Rain in Cooperstown

I am on special assignment for BuzzFeed in Cooperstown, NY.   I am following a Maryland travel baseball team. They are participating in the Dreams Park baseball tournament in Cooperstown--near the Baseball Hall of Fame. The team that I am covering is called the Renegades Black. They are one of over 100 teams from throughout the country that have had their games rain delayed since Sunday, June 28th.  Currently most teams have played only two or three games mostly in rainy conditions. They are teams from as far west as California, and as far south as Texas.

 Over 1200 teams will play in the Dreams Park baseball tournament for (12 year old kids) during the entire summer. Each week a new set over 100 teams play six to eight baseball games in Cooperstown, the birthplace of baseball.

This morning baseball was played at the Dreams Park in Cooperstown, NY with some added rain.

Old Cheap Technology

All of the images posted on this site were produced by an inexpensive point & shoot  camera.  The camera is  a Casio (12.1) mega pixel with  a 6.3-18.9 lens.  The reason  for using this compact camera is that you do not standout and you look like a tourist.  This pink camera is less than $100 and can capture video clips.

Also placed on the camera  is a New York Yankees sticker obtained from a Cracker Jack box as the winning  prize.   You do not have to put out your overpriced smartphone, or  high-end camera that will alert the wolves of your presence.

Historically, the point-shoot  camera is a great teaching tool because it forces the photographer to use his or her eye  to see,  understand and capture  simple photographic images. 

  Of course you will not be mistaken as a professional visual journalist, and it allows one to take storytelling pictures without problems.  Its  like being 007 without the theme music.

Reason why I am in the Big Apple

WHO:

Milbert O. Brown, Jr., is an assistant professor at Howard University’s School of Communications. He teaches a multi-platform curriculum that includes design, multi-media, photojournalism, and visual communications in the Department of Media, Journalism and Film.

 WHAT:

In May 2015, Professor Brown was selected by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) to serve as a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Back in the Newsroom Fellow.  He joined the  five other selected HBCU faculty members at a special orientation held at the ICFJ offices in Washington, DC.   

WHY:

The fellowship places journalism educators around the nation to study cutting-edge practices at major digital newsrooms.  Each HBCU fellow is exposed to new techniques that will be brought back to their university curriculum and classroom. The program also aims to promote diversity by fostering opportunities for students to gain internship experience, and post-graduate employment at the selected newsrooms.

 WHERE:

While, in New York City, Professor Brown will be hosted by three major news organizations including: ProPublica, BuzzFeed, and WNYC.

WHEN:

The months of June and July 2015

HOW:

The HBCU- International Center for Journalists Fellowship is supported by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

The end of the Week

As I cap the end of the first week at NYC's  ProPublica, I have learned a lot quickly.  I been able to pick up a few important visual  tools that I can present to my students at Howard University this fall. ProPublica is  a major online news organization and the editors, designers and reporters have been simply wonderful--better than baked bread. What I have missed since returning to the newsroom this week is moving around in the city unearthing new ideas and discovering new stories. What is equally important is that  I have gained  a new knowledge of technology terms--such as:  Meerkeat and Periscope, two video streaming apps; design frameworks: Atavist,  Gridset, and OpenElement by just sitting around and flying like a bird across the room.  I viewed the world of interface design used in website presentations, and have a better understanding in how major outlets provide cross-platform reporting.  I have observed much this week, I have sat like a patient pigeon watching and learning.

Research: Solving the innovation problem in news organizations

 http://kng.ht/1FCQJT7 via @knightfdn

Day 2

Today was a good day. I attended ProPublica's morning story budget meeting. The meeting was very similar to newspaper story meetings.  I met a lot of new faces in the newsroom including the editor and the former president of the company.  I also observed the interactive team finishing design production for an upcoming story. Tomorrow,  I will join with members of the design team.  I looking forward in going to work on Day 3.  Today, I began to feel like I returned to the newsroom and a part of the process.

The First Day

The train rolled into New York City's Penn Station at 11:00pm on May 31st.  I bounced up quickly from the hard train seat,  and rushed to the line outside.  Like cattle we all stood there waited in the rain for a taxi.  I arrived at my reserved Upper Eastside apartment,  my new home for the next nine weeks shortly after midnight.   As the day opened, and there was light, I walked to the subway station, but first I stopped at Ritz Diner for breakfast. After finding my way to the right subway train, thanks to Google maps, I checked into my job site, Pro Publica.  I didn't  do much on my first day.  I was assigned a desk and I shook a few hands, and smiled. I hope it will be better tomorrow.