As I am currently studying to become a news writer at the UofA, I chose to enroll in the Lemke Digital Media Lab for this semester in order to perfect my craft of writing, gain as much experience in a realistic newsroom setting as possible as well as acquire helpful skills to expand my professional portfolio. The lab, taught by four different professors, teaches journalism students the basics, as well as real-world applications of data analysis, multimedia productions, social media productions as well as editing and story writing. These skills are all invaluable for a training news writer as the expanding number of media outlets with which one can produce content requires a wider set of skills for anyone hoping to have their story heard.
In order to truly call oneself a multimedia journalist, they must understand what exactly that means. In the age of technology that we live in, the best way to reach your audience is through as many platforms as possible. A multimedia journalist should attach video, photo, and graphic data to as many stories as they can. By doing so, the audience can feel more connected to the story as well as be reached on a larger number of platforms. While not all stories require a multimedia attachment, the use of video, photo or any other media pairing can often lead a larger group of readers to your publication as well as maintain their attention for longer. When writing a story for publication, more important than a media attachment is the ethics behind it. There are several simple rules to follow when writing for public consumption, that many might find obvious, yet a great number of journalists often forget or choose to ignore. Rick Dunham has published a list that he’s titled “Professor Dunham’s Ten Commandments for journalism ethics in a multimedia world,” and though not entirely conclusive, the list holds highly valuable tips for anyone wishing to avoid losing their public credibility. Fact checking any piece of information given to you, not publishing anyone else’s work under your own name, and not paying for interviews are among the “commandments” listed. Though they seem obvious, it’s easy to forget or ignore a rule or two when a hard deadline is approaching. However, sticking to the guidelines laid out by professor Dunham should ensure your journalistic reputation stays intact. Here’s a great example of an interactive multimedia article I thought was very moving: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/national/mass-shootings-in-america/
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