Visimo!

I have used numerous search engines, but when it comes to finding something specific and you do not want to be cluttered by advertisements use Visimo.

In the left hand panel there are even sub-categories that, for example, have a pull down menu of found blogs.


Here I was able to find a range of message boards, news sites, blogs...and the list goes on.

Trying to find a balance between alternative (i.e. not mainstream) sites, yet the most comprehensive for sources, I found-after much trawling-these links...here it goes...

• OuterSound: A top class website that promotes the independent music community, with reviews, feature stories, how-to articles, industry databases and band sites. In addition there are great links and give much opportunity for unsigned bands to promote their work.
• The Ink Blot: although needs desperately updating, hope the writer hasn't died, this is a very well set up blog. Found the link from the previous website and enjoyed reading the reviews especially. This person would make a great contact as their historical knowledge of Indie and rock is superb, as long as they aint dead that is.
• Topix.net is essentially a news website; however their music content is very well maintained. What I like most is the fact the website is split up into different genres of music, each having different lead stories. Additionally, where other fails, this news site is not too obsessed with American artists and a comprehensive set of links are provided. Audience interaction is also encouraged; you can post your thoughts in the forum or submit a thorough article on a subject of your choice.
• skwik.com sounds very interesting, not only can you listen to broadcasts of Indie music through their network of podcasters, RSS and p2p bittorents. Skwik.com is open content - you can edit the information yourself! The flaw? I can't get onto it!
• SoYouWanna.com - I really like this website! This is an amusing site that gives instructions on how to fake 'being an Indie rock expert'. While it does poke fun at this genre, it contains many great links throughout the article.

"Indie fans often come across as if they belong to some sort of secret society, frowning upon all those poor, ignorant souls who just don't "get it" when it comes to music. Lies. We're here to tell you that you too can be a hipster. By learning the basics of what the Indie phenomenon is all about, you should be well on your way to passing yourself off as a die-hard fan."

Specialism - Indie Music

Well I have decided to specialise, as the title suggests, on Indie Music.

A brief description...(for more see Wikipedia):

The term Indie has many a definitions:

• NME state that this type of music is just what comes from 'independent' record companies, hence the term 'Indie'. In other words not produced by the 'big four' (Warner, Universal, Sony BMG and EMI)
• "Indie" often refers to an artist or band that is not part of the mainstream culture and/or making music outside its influence.
• Also can be described (generically) as 'do it yourself'.
• Just the alternative; genres, scenes, subcultures and stylistic & cultural attributes.
• Usually attributed to: soft punk, the C-86 movement (for an excellent blog keeping this movement alive see here), BritPop and New Wave.

I have a personal interest in this kind of music; favourites include - Franz Ferdinand, Editors, Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park, Gorillaz and Coldplay.

Note to concerned...

I have been away due to the 'robots' at blogger HQ, but am up and surfing again.

Am waiting for replies to emails I sent out to news website creators; I wanted information 'from the mouth' - little seems to have been wrote about this form.

I asked (among other things)...

"In contrast to other forms of online journalism, why are slideshows often neglected?...

...For what purposes do you use them?"

Top examples with (yes with) comment

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/flash/photo/world/iraq/warphotogs/

Great selection of photos arranged in a slideshow. Brief narration but quality of photographs more than makes up for that. Comment from photographers operating in Iraq. For the pessimist...images could be larger.

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Not only does the following example show how speech can interact, not just anchor a slideshow, it also sheds light onto the lives of photographers on a newspaper. With personal comments, it makes the news ‘story’ seem a lot less bland. This is very similar to a blog-they give opinions.

Stories in pictures: http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060101/LIVING/51230005/

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This is a very successful narrated slideshow. It clearly demonstrates how this form can bring the nature of news to a more personal level-especially listen out for the voices and emotional impact.

Meth: from hell to healing: http://www.billingsgazette.com/modules/flash/20050821meth/20050821meth.html

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An excellent example of a narrated slideshow that has all the qualities needed. The audio brings home the terror-it gives meaning to the recycled (and new) images we see here. This type of slideshow is like a restoration of history.

Narrated slideshows that thrive most, nearly always seem to have an element of emotion, as this one does. My only criticism is that sometimes it can feel like you're watching a movie, which is somewhat contradictory to my last point I know.

"A near breaking news package on the day of terror, Sept. 11, 2001. The package includes a timeline driven map, slideshow of images, and an interactive display of the ruins."

The Darkest Day: http://msnbc.com/modules/wtc_terror_experience/

The future???

A program launched by Hewlett Packard enables citizen journalists (link) to create their own 'narrated journals' using their mobile phones. The storytelling tool enables the user to link their pictures with audio spoken into the device.

This seems like a good innovation, and will anchor many blogs and online journalist's portfolios...yet to come across one however. It will enable journalists to report on the field, bringing news quickly to the public.

For more info. see: www.hpl.hp.com/research/storycast/

Positives and negatives of narrated slideshows

YAY
+ can analyse pictures better
+ saves placing all photos within the text
+ can add to and develop a story
+ especially good for showcasing pictures (especially see BBC In Pictures)
+ can click and just sit back (requires little effort-in contrast to effortlessly pressing down the left button on your mouse)

BOO
- too similar to normal videos as seen on TV news; usually only still pictures exist though
- less choice and selection
- need strong image and/ or sound, otherwise piece won't work

Great news websites that contain interactive features

From the U, S of A...http://www.nytimes.com/pages/multimedia/index.html (see especially slideshows)

From the great...erm...U of K - http://www.guardian.co.uk/interactive (yes typical, but no the less the best-a very good, large range of all types...if this was a woman, she would be perfect.)


Will post here if I find anymore, leave a comment if you find a particularly good website.

Online story telling forms search engine! (as such)

Click on the link then go to advanced search: http://www.interactivenarratives.org/home/index.htm

What are narrated slideshows?

Well...we all pretty much know what slideshows are but we need to ask why are they used in the capacity of news?

In simple terms, it is a collection of photographs or other pictures that add to the story, placing them all in one space. The order in which they appear can tell a story or give a personal account of an event.

Narrated slideshows can contain audio and moving pictures. Audio, usually in the form of a narrator, further emphasises the story and can give it more of an impact. The narration can also be in the form of words; a caption that anchors the image.
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For an overview of this type of online storytelling form and others see:
http://www.cyberjournalist.net/storyforms.htm


For caption narrated slideshows see: ["Casualties of War" - a superb (objective) example!]
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/kosovorefugees/default.asp


For slideshows with audio links in connection with slideshow see: ["The Nuclear Gamble" by photojournalist Gary Knight] http://www.msnbc.com/modules/nuke/default.asp