final thoughts on J198

At the conclusion of another great semester at Lehigh, I must stop to reflect on my J198 class. Until now, I had yet to take a course that truly combines work with play. Multimedia reporting allowed me to combine my interests and journalism skills to create new material. I have also developed crucial habits to be a successful journalist in an age where technology rules all.

At the onset of this semester, I was under the impression Twitter was for celebrities with too much time on their hands and Blogging was an online diary. To say the least, I now know this is far from true.

While celebrities do post often to their Twitter accounts, this viral-media, among others, has transformed journalism today. In an industry where time is the most crucial element, Twitter, Blogs and YouTube provide a platform for journalists to create material for news and events at the exact time they occur. Additionally, they have integrated social media networks with a following to ensure those interested in a given source for new material are the first to see it. This concept of the new world of journalism as multi-media is vital to grasp.

After a semester of ‘tweeting,’ I now have a strong Twitter fan-base or following. Additionally, I have developed a fan-base for my blog, inspired by love for fashionable athletic apparel. Initially, the assignment to post new material on my blog three times a week and post on Twitter at least once a day was a daunting task. However, as I became more familiar with the social medias, posting new material became habit. Moreover, using social medias is something I now enjoy and will continue to use after the class.

Before I took Multimedia Reporting, I also had difficulty taking quality pictures and using the computer to create worthwhile projects out of anything having to do with a camera. Aside from the social-media’s, J198 has taught me how to film footage, edit it, and produce a high-quality product. I feel that I have an improved understanding on filming and production, which gives me a more open-minded outlook on photography in general. I am no longer afraid of technology and know what to do with a camera and a computer, and then some. In turn, I am now a source to my peers to assist them with their technology and social media questions.

While I am pleased with the new habits I have developed through J198, I am most proud of the “Bethlehem Dining” website I created with Alex. It was a great experience to work on this project. I really got a lot out of the group aspect of the assignment and it was a great way to combine all aspects of our new knowledge from the course into one platform. One of the more difficult pieces of information to obtain were recipes by top chef’s. To obtain some of our information, we used Twitter to advertise our project and had successful responses from many restaurants. I have a much better grasp on how the up-scale environment that is Bethlehem today has come to be, as a result of researching the local restaurant industry. I am excited to show off the finished product to friends, family and potential employers.

My new-found habit of posting material to Twitter, YouTube and Blogger will shape my future as a journalist and I am excited to see where that takes me!

Alex Levin - J198 Reflection

I wanted to start this reflection with an except from the “About Us” page on my Website, as I think it would better describe the effects J198, Multimedia Reporting, has had on my interests and career choices.

“Alexandra Levin, '11, is a Journalism major and Mass Communications minor.  Most recently, she has been on a social media frenzy, where her fascination for the Web has consumed her for the better.  Now a senior, she has been afforded the opportunity to delve deeper into the ever-growing and ever-evolving world that is the Internet.  This concept of a web-based society has intrigued her curiosity and she would love to learn more about the future of online media by working for a progressive Internet company post-graduation.”

Prior to taking J198, I knew very little about social media and the effects it has on every aspect of our society.  Although I was an avid user of Facebook, an excellent representation of social media at its finest, I still did not understand the bigger picture and how the Internet could positively change business transactions, customer service and relationships in general among others.  J198 has introduced me to a world of interconnectivity, and for that I am truly grateful.  Now, as I approach my last semester at Lehigh, it is time to start thinking about career choices and the industry I want to pursue as a post-graduate.  Multimedia reporting has influenced me so, to the point at which I want to pursue as career working for a progressive Internet company. 

I have learned that Twitter, specifically, has transformed the world in terms of promotion.  Prior to taking J198, I rejected the social media site, and thought it was another (and stupid) imitation of “status updates,” on Facebook.  I now understand and utilize somewhat to excess, the real function of Twitter, as it can essentially be used for self-promotion, community relations, crisis management, business promotion, and public relations.  Social Media, particularly Twitter, has transformed communication into a real-time forum. 

Blogging is another form of social media that has intrigued my curiosity.  Unlike Twitter, keeping a blog is more personal.  Instead of reaching an infinite amount of people, blogging targets an intimate group (your avid followers) where you can tailor your posts to their interests.  Blogging is a way to openly and freely express your personality and creativity through the Internet. In my opinion, the ability to post pictures, videos, and audio on online forums such as blogs, has rapidly changed the face of the news forever.  Now, it is common for news to break on consumer created websites.

I very much enjoyed the final project in J198, as it gave us an opportunity to combine everything we’ve learned throughout the semester and apply it to a real publicly accessible forum.  I was so happy with outcome of our final project.  We were able to combine text with audio, pictures, video, and podcasts, as well as include hyperlinks, and google maps, making for the perfect interactive site about the restaurant industry in Bethlehem.  

OUR WEBSITE!

below is the link to the finished version of our website!  ENJOY!

(reflections on coming soon....)

http://j198.weebly.com/ 

Documentary

Follow Eli Ennis as he shares his experience working as a chef at The Bethlehem BrewWorks.  He takes us behind the scenes, giving us an inside look into the fast-paced restaurant industry.   With invaluable training and good friends, Eli has truely made a name for himself at this North Side eatery. 

LU Restaurant Project- flickr

LU restaurants project

Below is a Google Map compiled of the Lehigh Valley restaurants, split up by color into 'NY Style Restaurants' and 'Locally-Owned Businesses.' This is going to be one of many components to our website on the Lehigh valley restaurant business!


View Lehigh Valley Restuarants in a larger map

pod cast on LU restaurants

Here's a podbean pod cast I published on a discussion amongst myself and my friends about the LU restaurants. Listen to what they have to say and read my description to see where my J198 project with Alex is heading toward!

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