Alumni Weekend Agenda
(Subject to change)
Friday, October 5
2:00-3:00 p.m. J-School Tours
3:00-4:15 p.m. Social Media Storytelling
Jerry Monti
Technology Education Architect & Trainer, Knight Digital Media Center
Storytelling is the heart and soul of journalism. The Internet did not change this core, but it did change how journalists tell stories. Digital tools expanded the storytelling artist palette and now text is supplemented by photos, photo slideshows, video, interactive data, interactive maps, audio, games, interactive polls, comments, curation, forums and dozens more “colors.” People consume news on computers, phones, iPads and broadband WiFi is becoming universal. Delivery of 24-hour-old news in print by boys and girls on bicycles is not the future of storytelling for a wireless, mobile world. News organizations have either succeeded in adapting to this new reality or are fading from relevancy for most of their audience.
The change so far has been truly revolutionary, but the greater change for journalism is only now starting. This session will examine the present and near future of storytelling on the social Internet.
4:30-7:00 p.m. Alumni Cocktail Party
5:00-5:45 p.m. “Captive Radio” Documentary Screening
Lauren Rosenfeld ’12
Associate Producer, Investigative Reporting Center
“Captive Radio” is a documentary film, by Lauren Rosenfeld ’12, about families of victims of kidnapping in Colombia who use a weekly radio program to communicate with their loved ones held hostage in the jungle.
6:00-6:45 p.m. “Past Their Prime” Documentary Screening
Rebecca Friedman ’12
Production Assistant, Pixar
This documentary, by Rebecca Friedman ’12, explores the world of geriatric zoo animal care, through Colo–the oldest living gorilla–on her 55th birthday. “Past Their Prime” is Friedman’s 23-minute thesis film produced at the J-School. The film was produced under the guidance of Jon Else, Spencer Nakasako, Bonni Cohen, Jon Shenk and Richard Berge.
Saturday, October 6
10:00-10:50 a.m. Breaking Up the Article: News Re-packaged
David Cohn
Founding Editor, Circa.ca
Josh Kalven
Founder, NewsBound.com
There has been a lot of change since the digital revolution. Yet we still consume news in the format of an article – a form that has not changed since 1899. What options are possible when we think outside of the article. What does the future of news look like when it’s streamed or presented in a medium that, while different, has potential to change the way people consume the news. David Cohn is the founding editor of Circa, launching in October, which will be a mobile-first news operation. Josh Kalven is the founder of NewsBound.com a startup looking to change the way we put the news in context.
11:00-11:50 a.m. The Stuff We Didn’t Teach You [because it wasn’t invented yet]
Richard Koci Hernandez
Assistant Professor
There are more than 500 new smartphone and desktop apps created every day along with 137,000 start-ups launched. Amidst this creative ‘noise’ are some very useful and exciting tools for the modern storyteller. We’ll spend some time exploring new tools, from apps to gear and highlight some of the ways they can enhance your stories.
Noon-1:30 p.m. The New Journalism: Collaboration
This panel will focus on the new news culture, particularly in investigative reporting. Instead of competing, media organizations are working together to produce expansive, hard-hitting news. For editors and reporters this requires a different perspective on teamwork and leadership, along with some specialized skills. This is a discussion about the ins-and-outs, and highs and lows of this new landscape.
Lowell Bergman
Reva and David Logan Distinguished Professor of Investigative Reporting, Investigative Reporting Program
Carrie Lozano ‘05
Project Director, Investigative Reporting Program
Meghann Farnsworth ’07
Senior Manager, Distribution and Online Engagement, Center for Investigative Reporting
Monica Lam ’04
Video Producer, Center for Investigative Reporting
1:30-3:00 p.m. Goodbye Luncheon
(Please include the events you would like to attend in your RSVP)