Interested applicants must fill out the online application. Once you submit the form, you will not be able to edit it. We strongly recommend copying the questions and working offline, and then pasting in your answers so that you don't lose any information.
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If you have any questions, feel free to email workshops@mediastorm.com

Who Should Apply

This is a workshop for seasoned storytellers who have professional multimedia experience and are looking to further expand their multimedia storytelling capabilities. Applicants should have a working knowledge of audio recorders, video and still cameras and non-linear editing software.

This is not an introductory workshop. Participants will be working at a fast-paced professional level, moving from story concept to a completed multimedia story in 7 days.

The goal of the workshop is to collaborate with those who have expert skills in specific areas in order to create the best possible project.

Each Team Will Include:

A Multimedia Reporter

A workshop participant who gathers original story elements in the field using still photography, audio and video.

A Multimedia Editor

A workshop participant who edits the Multimedia Reporter's raw material and produces a multimedia story using Apple's Final Cut Pro.

A Multimedia Producer

A MediaStorm Producer who is dedicated to the team for the entire workshop, instructing the Multimedia Reporter during the story-gathering phase and the Multimedia Editor in the post-production phase.

An Observer

A workshop participant who has access to both the reporting and editing processes, but doesn't engage in hands-on work.

Each participant will focus primarily on either reporting or editing, but will collaborate extensively and learn aspects of each skill during the workshop.

Limited Availability

Enrollment is limited to 3 Multimedia Reporters, 3 Multimedia Editors and 3 Observers for each Workshop.

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What You Will Learn

Narrative Storytelling

• Developing the best approach for creating effective multimedia stories
• Pre-production planning, finding the story's focus and execution of those ideas and techniques

Reporting Approach

• Using the best tools to get the story
• When to use a still camera, when to use audio and/or video
• How to ask questions and get to the heart of the story

Post-Production

• Establishing a strong post-production environment
• Efficient editing techniques
• Advanced Final Cut techniques including archiving and compression

Teamwork

• Getting the most out of the reporter/editor relationship
• Common issues and how to resolve them

This workshop is designed to replicate intense and sometimes difficult daily reporting and editing situations. You will walk out the door at the end of the week prepared to make significant changes in your existing methods, from rethinking and refining your shooting and audio gathering techniques to streamlining your post-production workflow and organization. Along the way, you will learn how to incorporate all of these techniques into finding and crafting well-told, compelling stories.

Story Subject Matter

You will be assigned to a team before the workshop and will collaborate with your Multimedia Producer to work out logistics and finalize a story idea before the workshop begins. Each team will collaborate to report and produce a single story.

The workshop staff will research story ideas and offer participants a pool of options from which to choose. Participants are encouraged to create their own story ideas and discuss them with their Multimedia Producer prior to the workshop.

Schedule

Out of town participants are expected to arrive in New York City the evening before the workshop begins.

Saturday	10am: Overview and technical training
Sunday	Full team goes into in the field
Monday - Tuesday	Reporter in the field and Editor in post-production
Wednesday - Friday	Full team in post-production
Friday night	Final screening and party

Workshop Staff

The team assembled to lead the Workshop has extensive multimedia experience both in the field and in post-production. As a group, we've attended, led or taught at the top workshops in the profession.

Workshop Director	Jessica Stuart
Multimedia Producer	Eric Maierson
Multimedia Producer	Rick Gershon
Executive Producer	Brian Storm

Note: There will be one Producer assigned specifically to your team for each workshop. Producers may vary from workshop to workshop.

Biographies of the MediaStorm Workshop team can be found here.

Unique to the MediaStorm Workshops

Our goal is to create value for participants in addition to the training experience. To that end, we will create a venue to continue the dialogue with participants and a structure to generate additional financial opportunities for the workshop projects.

Syndication

MediaStorm has an established syndication model for multimedia projects. We have licensed projects to a variety of top-tier clients.

It's possible that some of the projects created during the workshop will have value in the marketplace beyond the educational experience.

If we license a project, the revenue generated will be shared with 50% split between the Reporter and Editor and 50% to MediaStorm.

Copyright to the original media assets created at the workshop will remain with the participants. The participants and MediaStorm will share the copyright to the completed multimedia project. The projects will be published in the workshop section of MediaStorm at the conclusion of the workshop.

If you want to have a life-changing experience with the best multimedia professionals in the whole world, if you want to be terrified of going back to your job because you just discovered the most meaningful way to do journalism, if you want to learn more than in a week that you have, probably, in your entire career so far, then you'd better close this window and start completing the application form NOW!!!

I arrived in Dumbo as a journalist and left being a dreamer. I dream of teams of professionals, of uniting each member's skills in order to create profound narratives. I dream of changing my professional life and making people care about human issues and stories. It was such a privilege to work with the entire team at MediaStorm, I still can't find the right words to describe it.

It was magnificent to rediscover that people let you enter their life and share their story with you. It was wonderful to know that you not only documented a story, but helped your subject change her life as well. You become part of that life-changing moment and part of a big family. How awesome is that?!

To sum things up: one week felt like one month because it was so rich with emotions, laughter, ups and downs, mistakes and success. There are so many moments going through my mind right now, that it's hard to find all the words. But I think it doesn't matter anyway, 'cause you guys will probably never get to read this far. By now, surely, you are navigating the application form, right?!


I don't think I have ever learned so much, worked so hard, sweated, laughed, cried, had so little sleep and lived a couple of lifetimes in only one week.

As I am writing this, the tears are coming because it was such and intense and amazing experience and now it's over... we are definitely not the same people we were before this course and we will never be same after this experience.

The week tested me in ways I did not think were possible. I learned more than I could even fathom and my passion for telling stories has only jumped a 1000 fold.

Training with MediaStorm has been one of the most grueling and rewarding experiences. I met so many amazing people from all walks of life and learned how to tell stories on a whole new level. I am definitely not the same person I was when I started the course. I'm happy to report, I really like this new me.

Exodus!!


For me, the biggest take away from the MediaStorm Workshop was feeling a renewed charge to do my work better so the stories I am telling get the justice they deserve. To be entrusted with a story so personal, the responsibility was quite humbling. I left the workshop inspired and thankful that I am in a field where learning about other people’s histories and perspectives is considered work – and also wishing I could be so productive every week of my life!


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What gear will I need to bring? Will anything be provided?
We will be providing high-end Macintosh computers for the post-production workstations. Participants are required to bring their own photography, audio and video equipment. For information about the gear we recommend, see our gear list.

Each participant should also bring an external hard drive with at least 250GB of free space so they can take their individual assets home with them.

How are participants chosen?
Participants will be chosen based on the information provided in their applications. We are looking for people who will benefit the most from the training provided. Existing examples of high caliber multimedia projects are the most important criteria for selection.

How will teams be paired?
Once participants are chosen, we will be in touch with each individual to discuss team structure.

Do I have to apply as a Reporter or an Editor? If I don't get in as one, can I come as the other? If I don't get in as a Reporter or an Editor, can I come as an Observer?
Applicants must select their primary choice of role. If you would consider a second and third choice role, please indicate that on the Application form.

What if I just want to come help?
We are looking for several volunteers to assist with logistics during the Workshop. If you are interested, please send an email to workshops@mediastorm.com, and tell us a little bit about yourself, your experience with multimedia, and why you are interested in helping.

Where will participants stay?
Participants are responsible for their own room and board. We will provide local hotel and neighborhood information to accepted participants. MediaStorm is easily accessible by subway, so location is flexible.

Do you offer introductory workshops?
No. We feel there are already several terrific workshops offering introductory and intermediate instruction, so we are focusing exclusively on advanced training.

Are there other workshops like this?
We think the MediaStorm Workshops are unique because of the small number of participants and the focus on advanced multimedia storytelling. With that said, there are a number of great workshops to consider:

• UNC's Multimedia Bootcamp
• NPPA's NewsVideo Workshop
• NPPA's Multimedia Immersion Program
• Poynter's Online and Multimedia Seminars
• The Kalish Workshop
• Digital Journalist's Platypus Workshops
• Knight Digital Media Center's Multimedia Reporting and Convergence Workshop
• Eddie Adams Workshops
• Mountain Workshops
• Maine Media Workshops
• Santa Fe Workshops
• Missouri Photo Workshop
• The Compelling Image
• Backpack Journalism Workshops

Are you ready to apply?
If so, get started with our online application!

Sign up to learn more about other MediaStorm Workshops.