This week, I am happy to be geekin’ it up at a four-day technology training workshop delivered by the Knight Digital Media Center at the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
Basically, it’s a boot camp to help journalists pull their newspapers, magazines and TV stations out of the Dark Ages.
Today, we learned Twitter and how to create a blog post. (Don’t laugh. Not everyone is as hip as you, okay?) We also made these cool maps. Tomorrow, we’ll be doing videos, slideshows and podcasts. I’m learning plenty.
There’s a fascinating conversation on where journalism is heading. Tracy Record of the West Seattle Blog spoke about her project — this little blog about a neighborhood that exploded into a 24/7 news service that regularly scoops the local papers. The website brings in enough ad revenue to support her family. As journalists who only hear stories of doom and gloom, our minds were blown.
What’s the role of traditional journalism today? Can it survive in the age of blogs and citizen journalists? What needs to change?
Iono.
Anyway, that’s where I am this week. More handbag talk when I get back.
P.S. The lamp stand in my hotel is made out of a bong. I love Berkeley.
Awesome, happy edumacating! Go Bears and go KR!
That sounds fun! Enjoy the Bay Area!
If all studying sessions are like that, I might like school :P
I wonder about this a lot! Obviously journalism isn’t dead, just changing. But this is definitely a rough period of transition for a lot of people (read: almost everyone).
You should take the lamp stand home with you.
local journalism is the future of newspapers. Look at the dreck called the san francisco chronicle – it is almost all reprints from other papers or AP articles
Careful if you’re thinking of using that lamp. You know what they say. Electricity and bong water don’t mix.
Oh my gosh! That sounds like so much fun!! Have an amazing time!
i think it’s great that journalism is evolving with these digital times. everything has to stay relevant for the psyche of the people and, good or bad, that’s just what has to be done.
i just like things where i get to go back to school.
bong, ba-bong bong bong
(sung to tune of thong, thathong thong thong)
and that concludes our broadcast.
homeless folk and naan n curry! what’s not to love about berkeley.
i’m in oakland! what are your plans during your stay?
Hehe, welcome to berkeley, indeed!