Teaching Backpack Journalism

We are currently in the interview process as we search for three new faculty members.  One area where we have recognized a need is in multimedia and new media studies.  We have professors who are skilled in writing, photojournalism, video and production and editing.  We have faculty who write scripts and edit films and those who are talented in podcasting.

Courtesy of Google Images

Of course, all our faculty are aware of web development and the use of social media, even if we aren't proficient in all the tools.  But we DO recognize that the world of journalism has changed.  When I was a sports writer, I took a pen and a notepad on assignment.  Occasionally I'd bring along a tape recorder and maybe my camera (if I had time to develop the film before deadline, that is).  

This, however, is the age of backpack journalism.  Where I could write a story and perhaps publish a picture 20-25 years ago, today I could Tweet about my interview with links to a podcast taken off my digital recorder, write the story for the next day's publication, develop a photo slide show, and use my iPad to record a standup with the coach for the advance story on our webpage.  I could even get some b-roll of the game or practice and then edit it into a short-form video using iMovie, again, right off my iPad.  And thanks to Wifi, I could do all this from my corner cafe while sipping a cup of coffee.  Talk about an exciting time to be a journalist! 

Check out this link at wikipedia.  It's a really interesting read!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backpack_journalism