Magazine, Newspaper and Online Journalism: Boot Camp and Capstone 2013
BOOT CAMP
Magazine, Newspaper, and Online Journalism students spent the six weeks of boot camp learning the basics of newswriting and exploring the Syracuse area. The intensive program met 5 days a week, often from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and halfway through the week students were challenged to switch their way of thinking when Graphics classes came along. In newswriting, students profiled each other for their very first assignment, and were required to contact three sources and deliver a piece by the following morning. Other writing assignments included an enterprise story about the Syracuse area, a personality profile of someone in CNY, and a multimedia video project to introduce students to using video and audio. In Graphics, students were introduced to Adobe Creative Suite programs such as InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, and developed resumes, one-page website designs, and posters. Their final project involved a working magazine tablet design.
CAPSTONE
The students of the magazine, newspaper and online journalism master’s program (MNO) dove headlong into niche publications with their 2013 capstone experience. The launch issue of tablet magazine "Vertical Floor" explored the vibrant culture of parkour and freerunning, attempting to become the definitive guide and resource for practitioners and admirers alike. Industry insiders helped choose the magazine's topic through the inaugural Newhouse Tablet Competition. A pool of nine teams pitched ideas and the professionals picked the winner. “I love that it’s niche—and unabashedly so—about something that 99 percent of the population doesn’t care about,” said Eric Gillin, director of product for Conde Nast’s Epicurious.com. “To focus on that one percent was an excellent choice.” Thanks to parkour’s inherent visual appeal, the judges also felt the idea took advantage of the tablet’s ability to showcase video and to provide mobile interactivity. Eschewing a traditional magazine format, content was divided into six verticals, ranging from technique and nutrition to pop culture and news. One feature examined parkour’s growing international presence and included sources from Nepal, India and Venezuela. Another looked into physical education programs in New York City that implement parkour into their curriculum as an innovative solution for funding cuts. The centerpiece of the issue was the city guide, or “Scene” vertical, a recurring element to be featured in potential subsequent editions. "Vertical Floor" sent a team to Toronto to explore its burgeoning parkour and freerunning community. The team highlighted other aspects of the city of interest to readers, including food, art and cultural attractions. In six weeks, the "Vertical Floor" team of 28 students and three faculty instructors produced over 30 pieces in various formats, from traditional text narratives to interactive timelines, videos and 360-degree photo galleries. Students pitched, researched, produced, edited and fact-checked each story themselves, and also designed VerticalFloorMag.com, which republished all content from the tablet edition as well as several web exclusives. Social media editors also developed an international audience on Facebook and Twitter; during production, potential readers engaged with the "Vertical Floor" staff through discussions and contests. The launch issue of "Vertical Floor" is available for free download at the Apple App Store.
