Six Weeks Yield Great Projects from Solo Journalists

Above is a still from a project produced by Nima Tamaddon for a six-week Backpack Journalism course, part of the Interactive Journalism MA program. Tamaddon's piece focuses on a Japanese fringe artist who goes by the name of Miss Hiccup.

Interactive Journalism MA students in Backpack Video Journalism (Comm-632) spent six weeks learning the video and audio skills of a solo-journalist (sojo).

Working with Panasonic HMC-40 tapeless HD camcorders, tripods, and two microphones, students first practiced with 30-second news pieces before producing projects 3-7 minutes long. They also learned Final Cut Pro X as well as visual storytelling structure and techniques.

Professor Larry Engel commended the work of the students, who are graduating in 2014. "The cohort hit the ground running, with cameras in hand, and never stopped. Their work shows dedication to the profession, to learning, and to pushing their limits. In six short weeks, they succeeded in producing some really great pieces." Some of those videos are listed below.

Laura D'Alessandro on slow food in the fast lane

Pat Anastasi on Brookeville, a forgotten capital

Nima Tamaddon on the Washington, D.C. Fringe Festival

Seth Liss on endangered species

Lauren M. Williams on DC food trucks

Maria Purdy Young on where ice cream was born

TJ Giocanda on House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary