Nelson – Final Pitch

Your Name: Sara Nelson
Your story format for this assignment:

_X     Final (Video + Text)

_____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

____ Video

_____ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

The Abbott Sports Complex opened Lincoln’s first motocross track Oct. 8, 2011 after much debate and anticipation. The next closest motocross tracks are in Irvington and Friend, Ne. over an hour outside of Lincoln. My plan is to do a video story featuring a rider that is now able to practice his hobby more frequently because of the new track. Before the track opened, there was much debate that the track would be a nuisance to surrounding neighbors. The text story that will accompany the video will talk the publics reaction to the track and about the success of the track after its first month open.

Explain why this story is best told using this format.

The feature story over a young rider will be best told through video due to the action of the sport. The natural sound at a motocross track is unmistakable and give the viewers an inside look at the sport. The reaction/follow-up story about the track will be best told through text because people reactions can be accurately depicted through direct quotes.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific.

I will tell this story by going to the track this weekend to capture the video. The track is holding riding open to the public. I plan to start my video by showing the rider preparation before he even gets on the bike. I want to collect natural sound of the dirt bike starting and reving up. Then I will take video of the rider I am focusing on practicing motocross. I will then collect A-roll from the rider about the benefits of having a track close to home. To end the video I will take video of the rider coming off the track covered in dirt and exhausted, then get a shot of him driving away with his dirt bike behind his car.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story.

Craig Fritz – Abbott Sports Complex Motocross Cordinator – Craig will act as a source for my text story and he is helping me get set up with a dirt biker that will be on the track this weekend.

The rider that Craig gets me in touch with. I am planning on having the rider talk about the advantages of having a track in Lincoln and what this means for their sport and the state of Nebraska.

Neighboring houses (six within a half mile from the track) – talk to neighbors about noise and traffic coming from the track.

Stefankiewicz — Live tweet pitch

Your Name: Ryne Stefankiewicz

Your story format for this assignment:

__X__ Live Tweet (follow up story)

_____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

_____Video

____ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

To go to the weekly nebraska press conference on Monday. Football coach Bo Pelini and volleyball coach John Cook speak, followed by a few football players. I will tweet quotes and newsworthy soundbites from the players and coaches regarding the upcoming game, which will be Iowa.

Explain why this story is best told using this format.

This story is best told by using Twitter because it is a press conference, therefore it is good for quick little quotes/updates.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific.

I will take a photo of one of the players or Bo at the table with the Nebraska logo in the background.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story.

The sources will be Coach Cook, Coach Pelini ad the players.

Wakeman Text Pitch

Your Name: Erinn Wakeman
Your story format for this assignment:

_X___ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

____ Video (FINAL)

_____ Audio slideshow

____ Live tweet w/ follow-up

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

Every day in public schools around Lincoln, hundreds of parents fill elementary school classrooms to learn the same things their children are learning; how to speak English. The Family Literacy Program currently serves eight Lincoln schools, and it focuses on educating parents. In most cases, the parents and their children are refugees or immigrants who speak little to no English. The program runs on the belief that parents who participate not only improve their own English fluency but increase their involvement in their child’s education. Data from LPS showed that the the likelihood that a parent would read to their children more than three times a week improved from 32 to 50 percent after enrollment in the program. The program offers daycare so parents are able to participate, teaches parents English, and provides community education so new immigrants can understand the new culture. In my story, I would like to focus on this program and the families it serves here in Lincoln.

Explain why this story is best told using this format: Although it is an interesting story, there are a lot of details to be explained, which is much easier in text format. Also, video or photographs would be uninteresting, since they would mostly consist of people sitting in a classroom. I think text will best allow the impact of the program to be explained.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific. I will take some photos of the class as it is being taught, but the story will mainly be through text.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story. 

Sharon Wherry, president of the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools: Wherry is in charge of the foundation, which raises additional school funding through community donations. She knows a lot about the cost and history of the program.

Leesa Kraeger, coordinator of the program at Arnold Elementary School.

Mona Manley, principal at Belmont Elementary School, one of the eight schools that offers the program.

Principals at West Lincoln Elementary, Everett Elementary, and Elliott Elementary, the three Lincoln schools with the largest programs.

These sources know a lot about the program and the benefits it offers and can offer insights into how the program has helped families. They will also be able to introduce me to some families that use the program, which will be an interesting aspect of my story.

Kelley- Tweet live pitch

Your Name:
Dominique Kelley

Your story format for this assignment:

 

____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

 

_____ Video (FINAL)

 

_____ Audio slideshow

 

XXXX Live tweet w/
follow-up

 

Your pitch (in one
short paragraph):

As all sports at Nebraska are new to the Big Ten this year,
I am going to be live tweeting from the Women’s basketball game this Sunday. This
Sunday is the last exhibition game before the Huskers go into their regular
season. I wanted my follow up story to consist of a preview of their regular
season schedule leading up to the inauguration season in the conference.

Explain why this
story is best told using this format:

This story has great action because basketball is a fast paced
game.  It’s a sporting event which has
become popular for tweeting live. People who are not able to attend the game
will also be able to know what is going at the game with live updates. I can
also update readers on the progress of the game as well as their seasons
schedule and other interesting statistics.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific:

I have a smartphone with a camera that I will take pictures with
and upload to Twitter.

List the names and titles of the sources and
describe what role they will play in the story:

Jeff Greisch- Women’s basketball SID.  He will provide me with updated stats.
Besides Jeff, I will be attending the post-game press conference and getting
quotes from the players and coaches.

Lostroh pitch – video part of final project

Your Name: Teresa Lostroh
Your story format for this assignment:

____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

__XXX___ Video (FINAL)

_____ Audio slideshow

____ Live tweet w/ follow-up

Your pitch (in one short paragraph): The Nebraska State Penitentiary has gone to the dogs. Yes, that’s a cliche pun, but it’s also true. As a form of rehabilitation, the Penitentiary allows inmates to train dogs from the humane society and prepare them for adoption. Like the inmates themselves, the dogs have had behavioral problems. Because of that, they aren’t available for adoption. For nine weeks, the dogs live with the inmates, who provide them with obedience training under the guidance of trainers from area humane societies. After nine weeks, most of the dogs are adopted. Some of the most well-behaved ones, however, stay at the prison. Inmates train them to become service dogs for people with physical disabilities.

Explain why this story is best told using this format. This story has great action. Dogs are inherently cute. While inmates may not be “inherently cute,” there is definitely something intriguing about watching them train animals.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific. I will visit the prison to shoot them training. I will get a variety of shots of the inmates working with the dogs – I will pay special attention to getting tight shots of both the inmates and the dogs. I plan to interview several inmates, but I’d like to focus on one of them.

I plan to start the story in the home of a family that has adopted a dog trained at the penitentiary. I’ll get various shots of the dog in its “new” environment and then skip to the penitentiary. Ideally, I would use the inmate who trained the family’s dog as my primary prison subject.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story. 

Win Barber – public information officer at the Penitentiary. He is the person who will help me set up the shoot and connect with inmates once I’m there.

I’m working with employees at the humane societies in Lincoln (Bob Downey) and Beatrice (Marcia McCabe and Gina VanLaningham) to find a family to visit.

Pitch: McNeal

Your Name: Brittany McNeal

Your story format for this assignment:

        Live Tweet (follow up story)

_____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

_____Video

__X__ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

Most of us take the ease of our lives for granted. We are able to get out of bed, get ready for class and go to school, all on our own. For Lincoln East Sophomore Alex Toalson, those tasks are a lot harder. Alex has Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative muscle disease that stops Alex from being able to walk, feed himself or live the typical high school student life. His mother, Colleen Toalson, has been an advocate for Alex and a tremendous hero not just for Alex, but also for their whole family.

Explain why this story is best told using this format.

This story is best told by using an audio slideshow because seeing Alex’s normal day is far more impactful that just talking about it, and getting input from both Alex and his mother, as well as, his father and brother, will put forth a lot of emotion.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific.

I will use a lot of close-ups mixed with some medium and wide shots to tell the story of the typical day. By mixing those styles, I believe a stronger and more visually appealing story will emerge.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story.

I’ve scheduled to talk with Colleen and Alex Toalson. I may also try to get insight from his father, Brent, and his brother, but only as supporting information so I do not confuse the audience. I think Alex and Colleen are strong characters that will help to really tell this story effectively.

Nelson – Video Pitch

Your Name: Sara Nelson

Your story format for this assignment:

        Live Tweet (follow up story)

____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

__X__Video

_____ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph):

Cricket is a popular sport in the majority of the world, except for the United States. Nebraska is not a place you would think of to have a cricket club. The Lincoln Cricket Club formed in 2005, the players include UNL staff, students and Lincoln residents. The club is playing a scrimmage where I will collect b-roll of them playing the sport and interviews. Rather than focusing on the scrimmage, my plan is to do a feature story about the club itself and its players. Many of the players come from India, where the sport is extremely popular, and cricket is a way for them to bring traditions from home to their lives in the United States.

Explain why this story is best told using this format.

Cricket is a very fast paced sport and involves lots of action so I think it will lend itself to video well.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific.

The b-roll for the video story will primarily be the club scrimmaging as they prepare for a tournament. I plan to get them entering the indoor court and shoot from every angle possible during the game. I am going to try and focus on two main characters – a UNL faculty member and UNL student. At the end of the scrimmage I will tape their celebration or activities after the match.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story.

Rama Cheruku – President of Lincoln Cricket Club and UNL staff member – he will talk about how the club got started and the lack of cricket clubs in the Lincoln area.

UNL student of the Lincoln Cricket Club – talk about his experience with cricket and how he got involved in the club.

Wakeman Live Tweet Pitch

Your Name: Erinn Wakeman

Your story format for this assignment:

___X__ Twitter/follow-up text story

_____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

_____ Video

_____ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph): On Sunday, the Nebraska women’s basketball team will open its first season as a member of the Big Ten when they take on the Pittsburgh State Gorillas at the Bob Devaney Center. Although the game is an exhibition game, there is still a great deal of pressure on the Huskers to perform well because of the switch to the Big Ten. Adding to that pressure, six of the twelve players on Nebraska’s roster are freshmen, but pre-season reports say they are expected to see a lot of playing time.

Explain why the story is best told using this format: Basketball is a fast-paced sport, and fans not able to attend the game want to know what’s going on with live updates, which are easily provided via tweets. With live tweets, I can update readers on the progress of the game as well as provide background information about the players, the season’s schedule, and other interesting statistics.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific: I have a smartphone with a camera, so I should be able to take pictures with that and upload them to Twitter.

List the names and titles of the sources and describe what role they will play in the story: I am going to try to talk to players and coaches after the game, specifically I’d like to talk to the freshmen on the team to get their reactions after their first college game and first game in the Big Ten.

Orti- final story pitch

Your Name: Camila Orti

Your story format for this assignment:

_____ Twitter/follow-up text story

__X___ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

___XX__ Video

_____ Audio slideshow

Your pitch (in one short paragraph): Lincolnites are familiar with the Occupy Lincoln movement that stemmed from its New York parent- Occupy Wall Street. What people might not realize is that the Lincoln protests started with one woman’s Facebook page. My final story will use video as the main component, with the “unofficial founder” of Occupy Lincoln, Mary Ann Shiech, as the focus. She will tell the story of how she sparked the local movement, and how it has progressed. An accompanying text story will broaden the angle of the story, give more background about the Occupy Wall Street movement, and how it has exploded across the nation to places like Omaha and Lincoln.

 

Explain why this story is best told using this format. Any kind of protest makes for great video; there is a lot going on visually and plenty of natural sound. Video would also be the best way to capture the protestors’ passion with both b-roll shots of the chanting, and interview footage. A sidebar text story would be an effective way to bring in outside information, and put the more focused video component in perspective.

 

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific. I plan on showing plenty of footage from the march that is rich with natural sound- people chanting, signs, close-ups of the drummers banging on their buckets, etc. Other shots could include Occupiers inside their tents, eating meals together, and medium shots of interesting elements within the campsite, like the “library tent” or bins of donated clothes. The other kinds of shots I need will be taken at Shiech’s house, and would include a wide shot of her house, close-ups of her typing on her computer, etc. I could also throw in a photo from the New York protests within the body of the text portion.

 

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story. I have spoken with two protestors participating in the march last weekend, as well as Justin Tolston, a UNL student that is highly involved with the movement. These interviews provide general information about Occupy Lincoln, and personal reasons for participating in the movement. My main interview will be with Mary Ann Shiech, who has been called the “unofficial founder” of Occupy Lincoln. Shiech will tell the story of how she started the movement from her home via Facebook, and how it has grown since.

 

Stefankiewicz pitch — video

Your Name: Ryne Stefankiewicz
Your story format for this assignment:

____ Text (2 photos and/or graphics)

__xx___ Video

_____ Audio slideshow

____ Live tweet w/ follow-up

Your pitch (in one short paragraph): A day in the life of a Lincoln Stars hockey player.  I will follow a player, depending on who the media relations person suggests, and d a day in the life of that person.  I plan to go at least two days, one for practice and one during a gameday.

Explain why this story is best told using this format. There are tons of visuals involved in hockey and getting ready.  I will shoot during a game and there are lots of shots of him getting ready to, for example putting on his gloves and skates, etc.

How will you tell this story visually? Please be specific. I will have some — not much — game B-roll.  I will do an interview.  I will also do lots of over-the-shoulder shots so we can see what it is like from the player’s perspective.  I am allowed in the locker room because this is a semi-professional team.

List the names and titles of the sources (both those you have talked with already and those you plan to talk to) and describe what role they will play in the story. 

Jen Morand is the media relations person for the Stars.  She will ideally set me up with a player she feels will be good to talk to.  Then, obviously, the player will be the main and only character seen in the video.