Left the Leica home so I shot it with the mac
A mere 8 hours after landing in NY, we started a new Travel Channel Academy class in New York.
Yesterday, Pat Younge, President and GM for The Travel Channel addressed the group and told them that the industry was changing fast, and that the future, both for his channel and the business as a whole, was increasingly going to be resting in the hands of those who could produce content on their own and sell it.
Who am I to argue with Pat? He’s the President of the network.
Yesterday, the group got their introductory lecture (chop the carrots) and went off to shoot their first fledgling pieces. About a third had to go re-shoot. (we don’t call the screenings public praise, public humiliation for nothing).
This morning, Sue Norton, VP for Content at the channel addressed the group and explained what the chanel is looking for. Sue signs the checks for purchase and she is in charge of ‘short form programming’ for the web, and increasingly for cell phones, as they being to tie content to GPS. It’s a whole new world.
Wait, I’ll get a shot of Sue addressing the group… with the mac….
It ain’t so easy to shoot holding a laptop backwards over your head…
We have a very full schedule of TCA bootcamps through the rest of the year and we’re about to post the complete schedule for all of 2009. So if you’re thinking of doing this, sign up early. Spaces are indeed limited and going fast.
13 Comments
$ September 16, 2008
Thanks for your thoughts Cliff.
I wish you luck finding real paying work as a VJ someday.
Cliff Etzel September 16, 2008
$ – as I’ve stated previously – you use the same weak tactics as the desperate Repubs use – ie; talking points that don’t matter and try to use FUD to distract from the real important issues.
“Now Go Away or I Will Taunt You a Second Time.”
$ September 16, 2008
Nope,
I don’t hold Rosenblum responsible for the sad economic state of newspapers in general or the Star Ledger in particular.
It is a simple sad fact.
A short course in video story telling is no cure for what ails newspapers.
That was a pretty sad second post from someone who was once so confident and now, seems much less so.
Peter Ralph September 16, 2008
Mikey – don’t like the right-wing pigeon-hole?
Maybe try giving the old greed/fear, fear/greed carousel a rest?
Relentless optimism combined with up-town cynicism conjures a cross between Rush Limbaugh and George Costanza.
hehe
Cliff Etzel September 15, 2008
What does he know – he only oversee’s one of the most popular cable channels available.
Indeed it is a whole new world – something the detractors don’t want to think about.
I’ve been saying it for the past year – content distribution via the web is the future – h.264 can be played within Flash Video player – even HD content – bandwidth is the limiting component. Small HD cameras are perfect for this kind of self generated content distribution – you don’t need shoulder mount cameras and large production crews to produce content for the web.
The detractors continue to refuse seeing that distinction – instead opting to go off in tirades around shooting as a solo vj as an all encompassing failure.
Same FUD, different day.
Teressa September 15, 2008
What a ride that was! I must say that your teaching style and personality is certainly entertaining. I wish I had you as a professor in college it would have made it a hell of a lot more fun!
Keep doing what you are doing as I can tell it is your passion and you are certainly serving others from it! Thank you for the experience and for sharing your knowledge!
Peace, Teressa
$ September 14, 2008
Wow!
That was a first for me!
A two part response from Rosenblum!
Or maybe he somehow confused me with our favorite unemployed VJ, Cliff?
No, I don’t hold Rosenblum responsible for the dire economic situation the Star Ledger finds itself in.
But I do think the Star Ledger is a good example of people thinking they can take a quick course and learn to produce quality video storytelling.
Again,understandable why you wouldn’t want to continue your cheerleading about how they are kicking ass.
The only butt being kicked there now is their own.
rosenblumtv September 14, 2008
I don’t know what kind of response you expect from me. Halfway through my first month with The Star Ledger they tell me that they are going to be laying off a percentage of their staff and that if they don’t hit certain number, management will sell the paper. Its the threat to sell, by the way, not a sale. Do you think there is a direct or even a jagged line between my working with the paper and their decision to cut costs? I doubt one has anything to do with the other. It is you who makes the connection.
Are distressed companies more likely to call me than those that are happy and secure? Sure. Nothing focuses the mind like the prospect of being hanged in the morning.
Do I think almost all newspapers and magazines are going to go to video. It would seem to be moving that way very quickly.
Do I think that as they move to video this provides them with a cost effective way of making the content? I do.
Do I think that what is happening now to newspapers is going to happen to TV networks in about a decade? I think you can take that one to the bank.
Is that any clearer to you?
Republican talking points! Sheesh? I would rather cut my throat first.
Cliff Etzel September 14, 2008
$ – each response you give is the same as the repub talking points – no substance.
rosenblumtv September 13, 2008
I like the Star Ledger, and I like what they do.
Is the newspaper in trouble? You bet. That’s why they are moving to video asap. Almost every newspaper in the country (in the world in fact) is in trouble. The LA Times publisher just resigned and they laid off the same percentage of staff as the Star ledger is doing now. The Chicago Tribune? The NY Time ad revenues are off 78% for the quarter and just laid off 100 journalists, for the first time in their history. The Star Ledger is moving with great rapidity to video in a state that has no network or even local tv news operations. I think its a pretty smart move. I think they’re going to do just fine. And there are a lot of other papers that are following their lead. I was in Edinburgh last month at the television festival talking about the Star Ledger and showing their stuff. Next month I am going to England to address a conference of every newspaper editor in the country. It is coming, and it is going to give local TV news with their 8 crews a real run for their money. And a real run at their advertisers.
$ September 13, 2008
Yet another class.
Yet another move of the shell in the game of VJ.
Noticeably missing?
Any thought or world about the Star Ledger efforts in New Jersey.
Why?
Here’s why.
http://videos.nj.com/star-ledger/2008/09/ledger_live_091208.html
Embarrassing.
But predictable.
I wouldn’t be mentioning it either if I were you.
Are they doing news or sports?
They still can’t get the big story of the day covered each and every day by a VJ.
Why?
The obvious answer seems to be lack of ability and, now, lack of direction by those in charge.
You’re right.
It’s much better to focus on your latest class for the Travel Channel instead of looking back at something you once trumpeted as a resounding, sure success which, now, is anything but.
At least they still have their safe, white male anchor to showcase!
Now if they only had video stories to prove they knew what they were doing.
Maybe they are the ones who should be taking these current classes for the Travel Channel!
They seem on track for a career change with their current offerings as that newspaper sinks lower and lower.
Warllington September 12, 2008
Hi,
I comment to leave one link for a new community for travellers.
http://www.4traveblog.com
Henrique Boccato September 12, 2008
Super Interessante!!!
Seu blog e muito bom….
Vi sua palestra no Itau Cultural, muito boa mesmo.