blackmagi’s blog

My Journalistic Perception..

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 13:56:49 -0230

The year is coming to a close and my first college experience has been an educating and worthwhile. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect when I applied for the program, but I feel that I've taken some important steps forward when it comes to developing my niche and my understanding of journalism. We've had a multitude of different courses, each specific and beneficial to the world of journalism. From grammar, to vocal techniques, developing story ideas and learning important skills on the Internet, this course has taken me beyond my initial expectation.

When I began the course, I had my blinders set on the world of professional sports broadcasting. Looking back now, I was oblivious to how vast and expansive the world of journalism is, and the necessary skills that are required to become a successful journalist. I still aspire to work within the sporting world one day; however, I now have a new found appreciation for news and the means in which to broadcast it.

One thing I know I've taken away from this program, is that I feel I'm more in tune with what's going on around me, and I've found myself critiquing and assessing different news programs and shows. Now that I understand some of the technical sides of production and newswriting, it's interesting to sit back and take an objective view while I'm watching a show or reading a newspaper. This course has added another level to my 'journalistic perception', and I'm looking forward to becoming even more involved with this program and different projects in second year.

This summer, I'll be back in my hometown of Barrie, ON, working and making money to survive in Hamilton once again in the fall. I hope to get back to my musical roots over the next few months and play a lot of acoustic shows around the city. While I have some time away from school, I want to focus on my music a little more. Music is a big part of my life and has been for the last ten years. Before I came to school, I had the opportunity to perform in two different music groups that were signed to a label in Toronto. We did some exciting things, and I've had that musical 'itch' ever since. I have a website, www.cambrown.ca, and I hope I'll be doing some things that will warrant an update on my site! Either way, I'm going to use my time off school to work and involve myself in music once again.

This school year has been a great motivator when it comes to my outlook and aspirations about my future in journalism. I look forward to using the summer to think about how to attack my second year, and how I can best contribute to the Broadcast Journalism program at Mohawk College.

Cam Brown

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The Human Bandwidth Dilemma..

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:22:57 -0230

The world we live in today is truly an age of information. That in itself sounds like an understatement. Technology is increasing at a rapid rate and new sciences and discoveries are being unveiled. Computers and the Internet have led us into an era that could very well be ahead of our time. Advancements in countless areas of technology bode well for the economy and the development of future societies and projects; however, the human mind is finding it hard to keep up with the fast, changing pace of technology.

With the Internet evolving and endless amounts of data available at anyone's disposal, it's beginning to become hard for the average person to comprehend and accept what they're given as information; whether they realize it or not.

According to this website, Human Bandwidth, it's difficult for someone to read more than a few web pages comfortably on a computer screen. A user's first reaction when boredom or distraction arises is to look away, or try to find another source that's more user friendly. This 'scanning' of information doesn't leave the user with a solid base from which to learn, and proper academic techniques are becoming harder to instill and remember.

300px-Bill_Clinton

It's rather ironic that I'm writing a blog about Human Bandwidth on a day that I attended a function that former U.S. President Bill Clinton spoke at. The website I've posted above includes a picture of another former president, John F. Kennedy, and explains that he had a famously wide bandwidth. After listening to Clinton speak, it became clear to me that the knowledge that he possessed was far greater than the average person. In thirty minutes, he spoke with intelligent passion about numerous worldwide issues that affect us globally, and it seemed as if he just 'touched the surface' on these topics. There's no doubt in my mind that he could have given a two hour speech on any of the issues he discussed without breaking a sweat. I compare him to a modern-day, human encyclopedia. His bandwidth is vast, and he can process and access incredible amounts of information with impressive speed. Obviously, not everyone is going to have the drive and the motivation to learn and succeed as Bill Clinton does, but it's his practise and work ethic that's becoming a dying breed among modern day civilians.

After researching and reading about human bandwidth, I feel that going back to basic education techniques and thorough textbook practises would benefit the youth of today, as well as adults. I think reading is becoming a lost art, with an abundance of online websites and services contributing to discouraging people from learning and expanding their knowledge the 'old fashioned way'. I think websites like these will continue to evolve and flood the Internet with entertaining, yet, time-wasting alternatives to reading.

Facebook

Youtube

Myspace

As we move forward, and as the years pass, it's a scary thought to think that the machines of today's world will eventually outsmart our brains. It's important that we stay properly educated and informed throughout our everyday lives. Unlike computer bandwidth, we can't pay money to upgrade our minds...

Cam Brown

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Journaloggers..

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:55:11 -0230

When I first started the Broadcast Journalism program at Mohawk College, I never anticipated learning so much about the Internet in this program. I knew that I'd be learning a lot about the media, the foundations of journalism, and I was excited to gain print, radio, and television experience. Learning a lot about the Internet in this program I consider an added and welcome bonus.

I compare what I've learned about the Internet in this course thus far to my knowledge of guitar. I've been playing guitar for about 5 or 6 years, and after awhile, I felt I hit a plateau in my playing abilities. I was good at what I had learned and practised, but I wasn't entirely sure how to move forward in order to adapt other skills. I tried different instructors, different music and difficult techniques, but I always found myself reverting back to what was comfortable. When I started this course, I knew what I knew about the Internet, and I found myself living in a repetitive cycle of continually visited web-pages and activities. This course has really opened my eyes to some great aspects of the Internet, and how to manuvre and use these newly acquired skills to my best advantage. One area of the online universe I've become very interested and aware of... is blogging.

Blogging

In our Online Writing course earlier in the semester, we learnt different web-related techniques and websites, and I personally found it very educating and informative.

Also, through our actual journalism classes, I've decided that bloggers are without a doubt, journalists. In this day and age, anyone has the capability of capturing and broadcasting any information they choose on a multitude of different online forums. With cellphones, digital cameras, iPods, and other forms of technology commonplace, the average citizen is quickly becoming an incredibly important part of broadcasting news.

Blogging is not just an online activity, it's an online culture. Anyone with a computer or access to the Internet can write a "blog" for millions of others to potentially see. Being able to express ones opinion in a public forum and debate on different issues, to me, is an empowering form of journalism.

I consider blogs to be 'online journals', and I find no coincidence in the fact that all the word 'journal' needs, is an 'ism' at the end to create a word that's the cornerstone of our program at Mohawk.

I've found an interesting video on Youtube that takes a look into blogging and 'citizen journalism'. It's an interesting watch and I find the content of the video very relevant to our course.

Citizen Journalism - What Is It ?

As far as my guitar playing goes, I'm beginning to move off that plateau...

Cam Brown

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March 9th Reflection..

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:47:24 -0230

I found last Friday's class to be a very interesting and informative experience. To say the Internet is vast is a giant understatement; therefore, we were fortunate to have Cybrarian Jenn Horwath come into our class and speak with us about different research and navigation tools. I found her knowledge and expertise on Internet research techniques to be invaluable, and her advice made a direct impact on how I'll conduct, investigate and acquire accurate information to assist my future journalistic needs.

Some of the websites that Jenn spoke about and recommended were;

These are just some of the online sources she spoke about and specifically recommended. Personally, I found the layout and designs of Ask.com and Exalead to be similar to that of Google and Yahoo, and felt most comfortable using their engines. The Government of Canada's website is a great resource when needing to find specific numbers and statistics, as well as information that is pertinent to Canadian culture and history.

I also found it very refreshing to have a guest speaker of her position and status talk to our class about different Internet resources and skills. This Journalism program not only teaches us about the three big mediums (Television, Radio, Print), it also delves deep into the Internet and supplies us with valuable techniques and skills to use when reporting and creating strong journalistic stories.

I'm going to use the information she provided us with and make these websites a frequent visit when researching stories. Her presentation and instruction on how to properly maneuver through these sites was incredibly beneficial and will aid me not only with the rest of this program, but into my career in the media field as well.

Below is a six minute comedic video on how important databases are, and how they can assist you when researching online or otherwise.

Databases!

Overall, I really enjoyed last week's class, and I look forward to using these resources to my advantage moving forward.

Cameron Brown

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My experience with Web 2.0...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 11:00:17 -0330

In the last few weeks, I've realized that exploring Web 2.0 is the most beneficial assignment I've worked on in my Journalism program so far. It introduced me to different websites and tools that I otherwise would have never explored. I enjoy writing, though don't consider myself an avid writer. I plan to continue blogging through Vox after this assignment is complete.

In relation to Journalism, all three aspects of media that we're taught, intrigue me. Writing, radio and television are all important in Journalism, and I feel Vox is an excellent way to further my writing skills. That's why I've decided to use it as an outlet for developing stories and working on my writing style.

I think that I'll continue to use Flickr as well, however, I don't believe Del.Icio.us will be something I continually use. I'm quite happy with traditional bookmarking and don't feel a need to tag every website and document all of my travels. If a website is important enough to remember, I'll probably it bookmark the "old fashioned way".

All in all though, this assignment was incredibly beneficial to my knowledge of the Internet and Web 2.0 tools, as well as furthering my writing style and experience.

Thanks Wayne for introducing our class to different aspects of the Internet.

Cam Brown

'41'

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It's rather cold outside...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 10:49:20 -0330

The temperature lately has been unbelievably cold. I know this isn't "breaking news" or anything, but I feel it's gotten cold enough to warrant a blog. I don't remember a stretch of winter in recent memory that has been so consistently cold. Minus 30 and 40 degree weather across Canada has not been uncommon, and has caused not only human sickness and death, but has caused problems with water manes and other aspects of every day life.

It was strange to see no snow in December, then suddenly get hammered with snow and freezing temperatures in January and February. My family is in Barrie, so I usually travel home every weekend. The amount of snow there is incredible, which is terrible for driveways, but amazing for skiing and winter outdoor enthusiasts. I personally don't enjoy the winter as much as I used to and I'm really looking forward to spring and summer.

I'll be driving back to Barrie later today and using the following website for information on the highways/driving conditions.

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/

Safe travels...

Cam Brown

'41'

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It's Flickin' Delicious...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 21:49:06 -0330

Vox

I've really enjoyed this assignment, and even though I've procrastinated a few of my blogs, I feel I've learned a lot and intend to keep blogging after completion of the assignment.

The following are links to my Flickr and Del.Icio.Us accounts detailing my photos and bookmarks/tags I've created.

Cam's Flickin' Photos

Cam's Delicious Tags/Bookmarks

A few more blogs to go and all will be complete. Except for Icyru's goal of becoming a level 60... In due time...

Cam Brown

'41'

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Witnessing a career evening...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 14:23:48 -0330

Last night, Raptors fans at the ACC witnessed history in the making... at least temporarily. Chris Bosh scored a career high 41 points, though one has to imagine that at some point in his future, he'll eclipse that. For now, however, it was an amazing feat to witness. Even more impressive was the fact that the Raptors were able to continue their great playing as of late and run their winning streak to four straight games. Guards Jose Calderon and T.J Ford shared the point duties last night and both posted outstanding numbers of 10 points and 11 assists each.

If there was anything disappointing last night, it was that the attendance was just over 15,000. This number falls short of capacity by about five or six thousand. With the Raptors playing excellent basketball and their playoff push looking stronger than ever, it's unfortunate to see so many empty seats within the Air Canada Centre. It's fair that fans are using the "wait and see" approach, but with each passing game, it's clear that the waiting is coming to an end, and the view looks good.

The Raptors have a tough test with their next three games. Their opponents are the L.A. Lakers, the Detroit Pistons, and the Chicago Bulls. The Raps have consistently had a tough time with these teams, though with their recent solid play, the games should be very interesting.

I feel privledged to have witnessed a career night from Chris Bosh, and I can't wait to see what the Raptors have in store during the second half of the season.

Cam Brown

'41'

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The ACC beckons...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:29:16 -0330

Raptors Today

I just arrived home after buying some 'Fiery Hot Hungarian Salami' from Denniger's deli and through MSN, spoke with a friend of mine from Barrie. He asked me if I wanted to go to the Toronto Raptors game with him tonight, as he's a season ticket holder and has an extra ticket for this evening. I actually did debate the offer for a moment because I know that I still have some significant blogging to do. I've now decided that I'll blog before the game, perhaps after, and throw up a few tomorrow, because I'm going to take in the home game tonight against the Orlando Magic.

Orlando

I usually make it to at least one or two Raptors games a year, however, this is the first time in a long time I've been a student and don't exactly have an abundance of cash to purchase tickets whenever I please. I'm looking forward to watching my first and most likely last Raptors game of the season. If the Raptors make the playoffs (and there's a strong chance they will), I'll probably shell out a few dollars to take in a game.

Chris Bosh

Tonight the Raptors play the Orlando Magic, an Eastern Conference rival. Every game for the Raptors at this point in the season is crucial, and for the first time in a long time, Raptors fans and the players themselves have a different confidence in the state of the team. The men representing the Raptors exemplify 'team', and no one plays unselfishly on the court. The only household name on the squad is All-Star Chris Bosh, though the Raptors continue to play great basketball and continue to sit atop the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference.

There's a strong chance I'll recap the game tomorrow from my live perspective. As for now, I'm going to make a nice dinner and prepare to embark on the journey that is the Don Valley Parkway.

Cam Brown

'41'

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My World of Warcraft quest...

nobody@vox.com(Cam Brown) — Tue, 06 Feb 2007 21:45:30 -0330

He's fast, agile, deceptive, and can defeat an ogre with one shot from his powerful bow. He can outrun the undead and outsmart human beings. He's been known to slay raging beasts with a deathly strike from his magical blade. He's been to more continents and countries than anyone I've ever known. While I'm excited to find a quarter on the street, he's simply not satisfied with finding a magical crossbow such as the Crystalpine Stinger. He spends hours on his craft, and will not rest until his ultimate quest has been completed. He is a dreamer. He is a hunter. His name is Icyru... and I am his master.

Icyru at peace...

That's correct. Icyru is a character that I have created within the massive online universe known as the World of Warcraft. World of Warcraft is an MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game) created by the masterminds at Blizzard Entertainment. The Warcraft franchise has been around for over a decade, but the online revolution that is World of Warcraft is only a few years old and flourishing in its brilliance.

I started playing this game on Christmas Day, 2004. At the time I was on high-speed Internet, though a few months later moved to a dial-up location, and my play halted for a long period of time. I've only recently re-entered the world that is endless in its experiences. There is a monthly fee that is required to join and play with thousands of others within the game, but the fee is well worth it, and actually cheaper than one trip to the movie theatre.

Title Box

Crusade

World of Warcraft is a very social game and a nice stress reliever. It's nice to take your mind off certain things and let the game envelop you for however long you choose to play. With millions of players all around the world already enjoying this game, more have recently created their own online hero. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade was just released; an expansion pack add-on that continues where the end of the original version left off. These new adventures give experienced players a chance to further their character and explore deeper into the world of Azeroth.

World of Warcraft - Promotional Cinematic

So in closing, Icyru is a pretty cool guy, and we get along together quite nicely. Except when he gets himself into fights he just can't handle and makes me run all the way from the graveyard to retrieve his corpse. It really cuts into my night when he does that. All in all, World of Warcraft is a great form of entertainment, and is gladly welcomed into the world of Web 2.0.

Cam Brown

'41'

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