Critiquing Multimedia 3/3

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24014376/

Now that I am on the last leg I realize that I have not given you a working definition of what multimedia is.

A multimedia story is one that uses elements such as text, still photographs, video clips, audio, graphics and interactivity to present a information to the public. Hence the name "multi- (more than one) media." There are sites that have multi-media elements but do not fully fit the bill. This is because a true multimedia pieces uses the elements to introduce new elements. For example the writer quotes one man's journey to Mount Everest. A possible audio clip could be his explaining what made him do it, the process etc. Also if it there is time maybe a clip of his family - how they felt while he was risking his life etc.

Ok, so back to my critique. "Punto Finale!"

The lead photo did not grab me as much as that of the other two previous critiques. This time it was the headline that pulled me.

I did like the placement of the photo though. I also liked the layout of the first part of the story. The photo is located at the top left of the story while there are two videos beside it. Having read the entire story and the watched all the related videos, I think I could have gotten a good idea of what the story is about from the first two or so paragraphs and the videos.

The first video has a bit of repetition but I guess that is to provide background for the video since it was used for television news as well. It introduced new information into the piece. The video technique was good, the videographer used zooming and other techniques to enhance the clip.

I liked the second clip as well. It also had some repetition but it was only a few seconds worth. It also introduced valuable information to the story. One of my points upon my initial read of the story was that it was not balanced, that is it has about two voices from person who have lived in compound arguing that it was a much better life but this was not matched with people against it. This video (Exodus) tries to address that with a clip from a woman who lived the experience and ran away to a better life.

There are an additional five video clips to the right of the article. While they are good in their own right I was not convinced that they should have such pride of place. My only way of rationalizing it is that perhaps because the page had a large number of hits they decide to add other features to encourage further reading.

Again I not the placement of the ad and how it breaks the flow but perhaps this is MSNBC's layout style.

The two-page article allowed readers to add their comments to the article. This was a good use of multimedia elements. It served to get the reader involved in the matter. One very good point that stood out for me was the comment made by a man that if he 18-year-old son had sex with a 14-year-old he would be facing sexual charges while the 50-year-old men on the compound are not. This is a good point. Why are so few men charged?

There is also a printable version of the history of these kinds of communities. I thought this was a good addition to the page.

A third video "Escaped" speak to Carol Jessop the former wife of one of the religious leaders. She was used before but this clip is an interview which goes into her personal experience on a similar compound. It was an excellent addition - very good.

At the bottom of the page the article also allows readers to rate the story. It received a four out of five rating.

Overall the piece was good. The text was well written and introduced information from multiple sources. It allowed readers to comment and all the related videos were effective in enhancing the story. Recorded at different times, the videos also show how information can be made available to the public as it is unfolding.

Critiquing Multimedia 2/3

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24021232/

I am sure you have had those days when all the hours in the day just do not seem enough. On to multimedia critique number two.

My second article is "Parker's grand finale lifts Lady Vols to title." Like the one before it, this article is also published by the Associated Press.

The Associated Press and Reuters are two of the leading media houses across the world. I especially love their photography; their shots are truly a sight to behold.

It was more the accompanying photo than the headline that grabbed me. The photo is very effective. The photographer captured the excitement of the moment. It was well composed. Notice how the photographer sacrificed the lower parts of the bodies so that he could zoom in on the emotional display. The manipulation of depth of field also added to the shot as the subjects stood out against the blurred background. The placement of the photo, right next to the first three paragraphs, also enhanced the story.

I liked the lead. It was very effective. It drew me into the story. The use of words such as "bruised" and "braced" helped to paint a good picture of the adversities that Parker had to overcome to play this particular match.

Reading the first three or so paragraphs I was impressed because the reporter elevated what could have been a run of the mill who won what, where and how kind of story to a nice news feature type article.

Again there is an ad. that breaks the flow.

The college basketball video links under the photo on the right are applicable. While they do not focus on the same sex they share the same broad theme which is college basketball. When I clicked on "Kansas takes the championship" I was awed by the beautiful Olympics ad that ran before the video clip. The clip itself was of good quality and the use of black background was aesthetically pleasing while making the video easier to see.

Underneath the video links is a set of opinion links - also on college basketball. They are not bad but I would have liked to see something focused on women. The article is about women's basketball and putting links to something about women would balance the use of the men's videos above.

Overall the multimedia piece was too text heavy. By the end of the article it became less of a story and more about statistics. After the college basketball segments there is only one other multimedia element - a slide show. It largely focused on men. Of the 12 photos viewed only one featured women and they were swimmers not basketball players.

The piece could have been greatly enhanced by audio clips from Parker and/or her team mates. More photos from the game could have been used in the body of the piece. The article is represented by another photo in the synopsis on the main page; it could have been used on the actual article page as well. Also one or more video clips of the best shots of the game would be good.

Critiquing multimedia

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23940682/

My first critique is of the MSNBC article "Chasing Britney leads to evolution of paparazzi Photogs find themselves a part of her story; undercover work now a rarity" The story was updated by the Associated Press but I did not see a byline for the article.

Now, I am not fan of Britney but the headline pulled me. I thought evolution of paparazzi? Photogos find themselves a part of her story? As a student in an online course that speak of the backpack journalist who does everything and as someone who has worked as reporter, photographer and radio article writer/news reporter on the same assignment this got me ears up. I thought "oh no new laws etc.!"

The article itself was OK. The photo at the beginning of the story was good. It worked very well with the headline to show the reader what the article is about. I loved the photo of the paparazzi reflection in the rear view mirror as he takes a shot. I noted the use of video and slide show inserts. I thought they were effective in helping to build the story.

The click for related articles button was effective as well. However, I did not particularly like the most popular boxes. For the most part they were not related to the story. The same goes for the big ads smack in the middle of the article. For me it broke the flow and I did not like meeting them on the page. I however acknowledge the need to generate revenue.

Traveling boots, cricket and life goes on

It has been a while since I last wrote. I have been busy. I am currently in Trinidad for a media related project. I landed last Sunday. I was without Internet for days and when I finally got it I had some "fires" I needed to put out. There is at least one glowing ember left but hopefully it will out by the end of today.

This is the last week of my online course and I need to complete my last skills assignment. This week we did multi-media. My assignment is to critique three multi media packages from MSNBC. Stay tuned they will be added shortly.

I hope to continue this blog after the course is finished but we will see how it goes. I want to look at issues such as the China and its relationship to the Caribbean. I watched a feature on channel nine in Trinidad (Its logo is a 'C' but I have no clue as to what it means) yesterday which said that Chinese products have taken the world by storm and that if Latin America and the Caribbean do not do something they may lose their tiny foothold in the world economy. The feature shows garment factories etc in China, tonnes of Chinese toys, cellular phones and other Chinese products that are sold on the world market at very competitive rates. The reporter also interviewed about three Latin American consumers; the one that stood out was a woman who said she preferred to use Chinese things because they are cheaper and easier to find.

Relating this to the Caribbean where a number of the nation states are receiving or have received aid from China I am asking myself how this will play out. Having taken aid from China we (the Caribbean) cannot necessarily dictate to that country - even if the region was not taking aid as the emerging super power they would be hard to stop.

This then takes me to a Time Magazine article published in the December 17 edition about author of "A Bull in China" Jim Rogers who gives his take on the power of China. It is a short piece but it does add the the pot.

According to Rogers, "Just as the 19th century belonged to England and the 20th century to America so the 21st century will be China's turn to set the a genda rule the roost"

One thing for sure all eyes are on China now for the Olympics. Did you catch the news where they had to out the torch three times because of Free Tibet protesters?

Anyway, home work time.

One more thing. I attended my first ever Cricket match at Queen's Park Oval in Trinidad on Sunday. I took photos for my online course assignment. The West Indies won 254/4 against Sri Lanka. It was the first win at the Oval since 2000.