The knowledge that I have gained throughout Multimedia Writing has gave me a leg up in the real world. With it presently being an ever evolving time within the professional world I have the capability to show that I know how to use multiple tools of mass media.

Word Press, Twitter and RSS Feeds have allowed me to have professional accounts that I can use in the future when applying for jobs. These are great multimedia tools that have enriched my experience within Multimedia Writing as well as the opportunity to get my name out into the professional world.

With so many different aspects to todays professional world having the capabilities of using these online tools along with i Movie, Adobe and other software applications I have also learned to film, interview using both the Flip and Zoom, edit and produce an online video and slideshow. The ability to show these tools that I have learned to use will also assist with my future job hunt.

Overall Multimedia Writing has been an educational experience that has taught me a vast amount of knowledge. The course was set up differently then any other course I have taken in the past but the hands on, educational experience has furthered my multimedia knowledge and given me the ability to market myself in a new facet in the future!

MANKATO, MINN.—
Greater Mankato Growth members gather at the 7th annual Songs on the Lawn concert series in Mankato’s City Center on June 3.

“The businesses you see exhibiting today are Greater Mankato Growth member businesses,” said Greater Mankato Growth Special Events Director Liz Sharp. “They are also businesses that are located in the City Center.”

Xcel Energy, Charter, LJP Enterprises Inc., Radio Mankato and Greater Mankato Growth Inc sponsor this year’s Songs on the Lawn in Jackson Park.

“Well Charter gets to come to this event and see all the little children and interact with the community here,” said Charter Service Representative Estela Moreno.

Angie’s Kettle Corn, Dino’s Gourmet Pizzeria, Tavern on the Avenue and The Loose Moose are some of the Greater Mankato Growth food vendors present at the event.

“Yeah it’s a lot of fun seeing a lot of people outside enjoying the summer and getting outside instead of being cooped up like we are in the winter,” said Loose Moose Owner Mike Maes. “Well, the best part [about this event] is selling my food.”

The Songs on the Lawn summer concert series continues every Thursday in June from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

One must fully read up and be knowledgeable about the legal and ethical issues that arise when working with online media. We have learned about about the copyright law forever and know the importance of them, but once reading specifically chapter 11 in James C. Foust book I found it particular interesting the subsection on fair use.

Fair use is the one exception to the copyright law. Fully understanding fair use for online journalist, bloggers, ect. is increasingly important because it can be used to our benefit when producing a story for the online medium but not fully understanding fair use can also lead to copyright disagreements leading ultimately to legal cases.

There are many other legal and ethical issues that are important to be knowledgeable about when working in the professional world. These issues can both help further your career but not understanding them can also hinder ones professional career. The need for professionals to constantly keep up to date with these issues is every prevalent as we are in the middle of the most interesting and ever evolving journalistic times!

MANKATO, MINN. — The 7^th annual Songs on the Lawn summer concert series kicked off on June 3 in downtown Mankato’s City Center.

Songs on the Lawn is a summer event organized by Greater Mankato Growth that occurs every Thursday throughout June from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event is targeted towards community members of all ages.

“It’s just fun to be in the community and have these events and it’s good to support them so they can continue to do them,” said first time Songs on the Lawn attendee, Tracy Borgmeier.

The Divers, a local band, have performed every year at Songs on the Lawn. From a dog eating their pizza to equipment falling like dominos off the stage, The Divers have enjoyed participating in the Songs on the Lawn summer concert series.

“This is a great thing. Mankato does this kind of stuff and it really makes the town wonderful,” said The Divers member Andy Overn.

After so many years have passed and technology has evolved a mother found her children via Facebook. The mother residing in California found her children after searching her daughters name on Facebook. The children, who lived with their father in Florida have been reunited with their mother and are working on building a new relationship.

It is amazing how a website that many individuals use everyday has had such a powerful impact in a families life. The simple things that can make the largest difference. Family is a blessing and technology has enabled society to keep in contact with loved ones from across the state to across the world.

These versatile tools are leading the way in which journalist now perform their job out in the field. With so much new technology being presented at such a  rapid pace in today’s society we need to take advantage of all the different online “how-to’s” and tutorials that are offered on websites such as YouTube. There are also great websites that offer assistance in putting together the material you gather in the field.

Professor Ellen Mrja led us to a great website full of resources for journalists. Poytner News University offers a vast variety of self-directed courses. Some of the course cost a small fee such as the Adobe Dreamweaver to free courses such as the Language of the Image which I personally went through this week. This course will enable you to take a more useable, professional photographs.

Poyter News University is an ever evolving site that I personally urge all journalists, bloggers, free-lance writers or anyone who is interested in improving their journalistic ways to utilize. As the way in which we write, receive and interpret news throughout multimedia ever so evolving I find it so important to jump on the band wagon.

Since enrolling and beginning Multimedia Writing just two weeks ago I have realized the importance of not only learning all this great technology that is being invented but it’s also our duty as journalist, public relations specialist or what have you be it to stay in front of the trend.

As I have made a vow to myself to teach myself something new every day from here on out that will enhance my capabilities as a professional I ask you to do the same! Let’s ‘buzz’ into the future together. I’ll be the first to admit I am scared but why let my fears hold me back!

- The Bulthuis Buzz

For the past couple of days you could hear the ‘buzz’ of the MASS 330 Multimedia Writing students as we’re all learning to use both Twitter to “tweet” and Word Press to blog! As I have encountered many hurdles throughout this past week and am very slow at getting the hang of these websites yet optimistic that I will catch on and be able to benefit from these versatile websites! With so much to learn professor Mrja and my peers have been great tools and have greatly helped me as I learn to navigate and use these sites.

Twitter has given me capability to follow influential professionals within the journalism and mass media. Some of the individuals that I have begun to follow are the_millertimes, kare11, KSTP, MinnPost, WCCO, and lavrusik just to mention a few. I have grown to realize that Twitter gives me the ability to find out the most current and up to date information in a matter of seconds without ever reading a paper newspaper or waiting for the 5 o’clock news to come on.

As for Word Press I am still in the beginning stages of playing around with this website as I learn what professor Mrja would exactly like from us from blog to blog. This site also gives the ability to follow professionals in the business (just learning how will be the trick!) Word Press has been much more confusing for me throughout this past week, but with patience, practice and simply playing around with all of the tools offered I believe that I will quickly grow fond of this site too.

These websites offer a vast amount of tools and I can already hear the brains ‘buzzing’ of my fellow peers and myself as we enter our second week of Multimedia Writing. Professor Mrja has so much knowledge to teach and I am excited and ready to learn all that she has to give!

- The Bulthuis Buzz