This semester has been jam-packed with many activities and adventures however; the journey of my CMAT 466 class ends with my third and final trend story of the semester.
For my last piece, I wanted to go out of my comfort zone and travel somewhere outside of the Salisbury area to conduct a story. Additionally, I wanted to find a topic that I knew nothing about and try to gain some more knowledge and insight on. But what could I possibly not know about?
My previous stories involved trends in Salisbury within a 10 mile radius. Although this is relevant to the community, I wanted to break beyond the ideas close to home and search for a more interesting pitch. With my desires to inspire and inform about positive changes in Delmarva, I chose to do a story on a group of dedicated men and women who give their lives to serve their country: the United States Air Force. I tried to narrow down what I could choose in terms of a trending topic, so I did some research and discovered that the last of the remodeled C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft has made its way to becoming one of the most pivotal planes in U.S. Air Force history.
I packed my bags and traveled over an hour to the nearest Air Force Base on the Delmarva Peninsula, which was located in Dover, Delaware. I met with Lt. Remoshay Nelson and TSgt Andria Allmond on the premises as we traveled to the area containing the C-5M. I was able to interview Pilot Samuel Mcanally on the aircraft, which was honestly something I could have never imagined obtaining. As I climbed aboard the aircraft, I took note of its attention to detail and listened to Mcanally talk to me about the major (and minor) adjustments from older versions of the aircraft. For the interview, we were able to sit in the cockpit of the C-5M and I was beyond impressed with all of the technology around me throughout the interview.
Pilot Mcanally went into thorough detail about flying the aircraft and how it is beneficial to the Dover Air Force Base. about the aircraft and he informed me that the plane is more efficient in terms of fuel capacity and storage space. This allows more room to save money, gas and transport materials quicker to the forces overseas. The technology on the C-5M is up-to-date compared to its other predecessors. In the interview, Mcanally compares the C-5A to an old television set whereas the C-5M is more similar to a flat-screen television.
With feedback from Mcanally, I then gained another perspective on the C-5M. I spoke with Connor Cooney, a loadmaster for the C-5M to gain more insight on what it is like flying the aircraft and how it affects today's Forces. As part of the 709th Airlift Squadron, to Cooney, his experiences flying the updated model of the C-5 has been nothing but amazing, and recalls flying directly from the Dover base to Afghanistan without having to stop for fuel or gas along the way. This saves the crew rest days, gas stops or any other landings in other countries due to the aircraft's ability to travel great distances for an extended period of time. He also credits the C-5M for allowing him to gain exposure to more cultures and backgrounds in other areas of the world.
Seeing the aircraft in the flesh has made me more understanding as a person. Not only do I realize that these pilots make many trips around the world, but they do so in a particular aircraft that will allow them to get to where their destination is in the amount of time that they have. Thanks to the C-5M Super Galaxy, the Dover Air Force Base is able to make these improvements to the quality of their service for their country.
As I finish with my third story, I would like to leave with a recap of the semester. In the beginning, I took a look at unemployment with the Wicomico Public Library and went into the Job Search Center to learn more about how the issue is getting resolved daily. In March, I went to the Blood Bank of Delmarva and saw an up-close look on how the struggle to attract donors is still evident. Finally, I took my camera to the Dover Air Force Base to learn about how one aircraft is shaping the future for the U.S. Air Force. Here are each of my packages I produced this semester. Feel free to share them with your friends.
For now, I have a multitude of events and responsibilities I need to take care of before June hits. I dream to make it in the business of film, television and/or music videos, so maybe one day I will update this blog to show more of my future videos.
I want to thank those of you who took the time to view this blog as well as these trend stories. This whole concept is not my strongest, but I am developing interview and TV production skills that will help me succeed in my future. Please do contact me if you want me to film a specific event, or even collaborate on a possible project. My Vimeo and YouTube accounts are linked to my blog under my bio so feel free to browse those as well.
Until then, have a lovely summer!
Trend Story #1
Trend Story #2
Trend Story #3
~Jade
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Story # 2: Blood Bank of Delmarva
As I emerge from the depths of late March and early April, I am quite thrilled to say that I finished yet another trend story for Trend Center.
In one of my earlier posts, I discussed my goals for my next assignment and how I wanted to inspire change within our community of Delmarva. Some of these goals included finding a great pitch, covering a unique trend, and making my project more appealing with appropriate B-roll to supplement my package. Looking forward, I began to conduct research on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and how they are making huge steps towards attracting and keeping younger donors.
Upon arriving at the Blood Bank located on Mt. Hermon Road, I was greeted with warmth from External Communications Specialist Christine Serio. She welcomed me with a smile and took me on a brief tour of the facility. Despite my worries of getting lost or accidentaly interrupting a blood donor session, I was able to become more acquainted with the Blood Bank as well as comfortable being around their medical equipment.
Serio explained the recent adjustments to the Membership Plan of the BBD, in response to it's 60th year anniversary. In the past, hospitals used to charge donors for procedures such as blood replacement. By being a Blood Bank members were provided coverage for medical bills by paying dues to the BBD. Now that those procedures are covered by insurance, there is no more obligation for members to pay money.Therefore, the member dues have been dropped to satisfy the needs of the donor.
While there is no longer a financial responsibility, donors are still encouraged to donate blood or platelets. Serio says that a new Members for Life rewards program is in place for all donors. This gives an opportunity for anyone to give blood and earn points to be redeemed at a future online store or for additional health benefits. Such benefits inclue cholesterol screenings, nutrition counseling and more.
Although this new plan is helping to gain more donors, the need for blood still exists. Accordnig to Serio, over 350 donors a day are needed for all 16 hospitals in the region to save the lives of over 20,000 patients per year. Even with no monetary dues, Members for Life are required to donate at least once a year and consent to be called for a blood donation at any given time when it is safe to do so.
After containing myself as I walked into the blood donor room, I came across Faye Wilson, a frequent blood donor at the Blood Bank. She had been giving blood since 2001, every since her sister had been diagnosed with cancer and was not able to donate blood. Wilson also adds that she does not necesarily need an incentive to donate blood and believes that generally most people want to come in and donate blood or platelets to help someone in need. Having a good reason to give blood makes the process more meaningful to donors of the Blood Bank.
Thinking about all of the patients who will benefit from the generosity of people like Wilson makes me happy that there are people out there who are willing to change the world. As I stated earlier, since there are no longer any fees attached to being a Member for Life, some people might come in to donate blood for a t-shirt or coffee mug. While incentives may attract more young donors, some people are donating for someone they care about. It could be a family member, friend, or relative. Or...it could be for a total stranger. That is the beauty of giving more of yourself in order for someone to live a long and prosperous life.
In one of my earlier posts, I discussed my goals for my next assignment and how I wanted to inspire change within our community of Delmarva. Some of these goals included finding a great pitch, covering a unique trend, and making my project more appealing with appropriate B-roll to supplement my package. Looking forward, I began to conduct research on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and how they are making huge steps towards attracting and keeping younger donors.
Upon arriving at the Blood Bank located on Mt. Hermon Road, I was greeted with warmth from External Communications Specialist Christine Serio. She welcomed me with a smile and took me on a brief tour of the facility. Despite my worries of getting lost or accidentaly interrupting a blood donor session, I was able to become more acquainted with the Blood Bank as well as comfortable being around their medical equipment.
Serio explained the recent adjustments to the Membership Plan of the BBD, in response to it's 60th year anniversary. In the past, hospitals used to charge donors for procedures such as blood replacement. By being a Blood Bank members were provided coverage for medical bills by paying dues to the BBD. Now that those procedures are covered by insurance, there is no more obligation for members to pay money.Therefore, the member dues have been dropped to satisfy the needs of the donor.
While there is no longer a financial responsibility, donors are still encouraged to donate blood or platelets. Serio says that a new Members for Life rewards program is in place for all donors. This gives an opportunity for anyone to give blood and earn points to be redeemed at a future online store or for additional health benefits. Such benefits inclue cholesterol screenings, nutrition counseling and more.
Although this new plan is helping to gain more donors, the need for blood still exists. Accordnig to Serio, over 350 donors a day are needed for all 16 hospitals in the region to save the lives of over 20,000 patients per year. Even with no monetary dues, Members for Life are required to donate at least once a year and consent to be called for a blood donation at any given time when it is safe to do so.
After containing myself as I walked into the blood donor room, I came across Faye Wilson, a frequent blood donor at the Blood Bank. She had been giving blood since 2001, every since her sister had been diagnosed with cancer and was not able to donate blood. Wilson also adds that she does not necesarily need an incentive to donate blood and believes that generally most people want to come in and donate blood or platelets to help someone in need. Having a good reason to give blood makes the process more meaningful to donors of the Blood Bank.
Thinking about all of the patients who will benefit from the generosity of people like Wilson makes me happy that there are people out there who are willing to change the world. As I stated earlier, since there are no longer any fees attached to being a Member for Life, some people might come in to donate blood for a t-shirt or coffee mug. While incentives may attract more young donors, some people are donating for someone they care about. It could be a family member, friend, or relative. Or...it could be for a total stranger. That is the beauty of giving more of yourself in order for someone to live a long and prosperous life.
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
Construction Time!
Good evening!
My last post was all about discovering what up-and-coming topics to cover for my next trending story. Specifically, I also mentioned that I wanted to conduct a story on something that is not as popular or widely talked about in the media or even in everyday life.
One thing that I noticed while going through my daily routines is that I do not hear much about people helping other people in the community. It was always about how someone's day was or how much work there is to be done and how much stress had accumulated as a result. Among most people, Mondays have a bad rep on being known as the one of the worst days of the week.
With that being said, I tried to look at the bigger picture. Who are the people fighting for their lives currently? People at war, people with cancer...and people who need blood.
Many people in Delmarva need blood replacements from great losses such as car accidents, people with diseases, etc. It is shocking that more people don't give blood, because it can easily save lives with just a tiny contribution. At that moment, I decided I wanted to conduct a trend story on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and their efforts to attract more donors.
The big problem with this area is the need for blood. According to the website, almost 80,000 blood donations are needed for nearly 20,000 patients in the Delmarva region. The blood donated gets sent to one of 16 different hospital across the peninsula and just one pint can save up to 3 lives.
Recently, the Blood Bank of Delmarva celebrated their 60th anniversary of service. In light of the recent healthcare changes (i.e. improving preventitive health coverage), BBD has updated their membership plan to not only reflect those changes, but to keep younger donors. Most of the donors are indeed older, but a new way to incentivise the youth is via a rewards system. This system includes an online store (coming soon), health-related benefits and more. More information on the plan can be found here.
One of my main struggles putting this piece together is the choice of B-roll for the package. In my last post I discussed how that was an issue I had in my first story as the B-roll was not relevant to the narration I made. This may require me to go out into the field and record minutes or even hours of additional footage just to put more emphasis on the imporance of the need to donate. The more precise I can be with my visuals, the better the impact of the story.
Here is a brief clip on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and how they work together to save lives.
Hopefully with my story I can adequately gather enough information to show that there is a problem at stake that an organization is trying resolve with their new changes. Each day, just one person can make a difference.
I will update you all on the finished video next week. Happy Wednesday!
~Jade
My last post was all about discovering what up-and-coming topics to cover for my next trending story. Specifically, I also mentioned that I wanted to conduct a story on something that is not as popular or widely talked about in the media or even in everyday life.
One thing that I noticed while going through my daily routines is that I do not hear much about people helping other people in the community. It was always about how someone's day was or how much work there is to be done and how much stress had accumulated as a result. Among most people, Mondays have a bad rep on being known as the one of the worst days of the week.
With that being said, I tried to look at the bigger picture. Who are the people fighting for their lives currently? People at war, people with cancer...and people who need blood.
Many people in Delmarva need blood replacements from great losses such as car accidents, people with diseases, etc. It is shocking that more people don't give blood, because it can easily save lives with just a tiny contribution. At that moment, I decided I wanted to conduct a trend story on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and their efforts to attract more donors.
The big problem with this area is the need for blood. According to the website, almost 80,000 blood donations are needed for nearly 20,000 patients in the Delmarva region. The blood donated gets sent to one of 16 different hospital across the peninsula and just one pint can save up to 3 lives.
Recently, the Blood Bank of Delmarva celebrated their 60th anniversary of service. In light of the recent healthcare changes (i.e. improving preventitive health coverage), BBD has updated their membership plan to not only reflect those changes, but to keep younger donors. Most of the donors are indeed older, but a new way to incentivise the youth is via a rewards system. This system includes an online store (coming soon), health-related benefits and more. More information on the plan can be found here.
One of my main struggles putting this piece together is the choice of B-roll for the package. In my last post I discussed how that was an issue I had in my first story as the B-roll was not relevant to the narration I made. This may require me to go out into the field and record minutes or even hours of additional footage just to put more emphasis on the imporance of the need to donate. The more precise I can be with my visuals, the better the impact of the story.
Here is a brief clip on the Blood Bank of Delmarva and how they work together to save lives.
Hopefully with my story I can adequately gather enough information to show that there is a problem at stake that an organization is trying resolve with their new changes. Each day, just one person can make a difference.
I will update you all on the finished video next week. Happy Wednesday!
~Jade
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
My Next Piece: Goals
Greetings all!
I sit here a few weeks after posting my first story on this blog, feeling accomplished and ready to start up another project.
Although I am just starting to get back into the brainstorming process, I feel as if I am a little stumped in terms of ideas. Sometimes there are just so many things going on that I can barely focus on what trends I want to cover. Also, there seems to be an abundance of events going on in the Delmarva area however, I feel as if my mind isn't working the way it wants to.
One of the challenges with this project is finding the time to generate a brilliant pitch. The pitch is one of the most crucial steps in the creation process, because it becomes the backbone of your piece. Without a great idea, the entire foundation collapses due to a lack of direction. Something to consider is starting from a small detail and relating it to the bigger picture.
With this in mind, I sit here pondering what my next idea could possibly be. I must set goals in order to achieve the desired outcome, which essentially is an incredible trend story. Generally speaking, I want to cover a topic that is popular but not something that everyone gets involved with. As much as I admire a trend that everyone follows, I would like to see some more instances of leaders and game-changers.
In terms of logistics, another goal of mine is to get more fitting B-roll for the story that I'm covering. It is not fitting to see clips of people at an eatery when the story is about fashion trends. I made a few errors in my last piece in that particular region, but I am determined to make more relevance to the story and capture the attention of the viewer.
My following piece is going to be something that encourages people to do something. I know too many people who don't take advantage of the resources all around them that they might not be aware of. One of my goals is to make those resources stand out and showcase their specialties so that people could be inspired to participate or get involved. Television and websites are popular mediums nowadays and it would seem like a simple way to aim at viewers who use these mediums often.
A few weeks ago, I started this blog with a detailed account of the Job Search Center at the Wicomico Public Library. This time around, I will hopefully find an idea based on the goals that I set for myself. With all the stresses of life around us, it is important to take a moment and analyze what we truly want to accomplish in order to discover our true callings.
What will my next story be about? Check back in a couple weeks to find out. Also, feel free to add input on what you want to see covered in this blog.
Until then, see you later!
I sit here a few weeks after posting my first story on this blog, feeling accomplished and ready to start up another project.
Although I am just starting to get back into the brainstorming process, I feel as if I am a little stumped in terms of ideas. Sometimes there are just so many things going on that I can barely focus on what trends I want to cover. Also, there seems to be an abundance of events going on in the Delmarva area however, I feel as if my mind isn't working the way it wants to.
One of the challenges with this project is finding the time to generate a brilliant pitch. The pitch is one of the most crucial steps in the creation process, because it becomes the backbone of your piece. Without a great idea, the entire foundation collapses due to a lack of direction. Something to consider is starting from a small detail and relating it to the bigger picture.
With this in mind, I sit here pondering what my next idea could possibly be. I must set goals in order to achieve the desired outcome, which essentially is an incredible trend story. Generally speaking, I want to cover a topic that is popular but not something that everyone gets involved with. As much as I admire a trend that everyone follows, I would like to see some more instances of leaders and game-changers.
In terms of logistics, another goal of mine is to get more fitting B-roll for the story that I'm covering. It is not fitting to see clips of people at an eatery when the story is about fashion trends. I made a few errors in my last piece in that particular region, but I am determined to make more relevance to the story and capture the attention of the viewer.
My following piece is going to be something that encourages people to do something. I know too many people who don't take advantage of the resources all around them that they might not be aware of. One of my goals is to make those resources stand out and showcase their specialties so that people could be inspired to participate or get involved. Television and websites are popular mediums nowadays and it would seem like a simple way to aim at viewers who use these mediums often.
A few weeks ago, I started this blog with a detailed account of the Job Search Center at the Wicomico Public Library. This time around, I will hopefully find an idea based on the goals that I set for myself. With all the stresses of life around us, it is important to take a moment and analyze what we truly want to accomplish in order to discover our true callings.
What will my next story be about? Check back in a couple weeks to find out. Also, feel free to add input on what you want to see covered in this blog.
Until then, see you later!
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Story #1: Job Search Center at the Wicomico Public Library
These past couple of weeks has been very rewarding as I shot and put together my first trending news piece.
Primarily, I researched what many people in the Delmerva region are dealing with today, both on a local level as well as national. Seeing as unemployment is still an issue in the area according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, I decided to do my first story on the Job Search Center at the Wicomico Public Library.
As I walked into the library to prepare my interviews, I was intrigued by the vast wealth of resources the library had to offer. Not only did they have typical library aspects such as books, CDs and computers, but I was surprised to see that they also had a rather large children's section that was bustling with kids and parents alike.
The Job Search Center is in a little nook of the library by the elevator, a sky blue room containing about five computers and a printer. A job-seeking database called the Maryland Workforce Exchange is displayed on the screen of each computer. Upon entering the Job Search Center, each person signs in and uses a computer to research jobs, print out resumes or even view online workshops on cover letters and other useful tools.
Jay Peters, personnel of the Job Search Center, explained a lot to me about how the program is kept afloat by funding from the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. In the three years of the Job Search Center's existence, the LSWA has never had a problem with issuing a grant every year to the center.
Peters says that the Job Search Center has become more useful in recent years since its establishment. Before the center, many people were using computers for job research and many people asked the librarians about information on how to operate certain mechanics of job-seeking websites. Since then, the popularity of the center has increased with close to ninety people during one week. In addition to the center at the Wicomico Public Library, there are two other locations at the Centre Branch as well as the Pittsville Branch.
Carla Richardson, a consistent patron at the Job Search Center, says she has been unemployed for about two years. Since moving from the densely populated area of Philadelphia, she has been searching locally for employment in the education field. In regards to the center, Richardson states that it has helped her tremendously in her quest to land a job. She notes the quiet and comfortable atmosphere of the library which helps ease any tension on possible stress on the potential job seeker to focus and work diligently. She, among many other people, has an optimistic attitude that she will ultimately find a job as a result of her efforts in the Job Search Center.
Before looking into the Job Search Center, I had no idea about what unemployment rates are in the area nor did I realize that there is a valuable resource available right in Wicomico County to combat this nationwide issue. This center gave me insight on what it is like to be out of work and to commit oneself every day to find a solution. Many people in the United States are struggling with unemployment and I believe that more should be done to tackle this problem at hand. The Job Search Center is a huge start and with persistence, anyone can achieve their goals and get where they want to be.
For more information on the program as well as other library information, please visit:
http://www.wicomicolibrary.org/job-search-center
As I walked into the library to prepare my interviews, I was intrigued by the vast wealth of resources the library had to offer. Not only did they have typical library aspects such as books, CDs and computers, but I was surprised to see that they also had a rather large children's section that was bustling with kids and parents alike.
The Job Search Center is in a little nook of the library by the elevator, a sky blue room containing about five computers and a printer. A job-seeking database called the Maryland Workforce Exchange is displayed on the screen of each computer. Upon entering the Job Search Center, each person signs in and uses a computer to research jobs, print out resumes or even view online workshops on cover letters and other useful tools.
Jay Peters, personnel of the Job Search Center, explained a lot to me about how the program is kept afloat by funding from the Lower Shore Workforce Alliance. In the three years of the Job Search Center's existence, the LSWA has never had a problem with issuing a grant every year to the center.
Peters says that the Job Search Center has become more useful in recent years since its establishment. Before the center, many people were using computers for job research and many people asked the librarians about information on how to operate certain mechanics of job-seeking websites. Since then, the popularity of the center has increased with close to ninety people during one week. In addition to the center at the Wicomico Public Library, there are two other locations at the Centre Branch as well as the Pittsville Branch.
Carla Richardson, a consistent patron at the Job Search Center, says she has been unemployed for about two years. Since moving from the densely populated area of Philadelphia, she has been searching locally for employment in the education field. In regards to the center, Richardson states that it has helped her tremendously in her quest to land a job. She notes the quiet and comfortable atmosphere of the library which helps ease any tension on possible stress on the potential job seeker to focus and work diligently. She, among many other people, has an optimistic attitude that she will ultimately find a job as a result of her efforts in the Job Search Center.
Before looking into the Job Search Center, I had no idea about what unemployment rates are in the area nor did I realize that there is a valuable resource available right in Wicomico County to combat this nationwide issue. This center gave me insight on what it is like to be out of work and to commit oneself every day to find a solution. Many people in the United States are struggling with unemployment and I believe that more should be done to tackle this problem at hand. The Job Search Center is a huge start and with persistence, anyone can achieve their goals and get where they want to be.
For more information on the program as well as other library information, please visit:
http://www.wicomicolibrary.org/job-search-center
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Introduction
Greetings all!
I will be making posts to this blog to update you all on the various topics I will be covering in the Delmarva region. Video coverage will be available to view as well.
Stay tuned for upcoming stories!
~ Jade
I will be making posts to this blog to update you all on the various topics I will be covering in the Delmarva region. Video coverage will be available to view as well.
Stay tuned for upcoming stories!
~ Jade
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