Discover the World of Communication

2011-08-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

What is DWC? Who are DWC? Watch and find out...

DWC Session 2 - July 15, 2011

2011-07-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

It's the last day of Discover the World of Communication Session 2! The students had a great two weeks. Today they show off their final projects and say their goodbyes. See you next summer!

A Harry Potter Tribute Dance - July 14th, 2011

2011-07-14T20:00:00.000-07:00

The final performance of the 2011 DWC Teaching Assistants. A moving tribute to the very last Harry Potter film ever to be released, performed on the night of its premiere.

DWC Session 2 - July 13, 2011

2011-07-14T08:01:00.001-07:00

Today at Discover the World of Communication, students taking Flash Fiction critique each other's work, Film Exploration and Criticism students record film reviews for their final projects, and Speaking for Impact students give their final speeches. In After Hours, students had a great evening touring the monuments.

DWC Session 2 - July 12, 2011

2011-07-12T12:47:00.000-07:00

Animation students are hard at work at Discover the World of Communication today! In Nature Photography, students get a chance to visit the National Zoo and take pictures of endangered animals, and Backpack Journalism students edit their final projects in the lab.

DWC Session 2 - July 11, 2011

2011-07-12T11:09:00.000-07:00

At DWC today, students in Photoshop and Digital Photography and students in Nature Photography work on editing their projects. In Broadcast Journalism, students are filming and editing their pieces together. Interactive Web Design students learn about software and work on their websites. In After Hours activities, everyone gets excited to go to a concert in Fort Reno Park.

DWC Session 2 - July 9 & 10, 2011

2011-07-11T13:26:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! Students visited the National Zoo, saw His Holiness the Dalai Lama speak on the West Lawn of the Capitol, and took a river cruise of the Potomac. Get ready for the last week of DWC 2011!

DWC Session 2 - July 8, 2011

2011-07-11T08:15:00.001-07:00

Today at DWC, students in the Music Entertainment Production class listen to guest speaker Paul Oehlers. Advanced Screenwriting and Video Production students film for their projects, and students taking The Art of the Interview and Public Relations listen to guest speaker Eliot Brenner, Director of the office of Public Affairs at the Federal Aviation Administration. In Sportswriting and Broadcasting, students practice stand-ups at Nationals Park before watching Friday evening's game.

DWC Session 2 - July 7, 2011

2011-07-08T11:59:00.000-07:00

This Thursday at Discover of the World of Communication, students in the Nature Photography class take a trip to Great Falls National Park, get a tour from park rangers, and practice their photography using a variety of lenses. In Public Relations and The Art of the Interview, students visit the office and studio of WUSA Channel 9. Meanwhile, 16mm film students continue filming their projects.

Flashback: DANCE-OFF

2011-07-07T12:29:00.000-07:00

The Discover the World of Communication TA's put on a show during Session 1's dance off...

DWC Session 2 - July 6, 2011

2011-07-07T12:08:00.000-07:00

Students in the 16mm film class begin their projects and students in the Advanced Scriptwriting and Video Production class interview astrophysicists for their Smithsonian Big Bang project.

DWC Session 2 - July 5, 2011

2011-07-06T10:16:00.000-07:00

Students in Session 2 begin their classes! In After Hours, the students visit the National Cathedral and have an ice cream social.

DWC Session 2 - July 3 & 4, 2011

2011-07-05T10:15:00.000-07:00

As the wonderful students of Session 1 leave, those preparing for Session 2 make their way to campus just in time to enjoy the Fourth of July in the nation's capital!

DWC Session 1 - July 1, 2011

2011-07-05T07:41:00.000-07:00

On the last day at the Discover the World of Communication program, students present their final projects, receive their certificates, and say goodbye to their friends.

DWC Session 1 - June 30, 2011

2011-07-05T06:35:00.001-07:00

In the final day of classes, students in the 35mm Photography class show off their prints. In the Scriptwriting and Video Production class, students work on their final projects. In After Hours, the students and TAs attend the DWC/NSLC Ball.

DWC Session 1 - June 29, 2011

2011-06-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Students in the Discover the World of Communications Screenwriting class work together to create storyboards. In Video Game Design, students work on creating a game playable through Xbox. International Communications students visit the Italian Embassy. In the evening activities, students hang out and play games at the National Mall.

DWC Session 1 - June 28, 2011

2011-06-29T08:13:00.000-07:00

The students of DWC's Directing and Acting for the Camera, Film Exploration and Criticism, and Backpack Journalism classes are hard at work putting together their final projects before the end of the week.

DWC Session 1 - June 27, 2011

2011-06-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Students in the Weather Broadcasting class visit the National Weather Service. In "After Hours," the students take a trip to Georgetown to eat, hang out, and do some shopping.

DWC Session 1 - June 25 & 26, 2011

2011-06-27T13:52:00.001-07:00

Students in the Discover the World of Communications program take the weekend to relax and visit the Newseum and the Eastern Market.

DWC Session 1 - June 24, 2011

2011-06-27T08:48:00.001-07:00

This Friday at Discover the World of Communications, students in the Speaking for Impact class present demonstration speeches. Documentary 101 students film for their documentaries, Professional Newswriting students visit NBC, and International Communications students visit the Japanese Embassy. After classes, the students take a trip to the National Zoo.

DWC Session 1 - June 23, 2011

2011-06-24T09:31:00.000-07:00

In another exciting day at the Discover the World of Communications program, students in the Music Entertainment Production class learn how to use equipment, the International Communication class listens to guest speaker Joyce Wanda from the Arlington Academy of Hope, and the Broadcast Journalism class takes a tour of National Public Radio with their teacher and former NPR Producer Marcus Rosenbaum.

DWC Session 1 - June 22, 2011

2011-06-23T08:52:00.000-07:00

Students begin to film around campus for Backpack Journalism, and Sportswriting and Broadcasting visits Nationals Ballpark to practice their stand-ups and watch the game. Go Nats!

DWC Session 1 - June 21, 2011

2011-06-22T12:30:00.000-07:00

Students in International Communication listen to guest speaker Laura Moye from Amnesty International. Meanwhile, Speaking for Impact students visit the Smithsonian and Weather Broadcasting students listen to guest speaker Tony Perkins from Fox 5 News. After classes, the students visit the National Cathedral and hang out with students from the National Student Leadership Conference.

DWC Session 1 - June 20, 2011

2011-06-21T16:40:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of classes for Session 1. Students were introduced to their TA's and professors, and took an evening trip to the Old Post Office, National Mall, monuments, and White House.

DWC 2011 Session 1 Arrival

2011-06-20T14:20:00.000-07:00

Session 1 students arrive! They move into the residence hall, get to know each other, go on a tour of campus, and eat dinner at Z-Burger in nearby Tenleytown.

Welcome to DWC 2011

2011-06-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

Here at American University, we've been preparing for all of our students to arrive next week. We're looking forward to a great summer and can't wait for you to get here! Here are some of our Teaching Assistants hard at work getting everything ready.

Session 2 - Costa Rica

2010-07-14T07:51:00.000-07:00

Session 2 - July 9

2010-07-13T07:33:00.000-07:00

Students in the Broadcast Journalism class got a behind-the-scenes look at broadcasting when they visited National Public Radio. They got a tour around the studio and viewed professional broadcasting equipment.

The Animation class took full advantage of all their supplies--clay, pens, markers, boards, paper and computers to work on their final projects.

Session 2 - July 8

2010-07-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

Over the course of session 2, the Nature Photography class visited the U.S. Botanical Gardens, Great Falls Park, Woodend Sanctuary and the National Zoo to capture photographs of animals, plants, birds and trees for their portfolios. The Public Relations class took a trip Channel 9 News.

Session 2 - July 7

2010-07-08T15:02:00.000-07:00

Students and TAs alike had a blast during this week's afterhours. Down at the Old Post Office and Clock Tower the group ordered the Vermonster, a giant bucket of ice cream and toppings, from Ben and Jerry's. After chowing down everyone headed out to see the monuments at night, including the Washington Monument, the White House, World War II and Abraham Lincoln.

Session 2 - Day 1 - July 6

2010-07-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

High school students representing 39 states and 12 countries filled American University’s Wechsler Theater today for the opening of session two of the Discover the World of Communication program. Program Director and Assistant Professor Sarah Menke-Fish welcomed students, teaching assistants and faculty to campus for an exciting summer.

Both morning and afternoon classes started work immediately conducting interviews around campus, setting up on-line blogs, watching films and listening to radio clips. New classes checked out video equipment and began filming while students in the Filmmaking Series wrap up shooting their footage.

DWC 2010 - Day 8 - June 30

2010-07-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Session 1 - Day 7 - June 29

2010-06-30T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today was the last day for the students in Scriptwriting and Video Production to shoot footage before they begin editing their projects. They set up all over campus to capture final scenes for their films. 35mm Photography put their new skills to the test creating prints in the lab.

Session 1 - Day 6 - June 28

2010-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

Chef Geoff Tracy, of Chef Geoff’s restaurant in Washington D.C., gave the Professional Newswriting class a behind-the-scenes tour of his restaurant and kitchen. He spoke to the students about his new book and his volunteer work with elementary school children.

The International Communication class took a trip down Embassy Row to visit the Italian Embassy. Students got a taste of Italian culture through viewing artwork and tasting Gelato.

Documentary 101 did some shooting on the top of the green roof here at American University.

Session 1 - June 26 & 27 (Weekend Fun)

2010-06-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

Session 1 - Day 5 - June 25

2010-06-28T13:17:00.001-07:00

Speaking for Impact ventured to the Smithsonian Castle where they heard from John Yahner. Yahner, the scriptwriter for Smithsonian, told stories about working with different kinds of people and how to adapt to individual speaking styles.

The Professional Newswriting class visited with Naseem Miller, who just finished graduate school here at American. Miller shared tips on interviewing and showed different types of multimedia articles and documentaries. The Weather Broadcasting class took a trip to FOX 5.

Session 1 - Day 4 - June 24

2010-06-25T10:38:00.000-07:00

Talk of the Nation at NPR hosted a live audience on Thursday, our Broadcast Journalism class among spectators in the studio. Students listened and viewed the show featuring the Reduced Shakespeare Company. During the visit to NPR students also viewed All Things Considered.

Linda Berry, President and Founder of the Newark Community Garden took the Professional Newswriting class on a tour of the garden. Afterwards, students interviewed local gardeners for their stories, which can be found at http://teen.americanobserver.net/category/2010/.

After exploring six floors of interactive exhibits, the Weather Broadcasting class put their new forecasting skills to use on screen at the Newseum. Each student received a photograph of themselves while broadcasting.

Session 1 - Day 3 - June 23

2010-06-24T09:21:00.000-07:00

Campus was bustling with experts from NPR, FOX 5 and Greenpeace. Tony Perkins discussed his journey from American University student to FOX 5’s morning weather personality, then experimented on the green screen with the Weather Broadcasting class. The Documentary 101 class welcomed Bill Richardson, Deputy Executive Director at Greenpeace to talk about using media to promote messages. NPR’s Bob Boilen, host of All Songs Considered, spoke to the Music Entertainment Production class.

Session 1 - Day 2 - June 22

2010-06-23T15:05:00.000-07:00

Day two of the first session was filled with guest speakers and field trips for many classes. The students leaving for Costa Rica this Friday Skyped with Associate Professor and Emmy award winner Larry Engel, who will be traveling with them for the two weeks they are abroad. Backpack Journalism heard from Journalist in Residence Bill Gentile, an expert in the field, who produced and shot a documentary in Afghanistan.

Speaking for Impact wrote and presented original speeches, which were filmed and later watched for a critique. Documentary 101 headed up to Silver Spring, Maryland for the American Film Institute’s Silverdoc film festival, a seven-day event showcasing independent, international films.

Session 1 - Nationals Game, June 22

2010-06-22T13:43:00.000-07:00

Session 1 - Day 1 - June 21

2010-06-22T13:34:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON--High school students representing 39 states and 12 countries filled American University’s Wechsler Theater today for the opening of the Discover the World of Communication program. Program Director and Assistant Professor Sarah Menke-Fish welcomed students, teaching assistants and faculty to campus for an exciting summer.

Both morning and afternoon classes started work immediately conducting interviews around campus, setting up on-line blogs, watching films and listening to radio clips. The Sportswriting and Broadcasting classes prepared for tomorrow night’s stand-ups at the Nationals game while students in the program traveling to Costa Rica began research for their environmental documentaries. Over in the studio, Weather Broadcasting put the green screen to use filming their first stand-ups.

Last Day - Session Two - July 17, 2009

2009-07-17T13:47:00.001-07:00

Claymation

2009-07-16T10:17:00.000-07:00

Day 10 Session 2: Students Visit NPR's "Talk of the Nation"

2009-07-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

Students in the Professional Newswriting Workshop toured NPR, watched a taping of "Talk of the Nation" and met the program's host, Neal Conan.

Day 10 - Session Two - Today's Classes

2009-07-15T12:43:00.001-07:00

Day 10 - Session Two - Advanced Scriptwriting and Video Production

2009-07-14T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Advanced Scriptwriting and Video Production class worked hard all week learning editing techniques in the editing lab. They shot footage and put their new skills to use editing their pieces.

Flash Fiction Writing created a blog to highlight the students final flash fiction stories. Check out the blog here: http://dwcflashfictionwriting.wordpress.com/

First Session Sports: TA's vs. Campers

2009-07-14T12:50:00.001-07:00

Day 9 - Zoetrope Exercise - Animation

2009-07-14T12:49:00.001-07:00

The Animation class experimented with two types of animation. Student art was brought to life in short edited clips.

The Public Relations and Art of the Interview class took a trip to NPR. They met with Alicia Shepard, NPR’s Ombudsman. Shepard discussed her unconventional career path, her early life, and her two books then opened up the forum for questions from the students.

After reading Shepard’s book Woodward & Berstein: Life in the Shadow of Watergate each student practiced their interviewing skills by asking Shepard a prepared a question with follow up questions.

Day 8 - Session Two - Music Video Production

2009-07-13T12:56:00.001-07:00

After a week of learning, preparation, finding and meeting the band Type Fighter, the Music Video Production class spent an entire day shooting footage all around Washington DC. The class worked from the beginning of the day until after midnight to get scenes shot at Fort Reno, in Georgetown, and on a roof of a building.

Day 4 - Session Two - Student Filmmaking Series

2009-07-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Students in 16mm and the Student Filmmaking Series wrap-up filming and shooting so they can be ready to edit next week. Some of the last shots take place on campus behind the business school and near the Katzen Arts Center.

Day 2 and 3 - Session Two - Professional Newswriting

2009-07-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Professional Newswriting class joined reporters from major publications at the National Press Club in downtown Washington DC for a press conference regarding the body of Merriweather Lewis of Lewis and Clark.

Descendants of Merriweather Lewis want to exhume his body and run tests to determine if he was murdered or if he committed suicide. The National Park Service is in opposition because they don’t want to dig up and disrupt the monument.

One student in the class was able to ask and informative question at the end of the press conference during the question and answer session. Students will write professional quality news stories to be posted online.

The newswriting class was also fortunate to have Julie Mason, White House correspondent to the Washington Examiner as a guest speaker. She discussed her career path and how her hard work and determination got her to her current position. She gave an inside scoop on the White House and talked about personal experiences with Bush and Obama.

DWC Second Session Day 1: Animation and 16mm class

2009-07-07T14:06:00.001-07:00

Students in 16mm and the Student Filmmaking Series have been hard at work filming. Scenes were shot all around campus, including in the dorms and in the tunnel outside Bender Arena.

The Animation class learned about different kinds of animation and saw many examples. They learned about classic drawing animation and more complex techniques such as pixelation and stop motion.

They worked with felt, clay and paper to sample different kinds of animation and determine what they like best for their own projects.

Second Session, Day One (July 6, 2009)

2009-07-07T07:53:00.000-07:00

Session two opened with new students, classes and professors. Just like last session students from Discover the World of Communication and the communication division of the National Student Leadership Conference mixed together in Weschler Theater in the Mary Gradon Center at American University for introductions.

Program director Sarah Menke-Fish and the Film and Media Arts Division Director John Douglass led the opening ceremonies once again. The students this session represent places from as far away as France, Croatia, China, Singapore, Texas, California and Iowa to closer locations such as New Jersey, North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia.

New classes this session include Animation, Flash Fiction Writing, Music Video Production and Public Relations. Professors Melanie Cox-Fish, Gary Graves, Alex Katis, Dustin Harrison-Atlas, Kathy Fish, Larry Levin and Regi Ragland joined the faculty for the new session.

After introductions students jumped into class and began hands on activities. Some students began work with stock footage and editing clips to music in preparation for creating their own music videos.
One class discussed the importance of reporting and journalism, while another began writing their own pieces.

DWC Final Day of Session One - July 3, 2009

2009-07-07T06:39:00.000-07:00

Session one concluded with presentations and screenings from each class. Morning presentations filled up Wechsler Theatre and a second room in the Mary Gradon Center. Students shared descriptions of what
they accomplished during the session then received certificates and t-shirts.

The Speaking for Impact class gave short speeches, Newswriting classes shared their blog at http://teen.americanobserver.net and numerous classes screened their final video projects. The Video Game Design class debuted their own video games in the morning and afternoon, and the Weather Broadcasting class aired footage of themselves giving a weather report.

Students were sad to leave their new friends and classmates after two successful, busy weeks of learning new skills, experiencing new places and meeting accomplished guest speakers. They said goodbyes with the hopes of seeing each other again next summer or as students at American University.

DWC Day 7: June 30th, 2009 - Session One

2009-07-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Sportswriting and Broadcasting visited ESPN Radio. They took a tour of the various radio studios and heard from Andy Pollin, sports reporter as well as Scott Lynn, reporter and anchor.

Lynn and Pollin gave students career advice on entering the radio broadcasting field. They told students that in addition to airtime, ESPN sports reporters are required to write blogs. Students learned that strong writing skills are imperative to be successful.

Professional Newswriting welcomed guest speaker Katherine Aaron from the Center for Public Integrity to discuss writing and speaking for the radio. She covered techniques of conducting radio interviews and the class got a chance to practice skills they learned. The students recorded short bios, loaded them to a computer and edited their voices in the Audacity computer program.

DWC Day 6: June 29th, 2009 - Session One

2009-07-01T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Weather Broadcasting and Meteorology class took a road trip down to the National Weather Service (NWS) in Sterling, Virginia. Chris Strong, Warning Coordination Meteorologist, gave an introduction on the function of the NWS, how it relates to television and radio broadcasting, and how the NWS gets information out to the general population.

Students toured the inside and the outside of the building. They saw the operations room with monitors and television screens tracking and mapping the weather, and the location where the NWS releases daily weather balloons to collect data from high in the atmosphere.

The International Communication class visited the British Embassy. The students learned about using social marketing and media to create an image. They discussed images they associate with Britain including the Queen, BBC and the Spice Girls and different types of media such as Twitter to Facebook that the embassy uses to convey images to an audience.

DWC Day 5: June 26th, 2009 - Session One

2009-07-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Documentary 101 class journeyed around the city to start filming their documentaries. One group of students visited Union station to do a piece on Phantom Comics. Another group’s piece features the on campus garden behind Nebraska, and a third project highlights the improve group the Elite Ballerina Corps.

Weather Broadcasting toured the Fox 5 studios, visited control rooms, sat at the anchor's desk, and practiced on the studio's green screen. They learned about gathering data and informing the public about the weather and it’s effects. The National Weather Service issued a severe thunderstorm alert so the students saw the meteorologists in action.

The Professional Newswriting class toured the Digital Image department at National Geographic. They talked to American University Graduate Student Kelly Conniff about her work for the National Geographic Website and the difference between writing for a daily or weekly newspaper. She explained the long form that the three National Geographic magazines take. The visit concluded with a tour of the exhibits.

Students finished off a great first week with an evening in Georgetown. They saw the sights of the area, including the waterfront. Some went to the movies while others grabbed dinner with a big group of friends.

DWC Day 4: The Mystics Game (June 25th, 2009 - Session One)

2009-06-29T06:30:00.000-07:00

Weather Broadcasting and International Communications classes took trips to the Newseum. The International Communication class had the opportunity to see a studio filming of a panel discussion on Al Jazeera English and their plan to reach out to American citizens to dissolve false stereotypes. The host for the day was Al Jazeera correspondent Josh Rusing.

During After Hours the students went to a WNBA game to watch the Mystics take on the Phoenix Mercury. The highlight of the night was getting on the jumbotron. After the game the students went on a special tour.

They met with Senior Account Executive of the Washington Capitols and Mystics, Maria Giovannetti, and Vice President of Sales and Service, Mike Ragan for a behind-the-scenes look at sales and marketing.

They talked about how to get involved in the sports industry and answered student questions about the inner workings of the WNBA. Students toured facilities and offices, and one student bumped into the coach of the Mystics.

DWC Day 3: June 24th, 2009 - Session One

2009-06-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

Elizabeth Gore, executive director of global partnerships for the UN Foundation, spoke to Gemma Puglisi’s International Communication class about how to create a media plan. Gore worked on partnerships with Bill Gates, American Idol and Usher on the Nothing But Nets project to eliminate malaria in Africa. After hearing about Gore’s experiences the students created their own media plans.

Fox 5 TV reporter, and former ABC’s “Good Morning America” weather broadcaster Tony Perkins joined Tucker Barnes from Fox 5 Storm Force to teach the Weather Broadcasting and Meteorology class.

Perkins and Barnes shared real life experiences from their professional careers and assisted students in filming their own broadcasts. The TV studio here on campus saw a lot of action as the students viewed themselves on screen.

Sportswriting and Broadcasting classes also got a chance to record in front of the camera. They spent the afternoon filming their own stand-up broadcasts and getting an inside look at the Nationals ballpark.

It was a beautiful evening downtown at the stadium when the rest of the students joined the Sportswriting and Broadcasting classes. They snapped photos with the presidential mascots and grabbed food from Ben’s Chili Bowl before settling in to watch the Nats take on the Boston Red Sox.

DWC Day 2: June 23rd, 2009 - Session One

2009-06-24T07:53:00.000-07:00

Day two of the Discover the World of Communication program consisted of class trips to the Italian Embassy and Comcast SportsNet, experienced guest speakers and a continuation of learning about videography, storytelling, speechwriting and public speaking.

Students visited the Italian Embassy with Professor Gemma Puglisi's International Communication class. Diplomat Mancini showed the students around the embassy where they saw a Fashion Week display of designer suits and ties from all ages. Mancini discussed Italian history, specifically the scandal involving Prime Minister Berlusconi and the acceptance of three Guantanamo Bay prisoners into Italy. To wrap up the day students sat on the patio and ate gelato.

Sportswriting and Broadcasting classes took a trip to Bethesda for a tour of the Comcast SportsNet Studios. They met Russ Thaler, Chief Digital Correspondent and Anchor of SportsNite. He gave the students a background look at the set and the control room to demonstrate the inner workings of a professional studio.

Professor Ted Roach's Backpack Journalism class reviewed and critiqued shots they took the day before. Guest speaker Bill Gentile, SOC Assistant Professor and Artist-In-Residence, showed some of his own films and discussed his professional career. Most recently Gentile worked for PBS as a journalist in Afghanistan where he created an Emmy nominated documentary. Before PBS, Gentile worked for a wide variety of other organizations including The Learning Channel, Discover Channel, National Geographic Television, ABC's Nightline With Ted Koppel, Court TV and Lion TV.

Students staying on campus attended an advanced screening of My Sister's Keeper. They sat in the theater alongside movie critics from local and national media outlets including the web sensation Rotten Tomatoes, and were able to converse with them after the viewing. The critics asked the students for input on what they thought of the movie.

DWC Day 1: June 22nd, 2009 - Session One

2009-06-23T06:10:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON—Students from around the world joined together today on the third floor of the Mary Gradon Center at American University in Washington, DC for opening day of Summer 2009. Both the Discover the World of Communication program and the communication division of the National Student Leadership Conference kicked off this morning in full swing.

The day began with introductions from director Sarah Menke-Fish, Distinguished Film Producer in Residence and Director of the Center for Environmental Filmmaking, Chris Palmer, and the Film and Media Arts Division Director, John Douglass.

Palmer had the students on their feet, greeting one another and discussing their goals for the next few weeks. Douglass spoke to the students about the responsibility that comes with being a storyteller through media. The teaching assistants and the faculty introduced themselves then led the students to their new classrooms to begin learning.

Students checked out video equipment, learned how to use a camera and some even began filming. Others discussed characters, shots, angles and effective techniques for storytelling. Some classes critiqued examples of news shows and other forms of media to determine what strategies work best.

Morning classes broke at noon for lunch, and around 12:45 p.m. more students arrived for similar afternoon introductions and more scheduled afternoon classes. Overall the first full day ran smoothly and the students had an excellent preview of what is to come in the next few weeks.