Fundamentals of Interactive Journalism

I neglected to mention that I saw Madonna in concert this past fall, at Madison Square Garden.

A friend of mine had a couple of extra tickets and my partner and I decided that when tickets for Madonna fall in your lap, you take them. Neither of us were motivated enough to go through the hassle of buying them ourselves but couldn’t resist an opportunity to see Madge live.

The show was a spectacle – as her shows usually are. Big video screens dominated the stage – both as set pieces and as a means to see her in the cavernous MSG arena. At times, it was hard not to look to the monitors instead of the actual live show right in front of me. Even with great seats, I’m not a big fan of this type of venue – it’s just too big.

But, as a cultural experience, I had a great time. It’s kind of the urban, gay version of those mega-churches you find in Texas. Everyone at the concert was a member of the cult of Madonna and wanted to see and hear her message to the world. Some of them young enough not to know a world without her. Others old enough to be attending with their teenage kids.

For me, seeing Madonna is a lot like Christmas. It’s always a lot of fun but it’s probably a lot more fun when you’re younger.

On December 10th, Sean Hetherington and Aaron Hartzler organized Day Without A Gay. They asked people to “call in gay” to work and spend the day volunteering for GLBT and/or human rights organizations. The idea was intended to demonstrate the contributions of the GLBT community to the nation’s economy.

The event coincided with the International Human Rights Day and was conceived in response to California’s Proposition 8 initiative which banned gay marriage. According to press reports, the turnout was low.

No word yet on whether or not there will be a repeat next year.

On a recent trip down Wall Street, I came upon a fabulous group called [untitled] Walk Project. This is why I love New York – unexpected discoveries of different thinking.

For anyone heading down to New Orleans, I have three suggestions for some good eating.

Breakfast: There’s a great spot on St. Louis Street called Petunia’s Restaurant. Located in a 19th century Creole townhouse, you’ll find a warm & cozy spot for brunch. I had their absolutely delicious French Toast – which I highly recommend. The service was terrific. They were friendly, fast and attentive to empty coffee cups. Get there early if you want to avoid a line out the door.

Lunch: Take a drive, stroll or bike ride down Magazine Street for nice selection of shopping and dining. When you get to State Street, stop and try some of Reginelli’s tasty pizzas and salads. They have other locations throughout the city but I love the vibe of this area. I felt like I was in the East Village. And the staff is mellow and polite. 

Dinner: When you’re looking for a more upscale option, I recommend a trip back to the French Quarter for Bayona. Give yourself some time to browse the extensive wine options. Their menu changes daily and my only criticism is one that applies to all the restaurants of New Orleans – not enough vegetarian options. But if you do fish, there’s always some delicious blackened something or other. Dinner for two will set you back at least $100 – depending on your appetizer and wine choices. This is the place to splurge.

Bon Appetit!

There are two accessories you should never be without, when out on assignment. Both are inexpensive, portable and and provide flexibility in the field.

The Joby Gorillapod is a small tripod with bendable legs that can wrap around and secure itself to almost anything. It comes in different sizes depending on what you’re shooting with. The largest model can hold a camera weighing eleven pounds – more than enough for the Canon EOS Rebel with a big lens or the Sony PD170 video camera.
B&H sells all the Gorillapods ranging in price from $21.95 for the smallest – good for point and shoots – to $139.95 for the jumbo, Focus model. And check out the cool accessories you can add on, like a flash clip or spike feet.
The second must-have convenience is a CameraBright! Light. These are super-small, LED lights that can attach to a camera or tripod (works great with the Gorillapod) and give you just enough light to get by when shooting in dark or shaded areas. There’s no heavy lugging or obtrusive bright lights and the best part is, because they’re LED, they stay cool to the touch. You can buy them at their website ($19.95 – $59.95) or at B&H.
Happy shooting!

Last night I attended a fundraiser for House to Home Project (H2H) at the Cutting Room. H2H is a non-profit whose goal is to provide furniture and house wares to families restarting their lives after natural disasters. The group’s inaugural project takes form next month in New Orleans when it attempts to furnish 36 houses for Hurricane Katrina families, referred through partnerships with New Orleans Habitat for Humanity and Rebuilding Together New Orleans.

Founder Sherri Adler conceived the idea immediately following the disaster but put the project on hold when her father was diagnosed with cancer. When he was recently given a clean bill of health, she decided the time was right for her to start the project up again. With no experience in the non-profit world and no connections to New Orleans – apart from a New Year’s holiday in the French Quarter – Adler turned her idea into reality and is now readying for what she calls an “install week” beginning November 8^th.

I first met Sherri Adler in sixth grade and she has been one of my closest friends ever since junior high school. We see each other regularly and speak on the phone almost daily. Over brunch one weekend this summer, she told me she was taking a serious stab at fulfilling the project, utilizing all of her numerous contacts to make it happen. I was humbled by the scope of the House to Home Project. But if anybody could do it, she could.

Sherri once told me that she could find anything in ten phone calls or less. Hunting and gathering have always been central components of her work since she started as a Prop Master and then Set Decorator for theatre, film and commercials. Now, she’s the Production Designer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien as well as an Interior Designer.

I’ve signed on to document the process on video and plan to be in New Orleans for at least some of the home transformations. H2H is an amazing example of one person making a difference. It just so happens that this person has also been one of my dearest friends for the last three decades.

This past Friday night marked my one-week anniversary as a member of Facebook – or should I call it Crackbook? I joined because I view it as a requirement of my education as a journalist. No, really. But after eight days, I don’t remember life before Facebook. It seems like it has always been there.

Admittedly, I was an aggressive engager in this, my first foray into social networking. I looked up people from all of my social zones over the years – work, school, acquaintances, family. I made (or remade) 50 friends in my first 24 hours. I had a lot to catch up on in the experience of The Facebook and I wasn’t sure how long it would hold my interest. 

So I dove in and got busy posting status updates – “Brian is enjoying the weekend on Fire Island” and “Brian is watching the debates”; joining  networks and groups – “CUNY Graduate School of Journalism” and “Local 52 on Facebook”; writing on friend’s walls and sending messages – “Welcome back to NYC. Looking forward to seeing you” and “Wow! I’m so flattered you remember me.”; posting links to other sites – two from Mac World with articles about Facebook etiquette and one to a YouTube video (of me, playing the ukulele); becoming a fan of institutions and celebrities – The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science and Lynda Carter (as in TV’s Wonder Woman).

At times, I felt uncomfortable having so much information about me out on the interweb – my thoughts, whereabouts, interests, but who really cares? I don’t have anything to hide. And if I did have a secret, I’m not compelled to share it with anyone, in or out of Facebook. Then why was it I was feeling a little creeped out? Compared to most of my friends, I am a virtual blank slate. I chose (for the moment, at least) to leave out information about my activities, interests, favorite music, etc. But of course, based on the information in the previous paragraph, any stranger has some idea about my worldview.

Maybe it’s not the strangers I’m concerned about.

Maybe it’s the CIA.

More likely it’s the marketers.

Last weekend I visited The Museum at FIT to see their newest exhibition, Gothic: Dark Glamour. It’s a full-on environmental experience of the fashions of the “dark side.” The show features over 75 ensembles displayed in iconic gothic settings. From the Victorian mourning dress to the haute couture stylings of contemporary designers, Gothic: Dark Glamour reminds us that goth isn’t just for rock musicians and disaffected teens at the mall. This is a fun and fashionable fall outing.

The Museum at FIT is located at Seventh Avenue and 27th Street. The show closes on February 21, 2009. Admission is free.

“Fashion mocks death” is attributed to philosopher Walter Benjamin. Museum curator Valerie Steele writes:

“By celebrating novelty and artificiality, fashion promises seasonal renewal and eternal youth. Yet although fashion is the modern measure of time, it exists outside the organic cycle of birth, death, and decay. According to Benjamin, the essence of fashion is fetishism, because it is based on the sex appeal of the inorganic. As a result, he argues, the living person becomes a kind of mannequin, “a gaily decked-out corpse.”

Speaking of gaily decked-out corpses, you MUST check out Advanced Style. It is a brilliant blog that highlights the fashions of people on the street. Been there? Done that? Well, not exactly. By “Advanced,” the title refers to those who are advanced – in age. Yes! Stylish older people! This is a peak into all of our futures – if we’re lucky. I hope these models continue to snub their noses at death with their fabulous fashions. They are beautiful.

I’ve been giving a lot of thought lately to what makes for a successful blog. In class this week, we discussed various approaches to tackling the challenges of finding one’s voice and building a following: The blending of the personal with the public; instinct with craft; journalism with individuality. How much of my world do I really want to share? Does anyone care or really have the time for another voice? What, exactly, is my product, my brand?

So many questions and so many blogs to cite for examples of one approach or another. For those of you who are struggling with these questions, I offer advice that I am trying to take myself: In order to create and maintain a successful blog, the blogging must be an honest and natural extension of the world you inhabit. Rinse and repeat that thought over and over again.

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Upon returning from a vacation last December, I found my street entirely transformed into ‘Ninth Avenue Plaza.’ I was thrilled and amazed with the look and utility of the newly created public space. But the city didn’t stop there. They added a dedicated bike lane up the avenue – to 23rd Street – reducing the number of lanes for cars and they extended the bike lane (though not a dedicated one) down Hudson and onto Bleecker Street.

Anyway, since starting the Fall Semester, I’ve taken advantage of another plaza space – this time on Broadway, from about 41st Street to 38th or so. It’s a great outdoor spot to sit and have coffee, lunch or read the paper – for those of us who still have time to do those things.

I’m curious about other similar green spaces that might’ve popped up in other neighborhoods. And I hope I’ll find some in my C.D. In the meantime, check out this blog. It might offer some inspiration for our assignments.

Also, if you have any thoughts as to where the next plaza should be, you might offer the city a suggestion. Full information on the program here.