iReport Critique

Like about the site: I like how the site allows for users to record their own footage of breaking news stories on the site and send it to CNN for the chance to have it put onto the website for public viewing. It gives regular internet users the ability to become widely known throughout the community of people who view CNN on a regular bases. I also feel that the ability to connect with social media (no matter how much I hate social media), is a good thing as to allow for those who don't necessarily view CNN on a regular bases to see the video's that you make and get onto the site.

While I didn't at all expect it to be, the process in which one must take to upload their story is very easy. It takes the inclusion of a chosen headline to the video or images, a description of the story itself, the actual file that holds the media, and the option to include a location of where the information was retrieved. The option to make the story labeled as "Discretion advised" is also available.

Dislike about the site: I don't like the location services of the site. I don't like the information that any given website is able to retrieve from a person or their computer just by being connected to the internet and being on the web page. To me, it seems like a breach of privacy to the internet user. I feel that the location service should be initiated if a user actually submits a video to the site. I also feel that while the assignments are a good idea, they could be a more easily worded as to what the person should be specifically looking to record or capture images of.

In one assignment I looked at, it was stated, "Share your photos and video of what is happening, if you are able to do so from a safe location." This assignment was titled, "Protesters occupy Taiwan Legislature" and instructed people to possibly put themselves into danger in order to retrieve their recordings for the assignment. I think that assignments that could potentially cause people harm should not be assignments that require people to go into the action itself, but more of an assignment that allows for people to submit their opinions of the story and get the chance to be put onto the site that way.

Is it a good idea?: I think the purpose of the site is a great idea. It's gives what people who are identified by the public as a normal citizen the opportunity to become known with just the use of the internet and a video recording device. It gives a chance to those who wouldn't normally get a chance. It just needs to be modified to allow for those who aren't very internet savvy to be able to more easily find the assignments and post their "stories".

Slideshow Story

Vermont brings tourist from all over the Northeastern Region just for its skiing during the winter months, and gorgeous green mountains for hiking, and all sorts of outdoor activities in the summer. The mountain scenery attracts all sorts of people, to a region that would otherwise go overlooked if it weren’t for its gorgeous natural offerings. 

Vermont is a secret beer hub for the northeast. If it weren't for chance, and personal recommendations I never would have discovered this to be true. I had never heard of the Alchemist Brewery in Waterbury, VT till my friend last year, told me a bit about it and the extreme quality of their brewing. Much like the local mountain Burke,  the average person residing in say Massachusetts or Connecticut would have never known of the mountain, if they had never heard of it by word of mouth from a personally satisfied customer. This same concept is why the small, and large breweries in Vermont have become so successful on a national and international level. 

The trend of popularity in sampling craft, or any high quality unique beer is booming across America, microbreweries are pumping out all the fresh beer its fans can enjoy. The Alchemist Brewery in Waterbury, VT only distributes their product to an extremely limited number of sellers.The low amount of distribution contributed to is elitism. I have met fans of the Alchemist Heady Topper spanning from as far as Bangor, ME to Hartford, CT, and those are not the only fans. The Heady Topper is rated the number one beer in the entire world by Beeradvocate.com, which is quiet an impressive feat for what was once a small Vermont brewery. 

Iv’e got Ryan Behling here with my, who is a fan of local vermont beers and a senior at lyndon state college in the sustainability studies. Youve tried the heady topper, does it live up to the raitngs? “

Personal testaments of satisfied  customers were a great assistance in expanding the horizons of Hill Farmstead Brewery. There is no experience in the world, like getting a fresh foamy beer right off the tap at a brewery. In Vermont, this has become an especially important experience for a number of distributors such as Hill Farmstead Brewery in Morrisville VT. Similar to the Alchemist Brewery, tourists come from all over New England just to  get a taste of Hill Farmstead. Unlike the Alchemist, who ships their cans to a few limited retail locations, Hill Farmstead Brewery is the location to purchase their product at. This extremely limited distribution of beer made it extremely successful, of course along with its stunning quality and taste. Hill Farmstead only fills growlers and sells their beer, freshly packaged at their location at their Morrisville store. The lines for the brewery are out the door when it opens, and it can take up to and hour and a half to get through the line of filling growlers. If you brew it, they will come. 

Beer fanatics love the fact that the only way you can acquire some of these brews  it is to take the adventure to Vermont. These beer tourists are bringing valuable tax dollars to Vermont with every trip they take and every Hill Farmstead growler they purchase. Shaun Hill of Hill Farmstead Brewery said in an interview recently with Vanity Fair that the world has “ moved into this phase of what’s been called “person-centered civil religion,” where people start to find meaning and value in different things in their lives. Maybe it’s football and the New England Patriots are “God,” or maybe it’s boutique beers. It’s an age where people are spending their dollars in such a way that it also has the potential to bring meaning back into their lives.”  Beer really does bring people with a passion for its quality together, and when the quality is in Vermont, that is where the people will go. Customers looking for a great product, and a beautiful outdoor adventure  know just where to drive, up to their favorite Vermont Breweries.

Credits

Photos: Joe Schlee

Audio : Joe Schlee/ Jake Reardon

Interview: Joe Schlee/ Ryan Behling

Editing : Jake Reardon

Audio Slideshow

Audio Slideshow

My audio slideshow is going to be a concert review done through photos and audio. I will be using songs freely licensed by the band for public use in this format, along with the narrations of myself and Jake. I will be organizing the slideshows photographic order, while Jake will work on the narrational element of the show. This slideshow is directed at anyone interested in live music in the Northeast Kingdom, there is no specific age range or gender target. Jacob and I will both be intertwining narration of which there is a sample below. "The crowd was receiving the raw energy from the band and throwing it right back at them through furious dancing and jumping. The ping-pong effect of the band and the crowd feeding back and forth created a show unlike any other seen yet on a weekday. After the Disco Biscuits’ recent run just a week ago at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, with a capacity ten times the size of the Fairfield’s Stage One it was amazing to see Conspirators stage presence. Marc Brownstein played his heart out, and it was clear that it did not matter if the crowd was two hundred or two thousand, he was going to make sure he left the venue in awe of the performance. This intimate performance setting was the perfect storm as they unleashed all their energy while ripping through the rest of the first set’s “Dynasty>Orch Theme>Struts>Legalize It> Oname Wa”. " The text behind the photos will accompany them well and draw the viewer into the audio slideshow.

2 Slideshows/ 1 Photo Gallery

No audio slideshow
http://www.nature.org/photos-and-video/naturallight/natural-light-august-2012.xml
This slideshow requires a manual scroll-thru, but can be set to play on it's own. It is used more as a photo album then a storytelling tool. Gives a little information in each photo as to what the photo is showing.

Audio slideshow
http://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/audioslideshow/2013/dec/09/richard-scarry-lowly-worm-audioslideshow
This slideshow is displayed as a video and plays thru on it's own. This one, as it has audio, is much better able to help tell a story. As photos go on by, the narrator tells a story about the photos allowing the listener to view and hear a story to complement to photos.

Photo Gallery
http://www.flickr.com/explore
The photo gallery I found is part of a site called Flickr. The benefit of the gallery as oppose to a slideshow is the ability to view multiple photos at once. This gives no particular order to the photos though, which makes it seem un-organized. Audio wouldn't work as well in the gallery as there is no order, thus the audio couldn't correspond with anything.

Podcast Project Audio

Podcast Outline

Upcoming Music in Vermont with Jake and Joe Hey whats up Northeast Kingdomers, this is Jake, and this is Joe. Were here to check you guys in for our monthly music in Vermont update. At first glance the entire Northeast Kingdom might seem like its in hibernation during these cold winter months, but if you dig a little deeper, you’ll find yourself having the time of your life in the comforting and energetic warmth of Vermont’s music venues. That’s right Joe, we have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming month’s musical calendar. Including bands like Mike Gordon’s Band, Conspirator, and the heavily followed Bob Weir and Ratdog tour. Who would have thought you could catch festival headliners like these in the casual back door music venues of Vermont. 02/18/14 Tue- Big Gigantic -Higher Ground (Ballroom)Burlington, VT For starters tomorrow night at Higher Ground in South Burlington VT the group Big Gigantic is performing a show. This duet consists of a drummer and a saxophonist who also duels as a DJ. The group blends the style of electronic dance music with overtones of jazz that make them legendary for their unique enveloping sound. Tuesday nights in Lyndon can be dull, so if you have a free time, make the trip to go see the show in Burlington. 02/20/14 Thu -Railroad Earth- Higher Ground (Ballroom)Burlington, VT Later this week, Thursday to be exact. The band Railroad Earth, which is a new grass sound, a progressive, jam band style of classic bluegrass music. Railroad Earth is known to have a strong following of fans who love the new-grass sound. This movement in music is similar to the sounds of String Cheese Incident or Yonder Mountain String band. If you have Thursday night free, definitely make the trip over to South Burlington, VT to check these guys string plucking out, you won’t be disappointed. 02/26/14 Wed -Zappa Plays Zappa- Higher Ground (Ballroom)Burlington, VT  Next week on wednesday, the son of Frank Zappa, Dweezil Zappa blasts his way into Vermont with a Guitar Class at Higher Ground in South Burlington for $75, followed by a concert for $30. Dweezil Zappa is not known to disappoint , with soaring guitar solos that are sure to melt your face. This night with Dweezil Zappa is not one to miss for any kind of aficionado of rock music. Thats just a little sample of all the great music Vermont has to offer. Next time you’ll find yourself twiddling your thumbs, in your dorm room, in your igloo, or even in that boring Biology Evening Lab, pack up and skate over to South Burlington, VT for some fire live music. Don’t forget to check in with me Jake, and me Joe> next month for another, music in Vermont update