When I search for stories, I try to find the right sources that will enhance my story. The people you use in your story make or break the story; if they are engaging and relatable, viewers will be able to make a connection with them and as a result will connect more to your story. I aim to find the sources that will offer the most to my story, but this isn't always easy. I realized that when I work at the station, the deadlines scare me away from taking the time to find the best possible sources. Being on a deadline makes me find the easiest and most attainable sources, but these are not necessarily the best for my stories. I usually end up talking to people that work for my story, but I know there are better options out there that may have more impact on viewers. Instead of taking the extra time to find these people, I stick to the ones that are easier to find because being on a tight deadline worries me. After being in the field, I realized that I need to take the extra time to find those people that have a deep connection to my story. The more involved the characters are, the stronger connection the viewers will have to them.
I want to find more relatable and involved sources for my stories. To do this, I think I just have to talk to more people. I'm surprised at how many people were willing to talk to me last week when I was working on several stories. I'm used to people not wanting to be on camera; I've come across many people that are hesitant to be on camera or talk to a reporter. Last week I was lucky because everyone I talked to was cooperative and offered valuable information vital to my stories. In order to find more powerful sources in my stories, I just need to talk to more people. The more people I talk to, the more people they can refer me to and I can find more sources that way. I want my viewers to develop a connection with the people in my stories, and that's what I've been working on these past couple weeks.
I want to find more relatable and involved sources for my stories. To do this, I think I just have to talk to more people. I'm surprised at how many people were willing to talk to me last week when I was working on several stories. I'm used to people not wanting to be on camera; I've come across many people that are hesitant to be on camera or talk to a reporter. Last week I was lucky because everyone I talked to was cooperative and offered valuable information vital to my stories. In order to find more powerful sources in my stories, I just need to talk to more people. The more people I talk to, the more people they can refer me to and I can find more sources that way. I want my viewers to develop a connection with the people in my stories, and that's what I've been working on these past couple weeks.
Journalism Reflection:
I recently watched a piece on Media Storm called The Ninth Floor, by Jessica Dimmock. I was really moved by this story because Dimmock created the piece in a way that enhanced the relationship between the viewers and those in the story. Dimmock introduces the characters in the story, then shows pictures of them and lays interview tracks so viewers get a better understanding of who they are. This helps the viewers see the story from the characters’ perspectives, and this twist brings the story to life. An important element of any story is creating a connection between the people watching the story and the people in the story. The people on the outside need to be brought to the inside of the story for a more complete understanding of the underlying story. 
The way this piece is put together grabbed my attention. It’s told through a variety of mediums; Dimmock uses photographs, text, and interviews to develop a sense of character in her story. The photographs are beautifully shot, capturing the emotion of the moment. The lighting sets the mood and tone for the story, which helps the viewers place themselves inside the story. The text is informative yet descriptive and it guides the story. The text gives background information and sets the scene, moving the story along. The interviews further develop the subjects’ character. I like how Dimmock overlaps the photographs with the interviews because it unravels the story. The viewers are listening to the people tell their stories and the photographs allow viewers to watch the story at the same time. Viewers can hear the story and watch it unfold before their eyes. This is an interesting storytelling technique, and I would like to experiment with it in my stories to come.
The images in this piece are graphic, but they portray real life. They highlight and enhance the details of the characters’ lives that are often overlooked by others in society or unknown to them. The images capture moments in everyday life that add detail to the story. Some of these moments are joyful, while others are dark and disheartening or even twisted. It makes me wonder how Dimmock caught all of these moments on camera. She photographed arguments and fights between two of the characters, Dionn and Rachel. She tapped into their real lives and exposed their secrets, but she did so in an unobtrusive manner. Dimmock caught these events on camera but the images look so real that as a viewer I forgot the camera was there and I felt like I was in the room with the two feuding characters, witnessing the events with my own eyes. From watching this piece, I picked up on several techniques that I want to experiment with and adopt into my own stories. I want to use the camera as unobtrusively as possible to place my viewers at the scene of the story. I also want to try using different types of storytelling techniques to capture the most emotion. I want to use text, photographs, and interviews like Dimmock did in this piece to emphasize certain aspects of my stories.http://mediastorm.com/publication/the-ninth-floor
