Journalism after graduation

12 March 2010 | 2 Comments 

Yesterday I went to speak to a journalism class at my alma mater about choosing to attend J-school and practicing journalism post-graduation. It was strange to be speaking in front of the class – Magazine Writing – that I had just taken last spring! It was great to see my former teacher, Professor McCarthy, who worked for the Wall Street Journal and has given me a lot of great advice in my journalism career.

The title of my talk was Journalism after UMW and I used Prezi to present it. If you’re curious, you can see it here. I also discussed my two most recent pieces and I was flattered that Professor McCarthy asked the class to read my story on Pablo Eusebio before I arrived.

After my presentation, Professor McCarthy asked me if I thought I had made the right decision by going to graduate school. Three-quarters of the way through my masters, I can unsurprisingly say yes, I did. I thought I’d share on my blog the reasons why.

1) I learned the importance of technology in a journalism career. For those of you that don’t know me, my college degree was actually in English, not journalism. I wouldn’t have it any other way. My teachers at Mary Washington, both English and journalism, were fantastic and taught me the writing skills that I’ve used as the basis of everything else I’ve been able to achieve. In graduate school, I haven’t learned many new writing skills (short of a strict adherence to AP style), but I have learned many new ways to apply them. I’ve learned more about coding, digital sound and video editing, and using camera and video equipment here. Now I have a great deal more outlets to apply the storytelling skills I learned at college toward- I’ve become a multiplatform storyteller.

2) Unbelievable networking and internship opportunities. The contacts I’ve made in graduate school are invaluable. Aside from my professors, who are all incredible journalists in their own right, I’ve met journalists from outlets such as the AP and the Washington Post, talked to an editor from Real Simple and a designer from my local CentreView, all opportunities I would have missed if I hadn’t gone to grad school. Not to mention my internship at the Newseum, which is much more high profile than any opportunity I had as an undergrad.

3) Grad school taught me to self-actualize. This one is the most important. Before graduate school, learning was passive for me. I was given assignments, which I completed. I didn’t need to go out of my way to find more. But in grad school, it’s different. Instead of direct assignments, my professors simply give me the tools to do my work– then cut me loose. For example, my professor will tell me to do a story and give me the opportunity to use video elements, but it’s up to me to pick the topic and even to figure out how to use the camera and editing software! (Of course, they’re there to offer me guidance if I get stuck, but you get the picture.) I would have never created this blog without what I’ve learned in grad school about treating myself as a brand. I’ve learned that instead of waiting for something good to happen to you, you have the power to make it happen. And that is a topic I have so much to say about, it could be a brand new post.

I hope my experiences with J-school inspire other students to choose the same path. If you’re serious about journalism and can’t imagine doing anything else with your life, I can’t find another endeavor that’s more worth your time and money.


Heavy Rain: a spectrum of reactions

10 March 2010 | 3 Comments 

(Note: Almost all my links open to spoilers. If you haven’t played, don’t click!)

I finished Heavy Rain last week (if it is possible to finish; I only got a few of the game’s 22 endings) and I can’t get it out of my mind. While I was working through it, I felt like I was living a double life. I had assimilated so well into the HR universe that I feel like I have now had many more life experiences than I actually do. The combination of the compelling story and innovative controls felt real to me.

But as a journalist, playing the game wasn’t enough and I just had to start reading reviews. And if you’ve been following Heavy Rain in the slightest, you know that the reviews have spanned from love to hate.

still from heavy rainIt felt like I read a lot of less than stellar reviews of Heavy Rain. “Sending out the message to publishers that this is what we consider an artistic triumph is terrible,” writes Jim Sterling at Destructoid. “…it’s not very fun,” said Russ Frushtick at MTV. Moving towards the middle, Kotaku tepidly countered, “Who cares if you’re having fun, as long as you’re interested?” And on the opposite side of the spectrum, Joystiq’s Randy Nelson calls it “as entertaining as any good Hollywood thriller, but far more engrossing,” and Gamespy’s Anthony Gallegos claimed it was “the most intense emotional experience I’ve had with a controller in my hand.”

Wait, these guys all played the same game, right?

This would be a good time for me to get up on my soap box about what’s wrong with video game journalism. But this time, I don’t think that’s the issue.

This time, it’s about differing comparison standards.

Until Heavy Rain, games were compared to games. You might, for example, say Halo and BioShock are similar as a means of comparison, but not, “Halo is not half as good as Saving Private Ryan!” They’re different genres with different means, goals, and audiences. What’s unfair for Heavy Rain (and the developers brought this upon themselves for calling it an “Interactive Drama”) is that it’s so innovative and so different from its contemporaries in the video game world that some game journalists are comparing it instead to movies. You’ll notice that the reviewers who compared Heavy Rain to a movie were notably less impressed than those who compared it to other games.

Yes, Heavy Rain is evocative, compelling, and mysteriously caused my thumbnail to end up half its regular length, but it’s not a movie and people looking for one when they play it are going to be disappointed.


Fellow fans, I need your help!

8 March 2010 | 5 Comments 

It’s only natural that my love of infographics has led to an intense affection for data. About a week ago, I decided I wanted to make some infographics about the rise of fandom documentaries, how diverse they are, and how they’re getting so popular that even Joss Whedon is getting on the fandom-doc train.

The only problem is, no such data exists! Even IMDB can’t help me find a complete list of fandom documentaries (at least, without me having to sort through 20,000 documentaries on every subject. Really.)

So I’m tossing this question out to you, internet users and fellow fans. I’ve made a list of the 30 documentaries I could find so far. If you see something missing, let me know in the comments or by email. I know you’ll find something I’m missing. Thanks in advance!

list of fandom documentaries 1997 to 2009


In defense of pajamas

8 March 2010 | 2 Comments 

“Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.”

It’s the oldest cliche in the book. Offices have dress codes for a reason. Basic psychology states that “dressing for success” is a real phenomenon; if you dress like a winner, others will see you as one- and you’ll feel like one- too.

So why then do I work best when I’m wearing my pajamas?

pajamasPhoto by Helen Taylor / CC BY-NC 2.0

I’ve known this about myself for a long time. It started in high school when I would get home late from track practice, eat dinner, put on my pajamas, and start my homework. While I never resorted to wearing pajamas to class in college, I would always get them out if I had to study for a test or write a big essay. At my internship at the Free Lance-Star last spring, my supervisor understood that when I said I was going to my apartment to work, it meant I had an assignment in requirement of some pajamas. Since then, I’ve been lucky to have a few jobs that allow me to work from home, sitting in bed with my laptop, crunching out work in P.J.s.

I know this is best for me. The hard part is convincing other people that.

Now that the Internet makes it possible for me to work without going anywhere, wearing pajamas shouldn’t be a problem, right? Wrong, say people here, and here for starters. And rather than being a description of what I am doing right now, “pajama blogging” has become a synonym for lazy, casual, citizen writing.

I’ve heard about how working in bed can cause sleep problems because you begin to associate a place of sleep as a place to work. However, I’ve never had insomnia. I’ve heard that getting dressed in the morning puts you in the right mindset. But for me, other morning rituals like getting breakfast or a shower take that place. It’s not a method that’s for everyone, certainly, but I’ve never had problems because of it.

In my opinion, work is about what you do, not where you do it. As my astute professor recently told me, “work is an occupation, not a location.” I’d certainly never wear pajamas out on a reporting assignment or to a meeting, but when it comes to writing at home, who cares what I’m wearing?


Link roundup – 03.05.2010

5 March 2010 | 1 Comment 

I love link round-ups on other blogs, so today I thought I’d share my own. Here’s a list of things I’ve found in my areas of interest, plus all the work I’ve published online this week. It’s small, but if you guys like it, I’ll make it a monthly or weekly thing.

Journalism

The PEW Internet & American Life Project’s most recent study showed that most Americans get their news online.

I could’ve guessed that web design affected traffic, but not to the extent that the Las Vegas Sun discovered. Read about how changing their site’s appearance multiple times a day increased hits.

10 Popular Firefox Addons for Web Developers. Via Mashable. I use almost half of these when I build sites.

Fandom

Found this editorial on Heavy Rain after beating the game. I loved the game, but it was interesting to see why people might dislike it.

Katsucon reviews are finally sprouting up all over the web. Read some here, here, and here.

A very interesting look from the other side at the culture clash that occurred at Katsucon 2010.

Gundam slippers! Awesome.

My contributions

At the Katsucon Maid Cafe, a forum of self expression is the first part of my series on anime and transformation. Stay tuned for more.

For a degenerative disease, optimism is the best medicine is my profile on a fantastic D.C. teenager named Pablo.

If you haven’t checked out the Newseum’s Future of News blog, I recommend doing so! My post about technology and journalism just went up.



March 2010 event guide for D.C. anime fans

4 March 2010 | 3 Comments 

As a journalist, I spend a lot of time looking things up on the web to find new events to cover for stories. As a result, I think I’m more informed than most people about what’s going on in D.C. on any given day. So as of today, I’ve decided- why not share my talent with anime fans all over the city?

So here is my first monthly going-out guide for anime fans, geeks, and Japanophiles in the D.C. area. Enjoy!

March 4-8 : Art League Gallery Ikebana Show. More info.

Come view a modern take on Ikebana, the ancient Japanese art of flower arranging. The Art League Gallery hosts the work of students at the Sogetsu School’s D.C. branch. Watch a flower arranging demo on March 6. Or wait until March 7  for their traditional Japanese tea ceremony.

March 7, 11-12 : Textile Museum’s Japanese Fashion Exhibit. More info.

During their Japanese fashion exhibit, the Textile Museum will be hosting several different activities. On the 7th will be a winter matsuri for families complete with origami folding and food sampling. On the 11th, there will be a lecture by Akiko Fukai, the director of the Kyoto Costume Institute, and on the 12th will be a sake tasting.

March 10 : Miyori in the Sacred Forest. More info.

The Japanese Embassy hosts great anime every month, and March is no exception. This month’s feature is about a girl who reluctantly moves with her family from Tokyo to the countryside, but learns to love her new home.

March 12 : Jonathan Coulton Concert. More Info.

Even if you haven’t heard of Coulton, if you’re a gamer you’ve probably heard his music. Coulton wrote Portal’s “Still Alive” anthem. His other music is just as catchy, clever, and nerdy, making his concert a don’t-miss music event.

March 21 : Lolita Picnic. More info.

Imagine the D.C. Mall full of people dressed in lolita, aristocrat, and other Japanese street fashion styles! That’s exactly what’s going to happen at this picnic. It’s free, but since it’s a potluck, it’s advised that you bring food to share.

March 27-31 : Cherry Blossom Festival. More info.

The D.C. Cherry Blossom Festival starts this month and goes halfway through April. It’s my favorite time of year to be in D.C. You can attend the official opening ceremony on the 27th. I’ll post this again in April so you don’t miss things like the Cherry Blossom Anime Marathon.

I suspect next month’s guide will be much larger, since by then the weather will be warming up. This is by no means complete, so if  you can suggest additions to the list, please do so in the comments!


Nina, Sita, and the Copyleft movement

3 March 2010 | 2 Comments 

I’ve been working on redesigning this blog lately. Now that I talk mainly about anime, games, and fandom, I’m considering a design that reflects my status as an otaku journalist. One problem I’ve run into is that I really would like to use an 8-bit Space Invader icon on my logo, but I’m not sure if it’s a fair use image.

This isn’t an unusual question. In America, we’re constantly concerned about copyright and fair use; whether or not we’re stealing somebody’s work. Whether it’s a picture, a song, a book, or a movie, somebody owns the rights to it. If it isn’t the creator him or herself, then it might be a major corporation. And ownership is notoriously hard to determine. But if these items are parts of our overall culture, why do we as a country own and control their use?

This is a question animator Nina Paley ran into while she was working on her 2008 film, Sita Sings the Blues. If the inspirations for her film– Annette Hanshaw’s 1920’s jazz vocals; and the Ramayana, the ancient sanskrit epic– were owned by other people, how could she make her movie legal for people to watch? As a result of not being able to obtain a copyright, Sita became the first full-length “copyleft” film, licensed entirely under Creative Commons.

sitasingsthebluesA still from Paley’s film, Sita Sings the Blues.

Last week I attended a lecture by Nina Paley that was put on by the Women’s Coalition at the American University School of Communication. I’ve been fascinated by Nina’s plight and gutsy solution since Boing Boing began covering it in 2006.

Paley began her talk with a definition of culture: “It comes from somewhere, it’s going somewhere, and it’s just passing through.” As a fan of Japanese culture, you can see why this stuck with me. Afterward, she discussed memes. Now you can bet your lolcats that I thought I knew what a meme was, but I hadn’t hear her definition: “a unit of culture. Just like genes exist by copying, the same is true with memes.” It didn’t take her much time to convince me that the supposed ownership of cultural units is bad for our society.

While cultural units are put under copyright and restricted use in order to protect the creators, Paley said that this doesn’t usually work out. For example, corporations end up owning the rights to artists’ work for decades after they are gone. Paley pointed out how artificial this ownership is- you can see on the Sita site that multiple corporations own percentages of the same Annette Hanshaw song, adding up to 103% instead of 100%!

Paley’s solution? Creative Commons. Anyone can download her movie, and everyone owns it. People can use her work as inspiration or build off of it. She thinks this is great. Rather than getting offended that other artists would make greeting cards based off her work, she is happy to have inspired people the way the Ramayana and Annette Hanshaw inspired her. Through a CC license, the memes can keep spreading.

Today, Paley works at Question Copyright as the artist in residence. She has almost paid off all her legal fees plus the expense of her film. Her theory that people are willing to pay for quality even when it’s out there for free worked out.

Readers, do you think copyright is an outdated restriction on culture, or an important way to keep artists’ work safe?


Katsucon 16 Maid Cafe videos are up

1 March 2010 | 4 Comments 

Maybe you guessed this after I missed my Wednesday and then even my Friday post updates, but I’ve been working extra hard on getting something workable out of my Katsucon 16 footage. Many thanks to maids Sarah Blandy, Hannah Korangkool, and Daniel Redmond; cameraman Alex Thompson; and everyone at the American University New Media Center who helped me salvage my film.

Well, as I suspected, there wasn’t enough for a full documentary, but I did get three videos out of it (so far, that is. I plan to do a fourth one focusing on cafe guests.) I ended up breaking a lot of my film rules; I usually refrain from doing jump cuts or from having my off-camera voice in the video. But in these cases, it couldn’t be helped. I don’t want this to seem like an apology for my videos because I really am proud of them, but more of a disclaimer in case you’re wondering why my editing style changed.

So, without further ado, here are the videos!


A special announcement

22 February 2010 | 2 Comments 

I am proud to announce that I have accepted the position of Official Documentarian for Inochicon 2010!

Inochicon is an anime and gaming convention in downtown Philadelphia. The first ever Inochicon will take place this August. Earlier in the month, the organizers invited me to attend as a documentarian, blogger, and speaker, and I have recently agreed. I thought my readers should be the first to know!

What exactly will I be doing? You’ll have to come to know for sure, but I’ll be doing my usual thing, running around the convention with a video camera and a laptop, interviewing guests, staff, and speakers. I’ll also be presenting my own panel titled, “Filming Anime Conventions for Beginners,” for people who want to learn how to do this, too.

It’s an honor to be given the opportunity to do what I love and I thank you, Inochicon! I’ll be posting updates about the convention as I hear them, but you can also check their twitter and Facebook. Hope to see some of you there!


Movie Night: Otaku Unite!

19 February 2010 | 8 Comments 

Here’s something you wouldn’t expect from a documentary with an exclamation point at the end of the title: a dull movie.

Last night I watched Otaku Unite! (Eric Bresler, 2004), a movie that works great on paper. With a well researched premise encompassing dozens of conventions, archived footage of early anime events and shows, interviews with prominent anime scholars, the director of Robotech, and voice actors for shows spanning from Akira to Speed Racer, how could it possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, this movie seems to sap away the the lively personalities and colorful characters that populate anime fandom and leave us with a lecture.

otaku unite interviewAs smart as this guy was, he didn’t register as a personality. This film needed more characters.

It isn’t all bad. By making the rise of anime in America sound like a history lesson, it rejects the idea that otaku are somehow unusual and normalizes the fandom as just another cultural movement. But how could a documentary with everything it needs to succeed end up boring?

The first thing that appears in the film is a parody of a rating screen: “Rated O for otaku of all ages.” Based on this, I wrongly assumed that the documentary was designed for a niche audience of self-identified anime fans. However, much of the movie went into defining the nuances of anime is for the benefit of outsiders.

otaku unite otaku definitionIt’s interesting to see how Otaku Unite! defines “otaku.” (Remember how Manga Mad did it?)

Much of the movie is static interviews with the same experts. While they have a lot of great information about how anime in America came to be, we never get to know them or care about them at all (one sad attempt was to show how the Akira voice actor deeply.. appreciated Hooters restaurants). There is no plot to the movie, no change, no story being told. (There wasn’t even much uniting- it seemed that the title should have been: Otaku Already United!) I learned a lot about the history of otaku fandom that I didn’t know, but at the end I still felt like I wasted seventy-five minutes.

otaku unite anime usaCorrection by Tom S. – Katsucon 2004 made a cameo.

I’ve heard incredible things about this movie and I’m sure a lot of you are going to disagree with my review (most notably Lawrence Eng, whose name is on the credit roll!) I WISH I liked this movie more, because it was so darn well researched. If only well done equaled not boring.

Lauren’s Rating (out of five stars)

Cinematography: ★★★

Content: ★★

You can watch Otaku Unite! on Netflix like I did, or watch right now at The Anime Network.


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