Nat Sound: Good Technique

Good Nat Sound can complete a package. Nat sound draws the viewer into a situation, allowing them to hear the environment and see the emotions and experience on people's face. It allows people to imagine they are there in the environment and appeals to their visual and hearing preferences. Audio can make or break a story and allow it to take on a whole new meaning.

Shawn Montano of Edit Foundry, has a list and demonstration of why Nat Sound is important. He believes Nat Sound can:

Natural sound helps with action and reaction

Natural sound can help grab the viewers attention

Natural sound can act like punctuation: Use it to change directions, add a exclamation point at the end of a sentence, or a breathing point (comma).

Natural sound at the beginning of reporter track or sound bites can help change location

Natural sound can help with the rhythm of a story

Natural sound should be relevant to the story

 I believe if used correctly, Nat Sound can do this more. He demonstrates a video from start to finish without and with Nat Sound so you can compare them his website.

I am actually horrible at natural sound. I ruin it by talking to people, not using the right equipment settings, and being in a rush. And even though you have to meet deadline and talk to the sources, you can still record quality Nat Sound by taking yourself out of the journalistic role for a moment. What are people hearing? Capturing what people hear during any story will help make sure it is relevant and important. Always keep the camera rolling and listen.

I recently watched a sad journalism video from a station in Texas. The Dallas Morning News created a shorter version of this story for their newscast but they put together this version online after an outflow of support from the public. More than half of the video is Nat Sound and you do not even realize it.

Choosing Thomas is a video about a mom and a child's journey. During pregnancy, they found out that Thomas had a DNA abnormality and that Thomas would not survive but a few days after birth. They could abort Thomas but they chose to keep him and give him the best life he could live. He only survived about a week after birth but more than half of the video is images and Nat Sound, not a person or anchor talking.

 Nat Sound is important in a story and can tell most of it for you. In a tornado, capture the strong wind, the cracking thunder, or emergency sirens. They can do most of the hard work for you and make the story more memorable than your voice saying, "There's a tornado coming." In the case of Thomas, we were able to hear the struggle, hear what was wrong, the cries, the breathing... And we began to truly understand the struggle rather than hearing, "Thomas did not survive and had respiratory problems." The Nat Sound can tell that sentence in a vivid, unique way. It can also take more time but the viewer is more satisfied from the story.

It may be hard to capture the sound and the moment but trying to do so will make your piece go from okay to great. Any broadcast journalists should love the ability to capture these sounds.

The Dreaded Date: Dealing with Leaving

This week brought the news that my sailor would be going away. No matter how many times I receive the news, it does not get any easier. Having an official date is scary because instead of looking forward to the many days I have to spend with my husband, I keep thing about the limited time. Instead of wanting and looking forward to the future, I dread the day I have to say goodbye, trying to remain strong for the person who will be going through a tough military battle. After all, I do not have to run when told, potentially fight a war and kill, or be on a strict schedule.

How do you make sure your ready for the date? You may not want to face it but if you prepare for the day and the time, you can be in confidence that you did your best.

1. Talk about you you feel and be honest with your spouse. Address any concerns that you have about the time and marriage. Try to think of potential concerns. Will the lease expire where you are living? Do you renew the rent? Kids need enrolled in school? Where do we want them to go? Discuss those issues ahead of time and it will help deal with stress. Make sure you know what each of you will need to make it. 

2. Know that you will both be facing a tough situation. If your spouse does not sound energetic when you talk over the phone, know you both are exhausted and are running things by yourself.

3. Make sure you understand what the military member needs to bring with him. Stamps so he can send you letters, plenty of clothes and shoes, and a computer. Make sure you both are geared up and have the supplies.

4. Try to have fun leading up to the date. Ignore the date coming and enjoy your spouse while you can. Enjoy big dates, celebrate holidays early if they will not be home, do something you love, and give your spouse the best time before you are separated.

5. Find a new hobby. The spouse that remains at home can finally get something done without being interrupted if they have always wanted to try something. Paint, workout, learn an instrument, sew, begin a new television series, or get some items done off the long to-do list. Try to find a project to keep busy and keep your mind off the heartbreak. Volunteer. Time goes by when you are not waiting on the clock to tick. 

6. Never blame your spouse for separation. They want to be with you as much as you do. They are doing it because they want to give you the best not leave you behind. Some our called to military and support them in their calling. You do not have face the true battles.

7. Be assertive. The spouse that stays at home should try to do what they want to do. Try to get stationed on a base where it will give them the best opportunity to do what they love. If I want to be a journalist, I need to be in a town with journalism stations. I also have to be in a big enough town that I have to think about conflict of interest in a story. If I am in a small town of military people, I would have a hard time reporting as the news would be military stories. And I would face a conflict of interest with my job and be an emotional wreck if I had to report the stories that tear me apart from my husband.

8. Talk to people and make friends. I personally have a household rule where we can not talk with people of the opposite sex alone except in business situations. We can when there are other males or females around. It keeps us from thinking about what we miss and what we want and keeps something from happening. Be careful with other military people however. Many people cheat and lie while their spouses are gone. Do not put yourself around people who will tear you down.

9. Ask the military for information regarding the deployment. They can not tell you everything but they can give you updates, information, and resources to get through. You can even receive free counseling and help. Speak up as they try to make families feel supported.

10. Know it is not a good bye. It is a see you later when you are much stronger. 

Believe in yourself and your spouse and you can do it. Talk about what you feel and find solutions. Honesty will get you through and find solutions to how to handle it. Be proud and try to make the most because distance can help you become stronger, better, and even more in love. It takes a special person to be a military spouse. And you are it. You were chosen by your mate because you are amazing, supportive, and capable.

Military Wife United: Act of Valor and Emotions

Hollywood movies have a special way of capturing a moment and proportionately spinning that moment out of control. Even movies based on a true story, are spun into a twisted ball of emotions to make a viewer cry, laugh, get angry, or frustrated. But can you blame them? The fame of a Hollywood hit comes from having the key to a viewers heart. At least I thought I could not blame them until I recently saw Act of Valor.

I came out of the movie theater an emotional wreck. My sailor is not a part Navy Seals Team (thank goodness as they do rough and dangerous missions) but it was still a reality and mental check. On some levels, the movie is action filled, exciting, and sad. It is also very real at times, trying to capture the lives of military families. However, it made the fighting and military part of the movie look like a good drama. People came out of the theater screaming that fight was cool, that weapon was awesome... It is an act to try to get people to support and join the armed forces.

I love to support the armed forces but war is not glamor. And as much as I hate to say it, we do not always win. Sure the movie is about a wife who loses her husband in the line of duty. It's obvious they do not always win. But I noticed they did not show the grueling training, the emotional wreck of the family, or even a slight bit of humanity. And that just makes me mad. Wives sacrifice for the family and they have a story to tell too. It is not glamor and wives have a lot of emotional barriers. Your husband is fighting a war. Someone that means more to you than anyone else is out sacrificing his life to save yours. It is still an excellent movie but there are not many resources that capture the wife story.

Here is a quote from the movie that particularly appealed to me as the sailor left home:

"Your family may never understand your sacrifice. But you better hope they accept it." - Act of Valor


I don't understand it. I probably never will. But I must accept it if I want to save our marriage and stay in love. I understand it is hard to accept it but there is no other way to make the marriage work. It takes time, love, and understanding. And if you cannot give it your full power to support the issue, it will be hard to have a happy and fulfilling marriage.

Words of Advice:
     1. Time: It will take time to make accept why your husband is leaving you for the military. But try to understand why during that time. Ask questions and talk about your feelings. He may have answers that are tough to hear but once you take time to think about them, it may help you accept the issue.
    2. Seek Advice: You are not alone even if it feels like it. Talk to military wives to see how they deal with it and accept it. Have your kids talk to military children. Seek help from people who have done it before and know the feelings you are going through.
    3. Realize Emotions: Hiding your emotions is like trying to stop a volcano from erupting. You might as well just let them go to save a big meltdown. Be honest and clear in how you feel and try to figure out why. If you are honest and know why you feel them, people can seek help for you and can try to find an answer or comforting thought to that deep down swelling pit of mixed feeling. Talk to counselor. You have free medical insurance and people on base who see this everyday!
   4. Take it Day by Day: Life is not always bad. So do not let it be. Let the good days be good and the not so good days live in history. Try to put things behind and keep a positive stride forward. On those bad days, talk and remember that someone loves you and believes in you no matter the distance and like you, he is fighting.
   5. Keep that Distracted Mind Busy: Have routines and a huge to-do list. Tasks will make you tired and be able to sleep through anxiety and will keep you busy through those awake hours. Your husband will be impressed when you come home and the dishwasher is sparkling, you learned how to play the piano, planted a garden, and you perfected your makeup technique.
   6. Talk: Talk it out with your spouse about bad feelings. Never leave them unspoken. As long as you talk, you will never face a marriage meltdown. And as long as you remain passionate towards each other, you will always try to love and make each other happy. Keep that passion by talking and doing things for you two.
    7. Take Time for You: Bubble baths, pedicures, movies... Love yourself.You will be amazed what falls into place when you love you and your life.

I don't want to accept it. But I know I have no other way to keep the person who makes me happier than anyone in this world so I accept the challenges and curve balls that life will throw at me. And I must never forget how much stronger, greater, and well diverse I will be after facing the challenge and embracing the reward. And as for Hollywood, here is how it is really done.

I challenge any military wife and any wife or husband to listen to the theme song from Act of Valor and think: Would you give your life for your wife or husband?

Journalism All Around the World: Social Media Changing the Landscape

In high school, I chose to become a journalist because my noisiness, quest for knowledge, and I loved writing. Those things have fueled my passion to study the field at Mizzou. But there is always one thing that I fear in the media landscape. Learning to do it all and watching citizens try to do my work better than me.

Citizen journalism has forced the 24 hour news cycle. Social media sites like Facebook can now not only be used to create a personal page but a business site and a resource. You can connect with people globally. While that global perspective is helping shape journalism, it is still a scary and does nothing for your journalism career ans opportunity for advancement and quality unless you take full advantage of it.

The Missouri Method trains us to take full advantage of the resources with a hands on approach. Different faculty specialize in the different areas. Sarah Hill, anchor for KOMU's revolutionary UNews, takes the reporting out of the traditional realm and into the social media world. She is always on the social media sites, connecting with people who want to say something about the social media trend. She has tried to make a bond between journalism and citizen journalism, something I struggle with and often do not understand the news value.

Can the latest video on the Internet qualify as news? I guess it depends on the content but viewers care about it regardless. It is not traditional hard news but in today's society that viral video counts as news because people care about it. Journalism is for the people not for the journalist. The journalists role is a complex one. They should enjoy the field but journalism is ultimately a career to serve the public need for information. The highest rated stations are not often high rated because they are choosy with their news. Good new stations are good because they serve the public interest. And that viral video obviously has some kind of interest if it gets that many hits.

Is it fair for citizens to engage in journalism when they do not know the ethics, rules, and issues in journalism? Will traditional journalism escape? I always believe there will be room for traditional journalism, at least for now. Although citizens can capture video, write to the video, and create stories, it takes someone dedicated to know how to put together and find the information the public needs. Not everyone can have access to a police scanner, find time or reason to put some stories together, or has the resources and assertive power to make it work. I do think it is a public right to allow the public to have freedom of speech. And that is what citizen journalism is. They are expressing what is important to them. Citizen journalism will not replace traditional news gathering but can engage the public and help enhance it. We can use citizens to help find stories, tell the story, and find what is important.

I know I need to jump on the social media bandwagon more than I do. You have Facebook, Twitter,  Linked In, Google+, Pintrest, photo sharing sites, YouTube, Myspace, and many more. By using these resources you can make global stories out of local ones, find people to talk to or who may have an interesting story, find the latest public interest, and network. Citizens want to help take part in my job more than ever and I need to embrace it. Not once have I completed a story and used social media to help find my information or sources. And that's got to change.

The times I think citizen journalism helps the most is in natural disasters. Tornado rip apart towns, earthquakes and wars rumble the soil. News stations cannot and do not have the resources to be there 24 hours a day waiting for the tornado to touch down. When a tornado does hit, a citizen can catch the video, timing, and destruction before any news station may be able to get to the spot. News stations search the blogs for personal testimonies, footage, and facts to feed the public until they can record the events for themselves.

 Joplin, Missouri after Tornado: Picture from a Citizen Journalism Blog

Here is a link about what some people believe citizen journalism may be about. I agree with their statements but I believe that even though citizens are doing journalism, we need journalists to be role models and gather information the public may not have access to. Our job has become harder making sure facts are correct with citizen journalism but we also have tons of resources and ability to confirm those facts.Some journalists are ruining it by not using fact check sources. And it is more important than ever when the community can begin finding and knowing the truth themselves.

You can also find more information about citizen journalism from PBS here.