Empty Blogs = Bad Blogs

Well if anyone is paying attention to this site any more, they would of noticed a lack of posts; really a lack of even getting started.

I have a lot of ideas and good things to say about video production and journalism relating to the good times and the struggles of college students, but I’m just not feeling it right now, and when you aren’t feeling it blogs just don’t work.

To write a blog you must be committed and this is why I have started a new blogging project. I am uploading a new photo five days a week from Iowa that I have taken of the people, places, and things I see along the way. Please take some time to check it out:

Capturing Iowa

This blog will be back and it will be good. I promise. I don’t know yet what form it will be back in whether back to this free wordpress blog or over at blogger or even my own site, but I do know that the time will come when I share all that is bottled up inside my brain waiting to be shared.

Thank you to all who follow me online. You can add me a twitter to keep and touch with me day to day.

My Twitter

Signing off for the summer,

Daniel Randolph

danran24@gmail.com

College Media Press

Thanks to Bryan over at College Media Innovation for writing about the launch of our site.

I know I made a “gentle slam” slam at his print focus, but he does amazing work for college media and I recommend everyone read his blog.

On a side note look for a whole new wave of stories this wednesday on our site.

LCTV 13 Offically Launches

Well after weeks of of coding and all of the other work that goes into a website, I am finally done with and ready to launch Loras College’s new media website!

www.lctv13.com

This new site is run on wordpress 2.3 and uses the Premium News Theme by this guy.

Check back to this blog and add LCTV to your new list of favorites as we try new and different things. It took Loras until 2008 to get a website and now we plan on pushing the limits of online journalism in the television field. I read many college media blogs who focus on print and do not give much credit to video journalists. I am hear to say we are here to silence the critics. Look for interactive features, clickable maps, photospreads, reporter blogs, breaking news, deeper stories, and user generated story ideas. All of this and more to come within the next year. We’re here to push the limits and to see what works and what doesn’t.

Enjoy the ride.

The Art of Life Wins Silver Eddy

The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival came to a close late Saturday night and my documentary “The Art of Life” received the Silver Eddy Award for student documentary. I couldn’t be more proud of my documentary at this moment. This being my first attempt at a movie of any kind, I didn’t expect much to happen, but now with its success it leaves me with a feeling energy and wanting to learn more. I’d like to thank all of the great people that made this festival happen for selecting my film and giving me this award.

I received many comments on my film from audience members and from the directors of the festival. As a student filmmaker from little Perry, Iowa who is a Sophmore at Loras College in Dubuque, I feel very much a part of this “independent festival.” I would have never of dreamed 2 years ago that I would have the knowledge I do now to create anything I set my mind too. It’s a great feeling.

Cedar Rapids Film Festival

The Cedar Rapids Film Festival Starts at 6:30 today with my film playing at 6:35 in Theater C. I’ll post more info tonight and tomorrow.

It should be lots of fun and I can’t wait for people to see it.

Story Update

Today the meningitis story continues on our campus. Late last night we received an email saying she passed away from bacterial meningitis. Today the school started secretly talking to people about the incident. As student press they did not allow our cameras or reporters into meetings held for students. They made us wait till 3 pm when the school held a press conference. The press conference provided no more answers into Loras’s thinking. As a private school, we as journalism students do not have the right of the first amendment like public schools. This has limited our coverage and forced us to turn our newscast into a giant PR release for the school. At the press conference I noted a number of lies, but I feel like I can not call out the school. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Since no press outlets have been able to tell a fair story because they have not been granted access to students, here are more pictures:  

College Tragedies

Sunday night at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, my school, a student was found dead in their dorm room. No reason was released for her death until late Tuesday night. The media started covering this story Sunday night(cause-bacterial meningitis). They were not allowed on campus and were not given any facts about the case. This brings up an interesting question for journalists. Was this death a suicide? If so, did they act to soon? How does a media outlet cover this story? For me there is no clear answer. As student journalists we are very close to those effects. What should our roll be? We have stepped back and let the facts play out and tomorrow we will be moving full force to cover the story. Any comments on how you would handle this ethical question? Here is the latest local press story.

On Monday night there was a candle light vigil held and I went to take some photos because for me its what I do best and it helps me deal with situations. As I was taking these photos my mind raced back to NIU. I was just at NIU two weeks ago and these photos looked very familiar to me, but I approached them in a very different way. This time I stayed far back and took community shots, at NIU I got close and tried to tell the stories of individuals. This is all very difficult and I will post more as we discover what works and what doesn’t. I will leave you with my reflection piece of my NIU experience and a photo from Loras and NIU:

Loras Vigil

NIU Vigil 

Film Festival

Yesterday, the day after my film premiered, I received an email from the Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival saying my film was one of the 88 films selected to screen this year. These past two days have had to be the height of this project for me so far. 

The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival is held April 4th through the 5th  at Collins Road Theatres in Marion, Iowa. My film was selected under the Student category. It should be very interesting to see it against other students films. I hope to maybe win a gold or silver Eddy for my film.  

Since I did not go into detail in my first post about my documentary I will give a brief description here:

Another student Edward Gall and I created a documentary about a local artist in Dubuque describing his life as an artist and how he is inspired. His name is Gene Tully and he does large and small metal art. He recently received an award for his great work in the art community in Dubuque. He and his friend Tim McNamara started the Voices From the Warehouse shows in Dubuque. These shows have really changed the scope of the art community in the area. 

Documentary Debut

Last night I had the great fortune of having my documentary film premiered at the premiere of a new independent theater in Dubuque, Iowa. 

www.mindframetheaters.com

My documentary was digitally projected and when I started on this project I knew that I wanted this film to be a large screen film, not a television film. It looked incredible on the big screen and the crowd gave a great cheer at the end. Thank you to everyone who came out to support independent and student film last night.

For the first time in a very long time I felt like I was watching real movies. I got to see Into the Wild for the first time. The cinematography and editing were incredible, combined with a thought provoking story-line. Two thumbs up. 

Congrats on the theater Jeremy! 

New Blog

This blog will be up and running in full force soon.