In-Class Assignment: Working with Audio
Erica Overfelt, a sophomore journalism student at the University of Missouri, is currently taking prerequisite introductory journalism courses in multimedia and cross-cultural communications. Upon successful completion of these classes, Overfelt will apply for acceptance into her emphasis area, with options ranging from strategic communication to news reporting to magazine editing.
“I have no idea what I’m interested in, honestly. The journalism school is really scary… I have no idea what I want to do. I want to do everything.”
Overfelt is considering pursuing an emphasis in convergence journalism, where she will combine for her interests in written and multimedia communication. She is set to graduate in 2020, and hopes to work for National Geographic.
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The process of gathering audio was difficult due to the background noise of other students in the room. This struggle reiterated the importance of having a quiet, non-distracting area when holding an audio interview and demonstrated the microphone’s effectiveness at picking up even the smallest of sounds. Another struggle was keeping the microphone, accompanying cords, and nearby objects steady while recording, as tiny movements of the hand projected into the finished audio piece. The process of gathering audio and cutting the bites went well in that the directions were very straightforward and provided all the details needed to complete the task. Audition seems like an easier program to use than other Adobe products used in this class, but I still have a lot to learn about using the software. I expected it to be difficult selecting which pieces of the interview to use for my finished product, but it was much easier than selecting video or photos in other multimedia projects.
I am still interested in learning about different editing tools and resources available within the Audition program, and how to ask the right journalistic questions to (1) evoke emotion out of the interviewee that translates into the audio and (2) keep the listeners interested throughout the duration of the interview.
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Story Corps:
This piece was about Louis and Harriet Caplan, a couple who got married at 48 and 56 years old.
This piece moved me because Harriet, at the time of airing in 2013, was diagnosed with colon cancer and given a life expectancy of two years. The Caplan love story began later in the couples’ lives than for most partners, and it was emotionally compelling to hear how much they loved each other and how he is the “biggest blessing in her life” even after having 45+ years of her life without him. It was an emotional, captivating, romantic love story and makes you both ache for and adore the couple.
The interviewing technique that I believed was used was to have the subjects tell their love story. It was different from what is traditionally used in radio/TV/print because there was no standard list of questions. It seemed as though it was a bedtime story, and the couple was given the chance to share their experience with others.
Strengths: Emotionally compelling, highlights what the individual finds most relevant or important
Weakness: Could led to rambling/non-cohesive thoughts
Own Interview:
I would interview my parents, Bob and Lisa Enowski, and would focus on the passing of their twins before I was born. This would be an interesting interview (1) because it has a direct personal impact on my life, (2) it is a story and situation that I know little to nothing about, and (3) in honor of the twins, it is a story that needs to be told and remembered.
I would ask them:
-What has been the hardest thing about losing a child?
-What did the twins look like?
-How are you different now than you were before you lost them?
-What has helped you most in your grief?
Holly Enowski 