Gonzo PhotoJournalism Manifesto v0.87_--
Mission Statement (I_-
We are not about ripping off Dr. Thompson or riding his coattails.____
We are about continuing his spirit and contributions____
by revolutionizing the way journalists produce and communicate information in the 21st century.____
Definition (II-
noun:____
PhotoJournalism with a new approach of progression____
through strict accuracy and authenticity____
without the hindrance of standardized rules for reportage.____
Approach (III
We believe in producing shortform documentary style videos for internet distribution_(A_
that combine the use of video, stills, and audio interview____
instead of the traditonal approach of using written word and stills in print journalism.____
We believe in abandoning AP style captioning for stills_ (B_
in favor of gonzo style annotation:____
Who. What. Where. When. Why.____
We believe in producing better stories over longer periods of time_ (C_
than in producing mediocre stories for daily consumption____
that just end up becoming tomorrow's trash.____
Reasoning (IV
An E-volving Marketplace_(A_
Software and equipment has become cheaper and easier to learn and use _(1_
An increased amount of technologically savvy people _(2_
has increased consumer demand for such a movement.____
Educational services like lynda.com have made it possible _(3_
for anybody to learn many different kinds of software____
more quickly and cheaply than at traditional higher educational institutions.____
Most internet users have high-speed connections. _(4_
Most people of westernized cultures are accustomed to consuming many hours of _(5_
television, movies, music, internet, or even video games every week.____
Many American schools teach filmmaking and web design classes _(6_
in middle and high schools; html is taught in many elementary schools.____
Quantum Computing and nanotechnology is right around _(7_
the proverbial corner for consumer computer markets.____
Cheaper server space and free services like Google's Analytics _(8_
and Google Video have made global distribution of media accessible____
to all people regardless of whether or not they have capital or a more favorable socioeconomic status.____
The internet is making the world smaller everyday through globalization and is progressively bridging _(9_
cultural gaps and leveling out the maldistribution of wealth and information as we know it.____
Stories with alot of replay value, like Brenda Kenneally's "Big Trigg", _(10
have the potential to generate over 3 times the ad revenue that it could on broadcast____
stretched out over a longer period of time (e.g. ten years).____
Selected Pros and Cons of Print, Broadcast, and Web Outlets_(B_
Photographs always look better on a computer screen than on newsprint _(1_
because a computer screen is illuminated.____
Video has potential to look better on computer screens because computers have a wider color gamut _(2_
than most television monitors and because television was standardized in the 1940s.____
Web statistics services like Google Analytics give highly _(3_
advanced, thorough, and timely feedback on viewership____
which is not currently possible with television or print.____
The web is an interactive medium: print is not. _(4_
Because web based distribution is physically intangible, _(5_
you can update or modify your content and correct errors more quickly than is possible with print;____
thus, nothing is set in stone.____
Web content requires less capital to distribute than content for print and broadcast outlets. _(6_
Web distribution is global whereas print and broadcast distribution is more regional. _(7_
Equipment of the Future: Today_(V-
Panasonic AG-HVX200K 3-CCD P2/DVCPro-HD Format Camcorder with Widescreen Aspect Ratio, _(A_
This camera shoots HD Video and uses 8GB P2 Cards for storage____
$ 9,995.00 @ Bhphoto.com____
JVC GZ-MC500 "PAL" Everio 3 CCD Digital Media Camera, _(B_
This camera shoots HD progressive Video and 5MP Stills using Compactflash Media Storage____
$ 1,299.95 @ Bhphoto.com____
These small, less-intrusive cameras that can do it all are the future of journalism._(C_
Mad Props (VI-
Joe Weiss for revolutionizing journalism through SoundSlides _(A_
Andrew Devigal for Interactive Narratives _(B_
WKU for their State-of-the-Art New Media PhotoJournalism Program _(C_
The Washington Post for demonstrating that you can turn a profit on MultiMedia Journalism _(D_
Conclusion (VII
Notes to the purists _(A_
If we were to take photographs of ourselves doing things, _(1_
then we would indeed be copying Dr. Thompson.____
For those who say that 15 fps black and white video looks bad, _(2_
remember that the original newreels were silent, 16 fps, and black and white.____
"Remember that groupthink is always counter-progressive." _(B_
"Do yourself a favor, and open your eyes to the global tomorrow." _(C_
"Step out of your comfort bubble of tradition, and step into the world of the 21st century." _(D_
"Kill Print Journalism" (F