A team of journalism professionals, including two faculty members from the College of Communications at Penn State, will lead the Keystone Multimedia Workshop, a three-day session in July that provides intensive, hands-on training in multimedia approaches to delivering the news for journalists from across Pennsylvania.
John Beale, a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism who teaches photojournalism, will serve as coordinator of the workshop, scheduled July 10-13 in Gettysburg. Fellow faculty member Curt Chandler, a senior lecturer in the Department of Journalism who teaches communications and multimedia, will serve as one of the workshop's coaches.
Before joining the college, Beale served as a staff photographer and chief photographer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where his work was recogized with numerous regional and national awards. Likewise, Chandler previously served as editor for online innovation and director of photography for the Post-Gazette.
The workshop is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association.
"Newspapers are increasingly using multimedia as a way to tell compelling stories on the Internet, and the workshop will help those professionals hone the skills they need to do that," said Ford Risley, head of the Department of Journalism. "We wanted to hold the workshop in a location where professionals and students would find interesting stories to cover. With it history and attractions, Gettysburg is ideal."
Other members of the coaching staff include: Seth Gitner, multimedia editor of www.roanoke.com; Steve Mellon, staff photographer for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; and Will Yurman, staff photographer at the Democrat and Chronicle in Rochester, N.Y.
During the three-day workshop, the coaching staff will train participants in audio, video and photojournalism techniques, and address the many potential areas of convergence of those techniques. Members of the coaching staff will make additional presentations each night, and participants will share updates of their work each day.
Throughout the workshop, participants will compile materials and then produce an in-depth story using their choice of audio, still photography and video.
"We're excited to be bringing some of the best multimedia journalists in the country to one of the most historic towns in America. For three days, professional journalists from around the state will work side-by-side with college students to create quality video and audio slide shows for the Internet," Beale said. "We couldn't have picked a better location than Gettysburg for the first Keystone Multimedia Workshop. We've had tremendous cooperation from the residents of Gettysburg."
Along with its location in one of the nation's most historic towns, the workshop coincides with the annual "Bike Week" in Gettysburg, when thousands of motorcycle riders converge on the area for activities, a concert, contests, games and recreation.