called the game on Shaw and were backed up by a crew of our classmates. The entire production was done by us students and I think it turned out pretty well.
Here are some of the things that stand out to me from the weekend:
- Preparation is so key when doing play-by-play. You can't just go off the cuff and you need to have stories prepared about all of the players.
- The on-air portion of a broadcast is just the tip of the iceberg. They can do absolutely nothing without a strong crew behind them. I had no idea how much work went on behind the scenes.
- On-air personalities are really skilled. People on TV aren't just pretty faces or talking heads. To be on camera is a definite skill. You need to always seem cheery and full of energy, even if you may not be. It's definitely an art form.
- We all have a lot to learn. In school, we may think we've learned a lot and are ready to go out into the working world right away. There's no denying that we can do a lot and that we've got all the skills needed to get out there but we still have many skills that need perfecting. True professionals no so many tricks of the trade that will only come with experience.
And the three most important things:
- Gateway Rec Centre is literally at the end of the world. It is so far away from everything.
- Standing all day when doing commentary will lead to sore, sore feet
- Free pizza for the crew goes a long way towards helping moral.
All in all, this was a terrific learning experience and hopefully Shaw will give our young but talented crew a chance to learn more on the job. And maybe even get paid.
If you're interested, our broadcast airs tonight (Monday Feb. 7) on Shaw.
keith
For as long as I can remember, I had wanted to broadcast a sporting event live on television and this past Saturday and Sunday I got that chance. Myself and a group of 18 crecomms helped out Steve Dreger with his IPP and I served as the play-by-play announcer.
Steve and I called the game on Shaw and were backed up by a crew of our classmates. The entire production was done by us students and I think it turned out pretty well.
Here are some of the things that stand out to me from the weekend:
- Preparation is so key when doing play-by-play. You can't just go off the cuff and you need to have stories prepared about all of the players.
- The on-air portion of a broadcast is just the tip of the iceberg. They can do absolutely nothing without a strong crew behind them. I had no idea how much work went on behind the scenes.
- On-air personalities are really skilled. People on TV aren't just pretty faces or talking heads. To be on camera is a definite skill. You need to always seem cheery and full of energy, even if you may not be. It's definitely an art form.
- We all have a lot to learn. In school, we may think we've learned a lot and are ready to go out into the working world right away. There's no denying that we can do a lot and that we've got all the skills needed to get out there but we still have many skills that need perfecting. True professionals no so many tricks of the trade that will only come with experience.
And the three most important things:
- Gateway Rec Centre is literally at the end of the world. It is so far away from everything.
- Standing all day when doing commentary will lead to sore, sore feet
- Free pizza for the crew goes a long way towards helping moral.
All in all, this was a terrific learning experience and hopefully Shaw will give our young but talented crew a chance to learn more on the job. And maybe even get paid.
If you're interested, our broadcast airs tonight (Monday Feb. 7) on Shaw.
keith
Monday, January 31, 2011
Is grief a story?
My grandfather and former Winnipeg Tribune sports editor Jack Matheson died last Monday and it's been a tough time for my entire family.
It's bad enough dealing with losing a family member, but when that family member is iconic and well...famous in his industry, it becomes even harder to deal with as privacy is sort of lost. It's really nice that so many people care about him and want to say some words about his life but sometimes you just want only the family to be involved.
There have been a ton of articles written about my grandpa in the past week as well as pieces on television and on radio. While this is no problem, I do sort of have an issue with reporters who have asked my family repeatedly for stories this week while we have been grieving. If you want to write something, great. Thanks. I appreciate it. But I do take issue with reporters calling us for interviews and things shortly after his death.
I get that it is part of the industry and that, in most cases, their hearts are in the right place but I just feel that we should be given some time to grieve. It is almost like they're taking advantage of us at a tough time.
I can think of at least three reporters who have called or emailed us this past week for a story. I know it has been very difficult on my grandmother who is a private person and doesn't like having to deal with all of the coverage.
I myself answered questions for an article in the Sun simply to take pressure off the rest of my family.
The bottom line is that there are a number of very moving pieces on my Grandpa's life that can be found simply by google searching his name.
My question is though, is it fair of journalists to call for stories at a time when a family is grieving? Even if they are well known? It's a difficult question and I am definitely seeing it differently after I have been a part of it first hand.
What do you guys think?
keith
It's bad enough dealing with losing a family member, but when that family member is iconic and well...famous in his industry, it becomes even harder to deal with as privacy is sort of lost. It's really nice that so many people care about him and want to say some words about his life but sometimes you just want only the family to be involved.
There have been a ton of articles written about my grandpa in the past week as well as pieces on television and on radio. While this is no problem, I do sort of have an issue with reporters who have asked my family repeatedly for stories this week while we have been grieving. If you want to write something, great. Thanks. I appreciate it. But I do take issue with reporters calling us for interviews and things shortly after his death.
I get that it is part of the industry and that, in most cases, their hearts are in the right place but I just feel that we should be given some time to grieve. It is almost like they're taking advantage of us at a tough time.
I can think of at least three reporters who have called or emailed us this past week for a story. I know it has been very difficult on my grandmother who is a private person and doesn't like having to deal with all of the coverage.
I myself answered questions for an article in the Sun simply to take pressure off the rest of my family.
The bottom line is that there are a number of very moving pieces on my Grandpa's life that can be found simply by google searching his name.
My question is though, is it fair of journalists to call for stories at a time when a family is grieving? Even if they are well known? It's a difficult question and I am definitely seeing it differently after I have been a part of it first hand.
What do you guys think?
keith
Monday, January 24, 2011
Work Placement
I spent the past 3 weeks on a work placement on at CJOB 68. I wasn't sure what to expect at first, but it ended up being a fantastic experience.
I worked under legendary CJOB sports director Bob Irving and was also shown the ropes by Richard Cloutier, arguably the most influential news man in the city. The chance to learn from these two was invaluable and I am now able to count both of them as friends.
During my time at CJOB, I was able to get on air far more than I ever expected. I did about 25 live voice reports from the World U17 Hockey Challenge and also some from Moose games and other news conferences. Aside from this I reported at a wide array of events and wrote stories for news and sports. I gained great experience in editing and writing.
As a final project, I produced a radio documentary on referee abuse in minor hockey. It aired on Richard Cloutier Reports, which was a real thrill.
I cannot thank everyone at CJOB enough for all their help. I hope that I will get a chance to come back and work with them again.
Hopefully I can post some of my work in the future for all of you to check out. Until next time...
keith
I worked under legendary CJOB sports director Bob Irving and was also shown the ropes by Richard Cloutier, arguably the most influential news man in the city. The chance to learn from these two was invaluable and I am now able to count both of them as friends.
During my time at CJOB, I was able to get on air far more than I ever expected. I did about 25 live voice reports from the World U17 Hockey Challenge and also some from Moose games and other news conferences. Aside from this I reported at a wide array of events and wrote stories for news and sports. I gained great experience in editing and writing.
As a final project, I produced a radio documentary on referee abuse in minor hockey. It aired on Richard Cloutier Reports, which was a real thrill.
I cannot thank everyone at CJOB enough for all their help. I hope that I will get a chance to come back and work with them again.
Hopefully I can post some of my work in the future for all of you to check out. Until next time...
keith
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