'Photojournalism': Textbook Links
"PHOTOJOURNALISM: THE PROFESSIONALS' APPROACH" (Sixth Edition)
By Kenneth Kobre
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CHAPTER 12: MULTIMEDIA:
Packages featured in Chapter 12, Multimedia, in the 6th edition of "Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach." Some stories are no longer online. Please let me know of broken links or missing stories. Note that viewing some of these pieces will require memberships with the news organizations. Unless otherwise noted, these are free.
Prospecting the San Gabriel River Gina Ferrazi, Los Angeles Times : NO LONGER ONLINE
Crisis in Darfur Expands Travis Fox, Washington Post.
Watch for "Feeding Baby Izzedine," which is part of a larger package called “Crisis in Darfur Expands.” Travis Fox’s main subject shares her moving story in a clear and articulate way. One of millions of refugees fleeing genocide in Darfur, she tells of her heartbreaking efforts to feed her child in a refugee camp. Interviews with aid workers provide context to the story.
White City Stories University of North Carolina and the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria
In this extensive documentary about White City in southern Peru, students from the University of North Carolina and the Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria used the ambient sound of nuns praying to introduce “Cloistered for Christ,” a multimedia story about women living apart from society. “White City Stories,” a multimedia package containing stories about education, tradition, and industry in this city, was named one of the top web sites of the year by Time magazine.
The Lifeline Rick Loomis, photographer, and David Zucchino, Los Angeles Times
Part One Multimedia Part Two Multimedia
Part One, Written Story Part Two, Written Story
Photographer Rick Loomis and reporter David Zucchino captured the actual words of soldiers wounded in Iraq as they called home to tell their relatives what had happened to them. The team also recorded doctors during surgery. The natural sound of doctors, medics, and patients backed by the sounds of a busy medical setting gives the piece an authenticity that would have been missing in a formal voice-over interview.
Kingsley’s Crossing Olivier Jobard, MediaStorm.org
This is a tale documented first in still images, with sound recorded later. The combination is such a powerful storytelling package that it won a 2007 Emmy Award for Documentary/NonFiction for Broadband. Emmy Awards for Broadband are recently added categories to the prestigious professional awards.
Like thousands of other immigrants trying to escape grinding poverty, 23-year-old Kingsley of the West African nation of Cameroon desperately wanted to reach Europe and its potential for paying work. Award-winning French photojournalist Olivier Jobard photographed Kingsley’s journey across half of Africa over an arduous six months, including a harrowing boat passage that ended when the vessel sank.
Kingsley and Jobard survived the shipwreck (others did not), and Jobard continued to accompany Kingsley on his dangerous quest, which eventually does end successfully.
MediaStorm.org features Jobard’s remarkable images, combined with audio from a three-hour interview with Kingsley following his arrival in Europe. Kingsley’s lovely, accented English recounts his desperate, dangerous quest. The resulting combination of stunning images and moving first-person narrative brings viewers into intimate contact with one driven, desperate human being in his quest for a better life.
The Reach of War: A deadly search for missing soldiers Michael Kamber, New York Times
Perhaps the most gut-wrenching example of a photographer narrating his own piece is Michael Kamber's first-hand report of an attack on a platoon of soldiers on patrol in Iraq. One soldier was killed and others wounded. Kamber’s photographs and eyewitness account bring the viewer directly into the harrowing experience. Kamber’s voice-over explains the story and also provides incredible tension and depth. Kamber notes not only what happened when the soldier was injured but he also observes what did not happen. “No screaming, never rushed,” he says of the medic, who stays calm through the ordeal. This kind of personal observation, something a still photograph cannot capture, is priceless in a dramatic story like this.
A Ministry in the Cold, With a Gospel of Propane Tyler Hicks, New York Times
Tyler Hicks shot the images for this multimedia piece on the subject of homeless people living in suburban New Jersey. Kareem Fahim, reporter for the New York Times, wrote a story and also narrated this piece, which includes Fahim’s narration in addition to audio of his questions and subjects’ answers in some interviews. Juliet Gorman produced the package.
Playing Italy's Finest Violins Dave Yoder for the New York Times
This piece showcases a master violinist in Cremona, Italy, who plays historic instruments to keep them in shape. The only sound for the entire piece is the music played by the violinist. Produced by Joshua Brustein, the report also includes captions and an accompanying written article by reporter Ian Fisher.
Senator Barack Obama Visits His Father's Kenya Village Pete Souza, Chicago Tribune : NO LONGER ONLINE
Black Market Patrick Brown, MediaStorm
Patrick Brown’s long-term project documents the illegal trade of animals in Asia. Video of Brown sharing his experiences accompanies his powerful still images, and his voice continues over the photos he is discussing. The narration in this story also reveals how he went about the project, including his experience of pretending to have cancer in order to photograph inside an illegal zoo that provides bear gallbladders to clients who believe it can cure cancer. The photographer’s own words describe having to drink a concoction made from a bear’s gallbladder.
Not Just a Number Monica Radrigan, Oakland Tribune : NO LONGER ONLINE
A Mother's Journey Renée Byer, Sacramento Bee
This year-long story chronicling a single mother’s struggle shows the complex relationship between a mother and her preadolescent son as they face the tragic emotional challenge of the boy's terminal illness.
The photographer followed desperate Central American immigrants on their journey north. He tracks not the ones who succeed in making it, but the tragedy of those who don't—those who help the ones who fail. Sound was not gathered for this piece, but added after by the article's writer.
The team worked together to develop a comprehensive photo and sound package for this multi-part series.
National Hollerin' Contest Andrew Craft, Fayetteville Observer
For this multimedia package, the photographer shot a burst of frames. The series, displayed rapidly in the slide show, gives the piece a cinematic feel.
CHAPTER 13, VIDEO:
Video pieces featured in Photojournalism: The Professionals' Approach, Chapter 13, Video. Please let me know of broken links. Note that viewing some of these pieces will require memberships with the news organizations. Unless otherwise noted, these are free.
Living in Flooded New Orleans, Travis Fox, WashingtonPost.com
Romania's Hope Lies with the EU, Travis Fox, WashingtonPost.com
Halal Pushcart Takes Manhattan, Brent McDonald and Saki Knafo, NYTimes.com
Animal training expert teaches positive reinforcement, David Leeson, DallasNews.com
Kristen Ashburn’s five-year project on the AIDS pandemic demonstrates the impact of combining well-recorded sound, video, and powerful still images
