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Photographer’s Skills Transfer to Backpack Journalism

WASHINGTON, DC, 8 June 2011 — Tara Kocourek made this film during my 2-5 June 2011 Backpack Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. Tara’s background as still photographer is evident in this piece, a quiet examination of one artist’s quest for creative self. She used an HDSLR with separate recorder to ensure powerful images and professional […]

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Backpack Journalism Workshop at Ben’s Chili Bowl

WASHINGTON, DC, 3 June 2011 — Lee Poston (above center)  interviews visitors at Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, DC, while working on a documentary about the historic restaurant. It was Poston’s second day of shooting during the four-day Backpack Journalism Workshop With Bill Gentile in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON, DC, 3 June 2011 — Sam Slosberg […]

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Backpack Video Journalism Takes to the Streets

WASHINGTON, DC, 12 May 2011 — My Backpack Documentary class this past spring semester at American University (AU) produced some exceptional films that are worth sharing with a broader audience. Undergraduate student Sareen Hairabedian followed two young “guerrilla” street artists to shoot, produce and edit the film, “Let’s Get Out of Here.” The piece won […]

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What Camera Should I Buy?

WASHINGTON, DC, 16 April 2011 — I get questions on equipment all the time. What camera should I buy? What kind of backpack do I use? What about that data transmitter I saw in one of your videos? The latest equipment query was about the HDSLRs, which look like still cameras but shoot video as […]

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Backpack Video Journalism in Harvard’s ReVista Magazine

WASHINGTON, DC, 7 April 2011 — I just received a copy of ReVista, the Harvard Review of Latin America that is edited by long-time friend and colleague June Carolyn Erlick. This Spring/Summer 2011 edition is titled, “Journalism in the Americas.” It’s a great review of the state of journalism in the hemisphere. And it’s not […]

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AU’s Backpack Journalism Project Goes to NAB in Las Vegas

WASHINGTON, DC, 5 April 2011 — I’ve accepted an invitation by Sony to lead a roundtable discussion, titled “The Backpack Journalism Project at American University,” at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) meeting in Las Vegas this weekend. Other presenters will be representing the University of Nevada, Ball State University, Indiana Public Radio and Colorado […]

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