Media Soup

Just added Snap Shots to the site.

Anyone like this?

Hate this?

I’m very interested in the way not-for-profits use mass media and technology. YouthAIDS is one example of this. Siamese Rescue, where I do some volunteer work is another. Both have harnessed the power of media to address complex communication and charitable goals.

The goals of such organizations are distinct from corporation and government agencies. Each is unique and has it’s own particular issues, but in many cases the success of these organizations is dependant on their ability to effectively communicate. It is not coincidence that we have seen the reach of smaller not-for-profits expand as media technology has become more accessible.

Check out this interesting article from the Hatchet.

It’s about a GW prof on a humanitarian trip with the organization YouthAIDS. YouthAIDS has been a client of me and Rob’s at Amigo for some time.

Here’s a video we produced for them.

Chapters one, two, and three are so close.

No more blogging until I do them!

I began thinking about Praxis again when I read this on the About page of the SMPA website:

We believe that theory and practice cannot be separated, and that viewing them together provides the perspective that enables students to understand the relationships between media and the various institutions of public life, government, education, corporations and associations. Increasingly, this means a commitment to technological sophistication as our students are required to communicate in converged multimedia environments.

Lee’s comment echos this clearly.

Praxis is a concept I first came across as an undergraduate at New College. It was when my adviser suggested that I create a major to incorporate my philosophy coursework with the semester I had spend doing investigations with the public defender in DC. Praxis was the major I came up with.

While praxis usually refers to the process of putting theoretical knowledge into practice, the strategic and organizational usage of the word emphasizes the need for a constant cycle of conceptualizing the meanings of what can be learned from experience in order to reframe strategic and operational models.

- from Wikipedia

Next Spring I am co-teaching a new class at SMPA with Mike Shanahan.

This week, we had our first planning conversation, and I think we have the chance here to something really innovative.

I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but one thing we talked about was a blog that starts very early in the process. In a reporter’s notebook style, we could use this to report on the process itself and solicit user input before we execute even the first iteration of the site.

One modle for this sort of thing is NPR’s Rough Cuts.

I’ve gotten that question pretty often this semester.

It is not typical to teach digital vidography, Final Cut Pro, and HTML in one class, and thus this is a relevant question to ask.

After one semester, and with some caveats, I think we can say it is a good idea.

I asked the class this, and they affirmed.

So, I’d like to write here about some of the interesting discussions on copyright and usage on the web for student projects, but I am a little reluctant . . .

I guess I have a vague fear that voicing questions and concerns could come back to get me down the road - as if evidence of careful consideration could somehow be held against me.

Could this be part of the the “chilling effect” where by voices are dampened due to the overall contentiousness of the issue?