Embedding maps: There's a guy in my yard!

Once you've got your Google map laid out just right, click "Done." Then go to the link icon to the upper right of the map itself (next to a printer and an email icon). Click the link icon and you'll get a couple of options: a URL you can email to someone, and an HTML embed code. You want the embed code. Copy it and paste it into a blog post:
View A guy in my side yard in a larger map (Notice the numbers for frame width and height. You can alter them to change the size of the image. )

All2MP3 > Audacity > Divshare !

Here is an mp3 player created with Divshare. It will play an mp3 file that was converted from a WMA file via All2MP3, then edited in Audacity, and finally exported as an mp3, then uploaded to Divshare. Phew.

Embedded MP3 Player Test

Podcast critique assignment

Between now and Monday, subscribe to three podcasts. You can do this at the iTunes store – they are free. Write a post on your blog that explains
- why you picked each one,
- what you liked and disliked about each one,
- whether you think you will continue listening to them,
- and whether you put them on an iPod or other player.

Fox 44

New assignment for Wednesday: On Wednesday we are due to talk via Skype with Nick Merlo, an LSC alum and the social media producer at Fox 44 in Burlington. Please go to Fox44now.com and compare its offerings to those of CBSAtlanta.com. Which one does a better job with writing? Video? Slideshows? Local news? Can you tell which site has the larger staff just by looking at each? Please post your comparisons – 200 words at least – on your blogs by the start of class on Wednesday. Ask Nick questions based on your observations.

BBC College of Journalism

We'll check this out on Wednesday.

Map Project Guidelines

Deadline: Wednesday Sept. 28

Create an interactive map with accompanying text to tell a story. This is a group project that will require work outside of class.

Here is a list of ideas:

High school basketball (Team C)

Schedules for boys and girls teams from Northeast Kingdom.

For a list of schools, go to nsnsports.net/nek,

Click the High School tab,

Then click NEK.

Restaurant health grades

Go to the Vermont Health Department’s website

Look for Restaurant Scores;

Select Lyndon from the drop-down menu of towns;

Locate your favorite restaurant;

Lose appetite

Talk to owners/managers of lower-scoring places;

Ask what’s been done to fix the problems.

Ask Health Department what score would force a closure.

Ski areas

Where are the best ski areas within easy driving distance?

Info could include:

Lift ticket price

How many trails/skill level

Terrain park features

Food

Apres ski

Ask people about their favorites.

Campus crime

Public Safety maintains a log of incidents on campus.

Go back several weeks and plot the incidents.

Group incidents by type or location.

Interview the public safety director about “hot spots”

Town crime

The Lyndonville Police would also maintain an incident log.

Go back a week (or two) and plot the incidents.

Interview the police chief: Is crime increasing, decreasing?

Dorm demographics

Find out all you can about each of the dorms on campus

How many rooms?

How many students?

How many men vs women?

What percentage of freshmen, sophomores, etc.?

Who is residence hall director?

Where did the name come from?

When was it built?

The “balloons” on each map should include at least one photo taken by a team member, a text description, and other information as appropriate (numbers, prices, dates, addresses, phone numbers, etc.).

One person in each group needs to take the lead and “own” the map in his/her Google account. Post the maps to each team member’s blog by embedding.

Evaluation:

An “A” map will include eight or more locations; each location will feature at least one photo and appropriate text; the accompanying story will be at least 300 words, will contain very few mechanical errors, and will include at least one quote from a person.

A “B” map includes at least five locations, but each location still features at least one photo and appropriate text. The accompanying story might contain a few mechanical errors but is still 300 words and includes at least one quote from a person.

A “C” map includes at least three locations, but each location still features at least one photo. The text for each location may be insufficient. The accompanying story might contain several mechanical errors or may be shorter than 300 words, but it still includes at least one quote from a person.

A “D” map falls short in several categories. An “F” map does not exist (the assignment wasn’t submitted).

2155 Project Teams

A: Justin Chenette Kirstie Venne B: Taylor Cota Morgan Forester Richard Joseph Heather Perkins C: Mike Howard Kevin Lessard Tyler Schofield Jackson Stewart D: Brian Davis Jill Grenier Julianne Walshaw

Wall Street Journal goes for video in a big way

Wall Street Journal Adds to Live Video Programming By BRIAN STELTER Operating a bit like a stealth business news network, The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday announced a major expansion of its video unit, which is now producing three and a half hours of live programming each weekday and will soon produce even more.

Writing for the Web

Here are links to three stories about the same event, the Republican presidential debate on Monday. The Associated Press story appeared on the Bennington Banner's website but was clearly written for newspapers. How can you tell? MSNBC's treatment of the debate combines elements of the AP piece, but there are differences. Can you find them? CNN's story also differs from the AP piece. Note the less formal tone and the super-short paragraphs.

Pimp My Blog

Project Guidelines:This is due on Monday, Sept. 19.
Create the coolest blog you can.
Play with design.
Wander around backstage and find gadgets and other features to try out.
Write a blog entry explaining the process and why you chose the things you did.
Best blog wins a prize.
Grades:
A – Blew me away. Fun design, cool features.
Added photos, audio or video
B – Good blog; includes a few features.
C – Looks like most of the other blogs out there, but it’s okay
D – It’s there
F – It’s not there

Human writers? Who needs 'em?

New York Times article about artificial intelligence and sports writing (or is that redundant?).

15-year-old blogger makes big

The Style Rookie is a blog maintained by 15-year-old Tavi Gevenson. It became so popular she has launched an online magazine, Rookie.
It has 40 employees.

Blog critique

Go out on the World Wide Web and find a blog. Any blog will do, but I would encourage you to avoid the super-popular ones. Technorati.com can help guide you to blogs on any topic.

I used it to find a blog about chickens!
In your critique, please tell us:
what you like and dislike about the blog;
how often it is updated (avoid "dead" blogs);
whether the Comments indicate anyone is reading it;
what media elements beyond text it uses.
Post your critique here as a Comment.