Developing Technical Skills for a High School Newspaper Cindy Royal, Ph.D Associate Professor Texas State University School of Journalism and Mass Communication tech.cindyroyal.net twitter.com/cindyroyal facebook.com/cindyroyal linkedin.com/in/cindyroyal

Why Learn HTML Regardless of the platform you choose, it is helpful to have a basic understanding of HTML/CSS – the language of the Web Ability to modify the presentation of a post or customize a CMS Ability to troubleshoot and add advanced functionality HTML provides the structure CSS provides the formatting Control the entire Web site with a single stylesheet; make global changes quickly and easily

Basic HTML Markup language – surround text with proper markup Open and close tags properly (i.e. Sample html page Cindy's Web Site This is a paragraph

Basic CSS Use a stylesheet to control the design/layout of a Web page Save sheet with.css extension Insert into the section of each page with the following code: Styles are defined in this manner: h2 { font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; } Use an existing stylesheet that you understand and modify it; content management systems based on CSS.

Image and Graphic Manipulation Web resolution – 72dpi.jpg for photos;.gif or.png for graphics Images on the Web should ideally be <100kb (kilobytes = 1000 bytes). Optimize photos for file size; crop and adjust Photoshop Webresizer -

Video editing iMovie – available on Macs for free; easy to learn, use Final Cut Express or Pro – more comprehensive, but more expensive Other video options include Window Movie Maker, Adobe Premiere, etc. Ability to import, crop, add transitions, titles, sound Keep it short Choose your editing software Practice visual storytelling; character-driven narratives Publish online

Gear Lots of camera choices High Def Accessories – tapes, batteries, microphone, tripod, headphones, lighting Focus, zoom, exposure Solid clips – avoid panning and zooming Get good audio

Digital Video Cheap cameras and editing software One person can produce high quality YouTube 20 hours of footage uploaded every minute The only way to learn video journalism is by doing it - Angela Grant (a former student) Video journalists or backpack journalists Both broadcast and non-broadcast

Plan Video Different approaches for different projects Storyboarding Focus story Choose interview and demonstration sequences as well as b-roll Mix your shots – wide angle, medium, close-ups

Five shots Close-up on the hands Close-up on the face Wide shot Over-the-shoulder shot Creative shot

Interviews Select a location – think sound and lighting Have several pre-written questions – some can be discussed ahead of time Prepare your subject Remain silent Use a stand-up, just in case Effective use of voiceover

Great Multimedia – Photos and Video New York Times Statesman MediaStorm Washington Post The University Star – star.txstate.edu Links and examples at cindyroyal.com/asne

Telling Stories with Data New York Times Texas Tribune Tools – Google Maps; Charts and Visualization; Fusion Tables, Wordle, Chartle Links and examples at cindyroyal.com/asne

Student Projects Web Design curriculum at Texas State Learn skills in HTML, CSS, JQuery, graphic design, photo, audio, & video editing Digital Storytelling via integration of tools TXST's Status as Hispanic Serving Institution – TXStateofChange.com Firestation Studios - NPPA – Future of Journalism Workshop - South By Texas State – Mass Comm Week – txstatemcweek.com University Star – star.txstate.edu Course sites -  Web Design – cindyroyal.com/webdesign  Fundamentals of Digital/Online Media - digital.cindyroyal.com  Advanced Online Media - advanced.cindyroyal.net