Advanced Multimedia Reporting Workshop in New York City
The MediaStorm Advanced Multimedia Reporting Workshop in New York City is an intensive, hands-on educational experience in advanced multimedia storytelling.

Over the course of a week, participants will work in three-person teams, reporting and editing in collaboration with a seasoned multimedia professional to produce a multimedia project for distribution across multiple platforms.

Each team will produce a professional-quality, ready-for-publication multimedia story.

See work from previous Workshops:
Workshop One: May 3-10, 2008
Workshop Two: September 20-26, 2008
Workshop Three: December 6-12, 2008
Workshop Four: June 20-26, 2009


Quick Links:
Who Should Apply
The Program
Additional Benefits
Location & Dates
Admissions & Fees
Application Forms
Testimonials
FAQ

Who Should Apply
This is a workshop for seasoned storytellers who have professional multimedia experience and are looking to further expand their multimedia storytelling capabilities. Applicants should have a working knowledge of audio recorders, video and still cameras and non-linear editing software.

This is not an introductory workshop. Participants will be working at a fast-paced professional level, moving from story concept to a completed multimedia story in 6 days.

The goal of the workshop is to collaborate with those who have expert skills in specific areas in order to create the best possible project. Each team will include:

A Multimedia Reporter: A workshop participant who gathers original story elements in the field using still photography, audio and video.

A Multimedia Editor: A workshop participant who edits the Multimedia Reporter's raw material and produces a multimedia story using Apple's Final Cut Pro.

A Multimedia Producer: A MediaStorm Producer who is dedicated to the team for the entire workshop, instructing the Multimedia Reporter during the story-gathering phase and the Multimedia Editor in the post-production phase.

An Observer: A workshop participant who has access to both the reporting and editing processes, but doesn't engage in hands-on work.

Each participant will focus primarily on either reporting or editing, but will collaborate extensively and learn aspects of each skill during the workshop.

Limited Availability
Enrollment is limited to 3 Multimedia Reporters, 3 Multimedia Editors and 3 Observers for each Workshop.


What You Will Learn
Narrative Storytelling
  • Developing the best approach for creating effective multimedia stories
  • Pre-production planning, finding the story's focus and execution of those ideas and techniques

Reporting Approach

  • Using the best tools to get the story
  • When to use a still camera, when to use audio and/or video
  • How to ask questions and get to the heart of the story

Post-Production

  • Establishing a strong post-production environment
  • Efficient editing techniques
  • Advanced Final Cut techniques including archiving and compression

Teamwork

  • Getting the most out of the reporter/editor relationship
  • Common issues and how to resolve them
This workshop is designed to replicate intense and sometimes difficult daily reporting and editing situations. You will walk out the door at the end of the week prepared to make significant changes in your existing methods, from rethinking and refining your shooting and audio gathering techniques to streamlining your post-production workflow and organization. Along the way, you will learn how to incorporate all of these techniques into finding and crafting well-told, compelling stories.

Story Subject Matter
You will be assigned to a team before the workshop and will collaborate with your Multimedia Producer to work out logistics and finalize a story idea before the workshop begins.

The workshop staff will research story ideas and offer participants a pool of options from which to choose. Participants are encouraged to create their own story ideas and discuss them with their Multimedia Producer prior to the workshop.

Schedule
Out of town participants are expected to arrive in New York City the evening before the workshop begins.
  • First Day (Saturday) at 10am: Overview and technical training
  • First afternoon: Full team goes into in the field
  • Sunday through Friday: Reporter in the field and Editor in post-production
  • Friday night: Final screening and party

Workshop Staff
The team assembled to lead the Workshop has extensive multimedia experience both in the field and in post-production. As a group, we've attended, led or taught at the top workshops in the profession.

Workshop Director: Jessica Stuart
Executive Producer: Brian Storm

Multimedia Producers:

Note: There will be one Producer assigned specifically to your project for each workshop. Producers may vary from workshop to workshop.

Biographies of the MediaStorm Workshop team can be found at: http://mediastorm.org/workshops/bios.htm


Unique to the MediaStorm Workshops
Our goal is to create value for participants in addition to the training experience. To that end, we will create a venue to continue the dialogue with participants and a structure to generate additional financial opportunities for the projects.

Community
Workshop participants will have access to the MediaStorm online community forums. These exclusive forums will include MediaStorm employees, those published on MediaStorm.org and those selected for the MediaStorm Workshops.

Syndication
MediaStorm has an established syndication model for multimedia projects. We have licensed projects to a variety of top-tier clients.

It's possible that some of the projects created during the workshop will have value in the marketplace beyond the educational experience.

If we license a project, the revenue generated will be shared with 50% split between the Reporter and Editor and 50% to MediaStorm. Note: students who attend the workshop tuition-free do not get a split of syndication revenue.

Copyright to the original media assets created at the workshop will remain with the participants. The participants and MediaStorm will share the copyright to the completed multimedia project. The projects will be published in the workshop section of MediaStorm.org at the conclusion of the workshop.


Location & Dates
The Workshops will be based in New York City.
There are several Workshop dates to choose from:
  • Workshop Five: September 19-25, 2009 - Application Deadline: Wednesday July 15, 2009
  • Workshop Six: December 5-11, 2009 - Application Deadline: Thursday October 1, 2009

Applications must arrive by 5pm EST, on the date of the deadline listed above.

Admissions & Fees
If you are selected to attend, the enrollment fees are:

  • $3,500 for a Reporter postion
  • $3,500 for a Editor postion
  • $2,500 for an Observer postion

Note: Attendees are responsible for their own room and board during all workshops.

How to Apply
Interested applicants must fill out the online application form. Once you submit the form, you will not be able to edit it. We strongly recommend copying the questions and working offline, and then pasting in your answers so that you don't lose any information.

If you have any questions, feel free to email workshops@mediastorm.org

"Truly the best investment I have made this year. The workshop comprises not just of valuable information on practicalities, improving process efficiency, advanced Final Cut, timesaving techniques but the dedicated MediaStorm team also provides wide ranging in the field guidance, including how to shoot stills and video for multimedia - which is different! Taking this time out to totally focus on multimedia, discuss and debate topics, receive advice on story structure, themes and totally focusing on bringing myself to the next level has already helped me in my day-to-day life as a freelancer. This opportunity is second to none."
Morag Livingstone
Freelance Photojournalist
Reporter on Beautiful Noise

"As a freelancer the jump into multimedia felt a bit like climbing a mountain in the dark. The MediaStorm workshop could not have come at a better point in my career, filling in many of the blanks and answering a ton of questions. Not for a second, (not even at 5am on Thursday morning...), did I regret the decision to invest in this workshop. It was worth every moment and every penny."
Mareile Paley
Art Director
Editor on Beautiful Noise

"Spending six days on a MediaStorm workshop was a career-changing experience. Where else can you finesse your multimedia storytelling skills with the absolute best in the business? We were trained in the techniques to shoot video like the pros. Then in post-production we learned the best way to edit our footage to create slick and polished presentations. Exposure to the MediaStorm workflows and practices is invaluable, and provides you with a template to structure and manage future projects. They're a fabulous team to work with, and incredibly generous with sharing their experience and expertise. By the time I reluctantly left MediaStorm I was inspired beyond measure, and felt armed with the missing pieces of the puzzle to produce high-quality news multimedia productions."
Kimberley Porteous
Multimedia Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald
Editor on Beautiful Noise

"I simply cannot wait to begin to use these creative techniques in the future. The web is ever changing faster than any other medium and MediaStorm understands that, but more importantly, they want you to learn it. From the instructors, staff, and hands-on work, there is no stone unturned."
Ricky Montalvo
Video Producer, Yahoo! Studios
Editor on An Apollo Legned

"MediaStorm drilled in me the importance of story structure: strong narrative, good characters, high-impact visuals and audio. Short of one of these elements and you will lose your audience. When you are out in the field and about to fall of the cliff, the producers are there to provide an immediate editorial lifeline. Whether it be straightening out your tripod or unruly FCP sequences, the on-the-spot tips are golden."
Bernadette Tuazon
Picture Editor, Associated Press
Editor on An Apollo Legned

"The MediaStorm Advanced Multimedia Reporting Workshop was a great opportunity to learn from some of the best producers in the business. It taught me to think of the story from a totally different mindset. It was great to learn the technical skills to produce multimedia, but even better to learn about the approach to each story. To blend the power of still photography, audio, and video in a thoughtful and meaningful way is the lesson I'll take away from the workshop. I walk away inspired, and ready to apply the lessons learned at MediaStorm to my work."
Evan Vucci
Staff Photographer, Associated Press
Reporter on An Apollo Legned

"I now have a better understanding of the possibilities multimedia offers in telling stories more completely. It is exciting to see what can be done in just one week. The MediaStorm Workshop not only taught me important multimedia skills, it made me a better journalist. I have already started to put the lessons I learned into use."
Carolyn Cole
Staff Photographer, The Los Angeles Times
Reporter on Roots in the Garden

"The workshop was a real treat. I met journalists committed to producing important work. For those searching for an industry standard in multimedia storytelling -- this workshop could well become a must."
Pia Sawhney
Freelance
Editor on Roots in the Garden

"I came away feeling much more confident in my ability to create multimedia pieces. It was immense fun. The instructors strike the right balance between throwing you in the deep end and stepping in at critical moments to rescue you. The workshop was really focused - we had very concise lectures on the essentials of video, audio, photography for multimedia packages and Final Cut Pro, and then went straight into the field as a team to apply the techniques. I learnt a hell of a lot about story structure & how to gather media to support it making me think about photography in a whole new way, and I'm excited about continuing the process."
Lucy Nicholson
Senior Staff Photographer, Reuters
Reporter on One Man Brand

"MediaStorm has a distinctive approach, with a focus on rich, nuanced narrative. Learning one-to-one from a talented team, I have come away with a strong framework for multimedia storytelling. After a challenging week of both theory and practice, I am conscious of the potential of this medium for visual journalism. I leave inspired to do much more with these powerful tools."
Jassim Ahmad
Head of Visual Projects, Reuters
Editor on One Man Brand


Frequently Asked Questions

What gear will I need to bring? Will anything be provided?
We will be providing high-end Macintosh computers for the post-production workstations. Participants are required to bring their own photography, audio and video equipment. For information about the gear we recommend, see: http://mediastorm.org/submissions/gear.htm

Each participant should also bring an external hard drive with 250GB of free space so they can take the final project with them.

How are participants chosen?
Participants will be chosen based on the information provided in their applications. We are looking for people who will benefit the most from the training provided. Existing examples of high caliber multimedia projects are the most important criteria for selection.

How will teams be paired?
Once participants are chosen, we will be in touch with each individual to discuss team structure.

Do I have to apply as a Reporter or an Editor? If I don't get in as one, can I come as the other? If I don't get in as a Reporter or an Editor, can I come as an Observer?
All Applicants must select their primary choice of role. If you would consider a second and third choice role, please indicate that on the Application form.

What if I just want to come help?
We are looking for several volunteers to assist with logistics during the Workshop. If you are interested, please send an email to workshops@mediastorm.org, and tell us a little bit about yourself, your experience with multimedia, and why you are interested in helping.

Where will participants stay?
Participants are responsible for their own room and board. We will provide local hotel and neighborhood information to accepted participants. MediaStorm is easily accessible by subway, so location is flexible.

Do you offer introductory workshops?
No. We feel there are already several terrific workshops out there offering introductory and intermediate instruction (see below), so we are focusing exclusively on advanced training.

Are there other workshops like this?
We think the MediaStorm Workshops are unique because of the small number of participants and the focus on advanced multimedia storytelling. With that said, there are a number of great workshops to consider:

Are you ready to apply?
If so, get started.

I'd like to learn more about other MediaStorm Workshops.


The MediaStorm Advanced Multimedia Workshops are sponsored by:

If you are interested in sponsoring our workshops, please contact us at: sponsorship@mediastorm.org
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