Missouri School of Journalism reporters put virtual reality into deadline news

Mizzou VR Journalism hit a benchmark recently by publishing a 360-degree illustrated news feature on normal online newspaper deadline. In an Oct. 26 article in the Columbia Missourian, Emily Shepherd wrote about a Harry Potter-themed astronomy lesson that night at the University of Missouri’s Laws Observatory. Stephanie Miller provided normal photographic coverage, but Claudia Chong and … Continued

Learning to JAM in 5 steps: New initiative reminds journalism students to archive their digital work

In the early days of computing, we used a phrase, “save early, save often.” Today’s digital content creators have more opportunities and more ways to save, but often forget this critical step.

To keep content from being lost forever, our students and faculty need to learn best practices.

I’m proud that our librarians, Ed McCain and Dorothy Carner, are launching an easy set of steps for digital storage. JAM — Journalism Archives Management — will set students and faculty on a path to preserving content long after it has been created.

— Linda Kraxberger, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Missouri School of Journalism

Looking at a photographic image from another point of view: Yours

Good writers can conjure a vivid image in our minds with just words. But journalists also have long relied on illustrations, photographs and videos to enrich a story. Photographs and, by extension, videos have an important limitation. The story is told from one point of view – that of the photographer. The photographer structures our … Continued

Columbia Missourian covers True/False Film Fest using 3-D imaging

The Columbia Missourian took a new tack on “in-depth journalism” by offering its readers 3-D images of costumed participants in the True/False Film Fest in Columbia, Missouri. Missourian photographer Mike Krebs used a Structure Sensor 3-D scanner from the MU3D project to create detailed images of festival participants just before the event and then shot … Continued

Exploring the norms: A 3-D project for journalists

I’ve been through twin-lens reflex cameras, meterless Nikons, underwater rigs, digital wonders and mobile phone cameras. But I’ve never been so frustrated as my first experience with 3-D. That shouldn’t be — and we are working to make sure it never is for other journalists. The addition of depth makes 3-D cameras violate many of … Continued

Newspapers, farms and Bud’s advice

When the Tribune Co. announced bankruptcy in December, I had one immediate thought: I wish they’d really bought the farm. The World’s Greatest Newspaper is broke and an uncomfortable crowd of metros is teetering on the brink. Even the New York Times is hocking its skyscraper to pay the bills. It’s a sad time for … Continued