How could I describe this semester? Last semester, I really enjoyed the Toolkit I course; on the other hand, this semester course, Toolkit II, was slightly more painful. There were simply too many notions to struggle with. Nonetheless, all this hard work made me aware of just how sharp my set of skills needs to be in order to stand out in the 21st century’s media environment.
From the very beginning of my studies at the University of Florida, my professors and friends have stressed to me the importance of new media and online reporting. They said I should focus on skills relevant to those new media, such as technology and creative thinking. With foreigners facing a language barrier to compete with native speakers in print and television reporting, this new wave of media provides foreign reporters a level playing field.
Recently, I have been exposed to new technologies and method that I had never experienced before. Shooting video footage, a task that demands extensive visual work and creative thinking, offers me a chance to develop my storytelling skills. It is always a thrill to find a lead,dig the story and present it creatively. In comparison to last summer’s soundslide, video storytelling has been a greater challenge for me, as it is difficult to effectively calibrate details such as view angles and lighting. I believe that a great video narrator must be a careful observer in daily life. I am glad to have spend time learning how to edit video footage, a task that, though it may seem boring, is actually very enjoyable. On only wish I could have more experience using Final Cut Pro.
Creating web animations with Adobe Flash was also a blast, and seeing my first Flash project successfully come together gave me great satisfaction. At the end of last semester, I wanted to develop my Photoshop skills; now, I really wanted to develop my Flash skills. Hopefully I won’t forget everything I learned…
This semester has been a definite step up from the Fall semester. It was more demanding, giving me the opportunity to challenge myself and strive to become the best news reporter that I can be.
Feel the World 
Yes… when you say “been exposed to new technologies and method that I had never experienced before. “I think you are mentioning one of the most important and challenging issues not only to describe both Toolkit I and Toolkit II but also to asses the process that any journalist has to walk through from the old media and the new media. We are not as used to them as to the other media and, although universities are stressing it a lot right now, they are still a minority. You also say that “I believe that a great video narrator must be a careful observer in daily life,” well, I think you are right but I would go even further, a good journalist in general has to be a careful observer of daily life, I think it’s one of the main skills for a journalist.
Ah! Good point on Flash and the programs. I was so worked up in my post about my Guitar Hero vent that I forgot to mention this. Nice catch.
Flash has been something I’ve wanted to learn from right after I figured out CSS. Maybe this will be a kickstart to teaching myself how to work it. (I can’t see having the time to take it in a formal class.)
I agree with you about Final Cut Pro, too. Another amazing program I would have liked to have been able to work with more in depth. But I saw the sense in learning Movie maker. It’s something I can practice on, at least. I think practice was something I needed with video and being able to do that on Movie maker in the future will be a good thing.
Have a great summer!!
Both of the comments ahead of me are so good, I don’t know what else to say.
I hope that the experience of Toolkit 2 (and also Toolkit 1) has been useful in a broader sense, beyond only providing some skills training. If you think about how to tell a story, and if you think about why we have journalism, and what is its value — if Toolkit 2 has given you any new avenues for these thoughts, then I would feel happy for you. I think Western journalists have become very mechanical in doing their jobs, and maybe it’s time for a new approach, a new way to open people’s minds so they can “feel the world”!