Surprise assignment

click on image to view the video!

The Oktoberfest 5k, a walk/run fundraiser took place in Richmond on Oct, 3, 2009. The course went through the Financial District, down Shockoe Slip, across the Mayo bridge, along the Floodwall, back over the Manchester Bridge, and returned through the Financial District. The founder of the OK5K, Greg Hennig, said,”it is a race that everyone wins.” All registered participants received a ticket to attend the official Oktoberfest celebration on October 24th.

We were divided into teams and sent out to shoot this assignment. Our time frame was 3.5 hours, for shooting, editing, posting and lunch. Kinda like the real world I suppose. Our team picked the OK5K.  Credit also goes to Miguel Souza, Ben Sellers and Jacyln O’Laughlin. I worked on shooting and editing.

Mission: Wiki

Miranda Mulligan, multimedia genius at the Virginia Pilot, recently spoke to our Online Journalism class. She emphasized the importance of self-education in this dynamic era of technology and networking.

After our heads had stopped spinning, and the dust settled, Mulligan distributed a document essential to our multimedia evolution: 30 THINGS YOU SHOULD BE DOING NOW.

Item #6 decreed that the budding, competitive journalist must improve at least 5 Wiki entries. Me?
I wrote an entire entry. From scratch.

This involved drudging through unfamiliar and somewhat exclusive Wiki software and tutorials. The professor gave me permission to write my profile piece as a Wiki entry, and seemed enthusiastic about the creative slant I chose to take. Well, countless hours later, American journalist and author Joshua Lyon has his own, well deserved Wiki commemoration!

Read my first Wiki entry here…

The voices of a vibrant, ethnic community

Paul Tchouke, orginally from Cameroon, Africa, surveys the small crowd at the recent Richmond Multicultural Day. (Photo/Miguel Souza)

by Alix Bryan

Richmond, Vir. is home to a diverse array of ethnic communities. Throughout the year, more than 12 multicultural festivals showcase the food, music, and history of these communities. In addition, many organizations and people host benefits to increase social capital for communities outside of Richmond.

Time after Time: Master carpenter preserves Virginia history

by Alix Bryan

The expertise of master carpenter Ron Blackburn helps to safeguard a bridge from our past into the 21st century. Preservation of history and Virginia are as synonymous as musket and Civil War. A small, knowledgeable sect of master carpenters, historical reenactors, and interpreters are dedicated to the preservation of Virginia landmarks.