Sunday, October 26, 2008

My Washington Post Visit



Above is a slide show of my visit to the Washington Post. Click each picture for captions.
Friday evening, my graduate class ventured to the multimedia offices of Washington Post. It was a great learning experience and the facility was awesome. We met with Chet Rhodes, Assistant Managing Editor for News Video, who explained how the Washington Post will soon be known for its multimedia aspects rather than its newspaper component.


Chet Rhodes
We all know how people are becoming more focused in every aspect of there lives. There are hundreds of television channels but we only watch a select few. And there are thousands of radio station but we listen to less than five stations. And there are hundreds of thousands website but we always find ourselves visiting the same sites everyday. Rhodes emphasized this aspect of the new changing face of technology by answering Jeff Kraus, a VCU graduate student about the value of advertisements in today's world.




































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Rhodes also provided us with terms that are commonly used in the newsroom.

come in from the side = when consumers come to a website via another website such as through Google or New York Times.

top fold = the section of the first page of a newspaper that is seen in the newsstand.

hits = how many times people visit a website.

shot sheet = two to three word description of video that has been shot in the field.
art slot = where a picture is place on a website.

We also talked about different types of video:

Tier 1 - short, single shot that stands alone (interview/scene)

Tier 2 - A vignette ( 2 to 4 shots an interview)

Tier 3 - Longer narratives, documentary style.




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Graduate Work

Much preparation proves successful for grads

Students at Midlothian High School have been preparing to end one chapter while starting a new one at their graduation commencement.

Christopher Shelton hangs out with friends backstage at the Siegel Center as he awaits his graduation. As Shelton looks back over many years of hard work, he realizes he is spending the last minutes of being a senior at Midlothian High School.

Shelton is nervous, but excited at the same time.

“Since the first day of my senior year I have been looking forward to this day,” said Shelton. “I made sure I did all my work, kept studying, kept good grades and always held on hope.” He will be attending Virginia Tech in the fall majoring in computer engineering.

Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties high school graduations are held at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Stuart C. Siegel Center. VCU hosts 26 graduations at its 190,000 square foot facility.

Many behind the scenes preparations help make this day for Shelton and the other 341 seniors at Midlothian High School a day they will never forget. Parking passes are issued, roads are blocked, security is in place and chairs are organized.

There are close interactions between senior class faculty sponsors and officials at VCU. Nate Doughty, associate director of the Siegel Center and Athletic Facilities, said it is great public relations.

“This is a great way for VCU to give back to the community,” said Doughty. “We fit the need and it’s a win-win for everyone.”

Eileen Sunseri, senior class sponsor at Midlothian High School, is already planning for the 2009 commencement ceremony. Preparations for an event that involves students, families, faculty and the community is a year round affair.

Sunseri describes the graduation process as “controlled chaos.”

“We get started in October when the students are measured for their caps and gowns,” said Sunseri. “Most planning really starts in March. VCU sends us the date, time and schedules. In mid-May there is a walk through where we receive maps, parking passes and information to give to the parents.”

Doughty said the biggest headache is parking. Traffic on VCU’s campus is congested and heavy during these times. There are between 300 to 500 graduates for each ceremony. On average, there are three graduations a day during this 11-day period yielding more than 1300 vehicles for each graduation.

VCU Enforcement and Safety Coordinator Lou Ann Jones has overseen this process for the past four years. Each year changes are made to make sure the entire graduation process is a success.

Between 100 to 150 people work during graduations.

“The secret is teamwork,” said Jones. “The school systems, Siegel Center staff, deck staff, enforcement staff and the VCU Police Department work closely to assure that everything run smoothly.”

During graduation regular traffic is not stopped. Jones said that so far they have done a great job with accommodating everyone.

“Our goal for these graduations is to make them as safe and happy as possible for all involved,” said Jones.

Shelton could not be more happier as he hugs his friends and takes pictures to capture last memories. He reunites with his parents.

His mother Debra Shelton said that the entire process leading up to graduation has been a smooth one.

“I thought the graduation was wonderful and well organized,” said Debra. “I was impressed.”