Star-Telegram multimedia journalist Jen Friedberg visited our class last week to discuss strategies for producing audio slideshows. Here’s her Audio Slideshow Game Plan. And as promised, here’s the roller derby video she edited later that day.
Meanwhile, those of you who had an excused absence can make up the points by watching and comparing these two videos. First, watch Jen’s multimedia slideshow (a combo of video and still images) about a father who is about to witness the execution of his son’s killer:
Compare Jen’s slideshow to the TV version of the same story. Which story do you find more compelling and effective, and why? What factors did each medium have to consider in producing the story? Answer by leaving a comment on this post.
Digital Journalism @ SMU 
While I felt both mediums were effective, I thought that Jen Friedberg’s slideshow captured the emotion behind the story in a more effective way. The broadcast story had to be to the point and could not include all of the detail the other did, but the slide show was more effective because of the pictures it used. The tight shots of the fathers eyes were particularly effective. The pictures spoke volumes of how he felt without an explination. Also, since both his father and son are dead, the inclusion of multiple pictures of each gave the viewer an idea of both men. The pictures of the killers were creepy, but the picture I had the most difficulty viewing was the one with the execution table. It was chilling and I found myself nervous of the next picture. By the end of the slide show I sympathized with the father and was in disbelief of the heartache he had endured, but after the video I was not as emotionally effected. In this instance I believe that the pictures speak louder and portray the emotion in a different light. Obviously the video also had to coinsider the audience- if it were on nightly news I would not think they would include as much detail about the deaths, where as viewers have the option to watch the slide show so detail may be included. Both were well constructed, but in terms of emotion I think the slide show was much more effective.
I’m blown away by the powerful emotion that enveloped me as I watched Jen Friedberg’s multimedia slideshow. The sadness that this man must live with every day of his life, after losing not only his father, but also his son to murder, is more than any person should have to bear. Friedberg’s interpretation made me feel as if I was sitting in the room with this man while he told his story. I think not having a narrator made the story more poignant. The pictures of the father and son were put in exactly the right places and stayed up long enough to absorb but short enough to keep the story moving forward. The pictures of his son’s killer and the death chamber and cemetary were extremely effective in
completing the story. It had a beginning, middle and end.
The CBS 11 piece was OK at best. I didn’t feel like the reporter captured the emotion of the story. I felt like I was watching a completely different story. Instead of seeing the sadness in this man’s life, he seemed more cold and distant. Of course, I realize this piece had to be much shorter for the newscast and that poses a challenge when it comes to telling the story.
The previous post was posted by: Jana J. Martin