Good morning Tuesday to all of you. It’s been a few months of absence from this platform. So much has happened to all of us since March 2020, and we are still in the midst of this horrific Covid19 pandemic—although, thank God, we are beginning to see the light, and vaccines are here, and a new administration in place promises to expedite vaccine distribution and all signals point to some return to normalcy by end of summer or early fall.
Yes, I know it sounds like a long time, but we can see an end to this pandemic that has transformed our lives, how we work, how we learn and how we stay home!
Time to return to the daily reporting
For me, part of some return to normalcy has been standing in front of my Columbia University class for in person classes, which started this week. And what great satisfaction to see my students there, even though it is a huge classroom facility for only 14 students, all sitting 6 feet apart from each other, with me up on a small stage. But I can look into their eyes, and they can see me and react in person to what the lesson of the day is.
Constant change
I was telling my students Monday, on the first day of class, that while the pandemic has transformed our lives, our craft has continued to change at a fast pace. We are more into mobile storytelling, and, because of the Covid19, more members of the audience have moved to mobile platforms—for fear of touching paper and getting contaminated.
I also see, based on my online workshops for newsrooms globally, that there is great interest for reporters and editors to learn more about the specifics of telling stories that are crafted specifically for mobile.
As of this writing, I am conducting linear visual storytelling workshops for four different media organizations worldwide. While I can’t travel to do these workshops in person, which is preferred, we manage to do it via ZOOM or other platforms, and the process works and the learning is going on successfully.
Tune in
So, I am returning to my Monday through Friday blog postings. I admit that it is more difficult to write a daily blog where I am not traveling the world, to add the local color that comes with various destinations. However, I feel that we can have dialogs about a variety of subjects, as we already have done through 3262 editions of TheMarioBlog.
I welcome you back and I appreciate your visit and your feedback.
Briefing….
*Multiplatform Design & Storytelling: I have started my 8th year at the Columbia University School of Journalism. The course continues to follow transformations that go with advances in the industry. This semester, even greater emphasis on mobile storytelling from the start, and a midterm project that involves creation of a newsy Newsletter, a hot topic.
*Adobe Distinguished Lecture Series: I am honored to be the speaker at this important event. Scheduled to do my presentation to all of Adobe’s team March 11.
*Mobile storytelling workshops: For the past 7 months, I have been doing many of these workshops via Zoom for media companies globally. It works well. I start with a 90 minute presentation, then continue with a hands on assignment in which participants get into groups to create a mobile story using the techniques learned. Then the groups present their work for discussion. If interested in one of these workshops in English or Spanish, contact me directly at mario@garciamedia.com
Professors: get your review version of The Story on time for fall classes
As an academic, I know the importance of having the right tools to advance our students, especially on the important subject of mobile storytelling. Please drop me an email if you would like to sample The Story in its digital edition: mario@garciamedia.com
Start writing or type / to choose a block
The full trilogy of The Story now available–3 books to guide you through a mobile first strategy. Whether you’re a reporter, editor, designer, publisher, corporate communicator, The Story is for you! https://amazon
TheMarioBlog post # 3263