Almost anyone can create a podcast simply by talking into an iPod or some other type of portable recording device and sharing it through iTunes. Producing a more professional sounding podcast, however, requires additional hardware and software. At University News, we chose an upgraded, but still modest, set-up that for now adequately serves our needs. Here’s how it all came together: Last summer, I
I thought I was all set to write a post about tracking our podcast feed, the tools we use to do that and how we know it's being effective. It turns out that isn't so easy. The tool we've been using to track all our feeds (podcast, blog, RIT in the news placements, and RIT news releases) is our web statistics. While it does give
People know about RIT—not just in Rochester, or in the Northeast, but all across the country and internationally. As a result of the RIT's strong reputation, many notable news stories simply happen, like yesterday's announcement by Congressman Tom Reynolds of a $1.1 million donation of U.S. Labor Department funds to help create a regional education and training institute for the food and beverage manufacturing
Why aren’t young people reading newspapers? For as long as I can remember (my colleagues will laugh here, because I'm the baby of the group), that has been the big question facing the newspaper industry. Newspaper executives have found a multitude of answers since then, discovering that young people have turned to other mediums to get their news and information: Internet news sites, magazines,
I’ve written quite a bit about audio beds and sound effects in prior posts and comments. I’ll end with this prediction: More podcasters will increasingly utilize beds and sound effects. For listeners, they will help create what I described last time as ‘theater of the mind’ and mark a natural progression as a growing number of podcasts are created using sophisticated audio-editing software and
I'm still chugging along. The CMS element of the new site has been wrapped up. I now have only to produce a handful of templates, and write scripts to port over several years of articles stored in various databases, XML, and in a few daunting cases (i.e. - the University Magazine), plain HTML. Phew. The purpose of this post is not to bore you
Does anyone know the names of these two people? These two alumni, celebrating on campus with Ritchie the Tiger during Brick City Homecoming, were set to appear on the front page of the Oct. 19 issue of News & Events, as part of our Homecoming follow-up. I really like this photo and it was perfect for what I had intended to use it for. It’s
As the weather slowly becomes colder and more 'Rochester-like', the RIT tiger statue still remains without its sweater... Luckily, Stevie Hegge, who is responsible for hand-knitting the sweater, is willing to make another. "If there is significant interest I would be willing to either repair the original sweater (assuming we can find it) or make a reproduction for future use," says Stevie. Stevie Hegge puts the
“Waste not, want not.” Sure, we’ve all heard the expression, but have you ever really thought about its meaning. The Web site UsingEnglish.com sums it up by saying, “If you don't waste things, you are less likely to end up lacking.” RIT is working hard to master this philosophy, and the university’s researchers are increasingly being recognized for taking it to an exciting new
For those who still haven’t had enough about the sound-effect bed used in “Dateline: RIT – The Podcast,” read on. The background sound effect (the “bed”) is a newsroom teletype. Old timers like Bob, Paul, Kathy and me once worked in newsrooms where the sound of a teletype machine—often multiple teletype machines, with bells signaling bulletins—was, along with police scanners, part of the 24/7
Right now, one of the hottest student issues on campus has yet to make the headlines--except for on Facebook! Throughout the day on Friday, Oct. 6 you may have noticed our beloved bronze tiger statue, located across from the Eastman Kodak Quad, wearing a nicely-fitting orange sweater with brown trim. Students and parents on campus for Brick City Homecoming lined up, waiting for their
Texas is No. 1….Penn State is No. 2...and RIT is No. 3, beating out USC, Michigan and Georgia Tech as part of the Top 10. I’m not talking about college football. I’m talking gaming! The Global Gaming League, a worldwide leader in organized competitive online and live video game tournaments and events, gave RIT the ranking. RIT ranked third based on a variety of
Last time, I addressed, in general terms, the decision to use sound effects in “Dateline: RIT – The Podcast.” Now, a bit more on the choice of specific sound effects. The “swoosh” sounds surrounding the “On the campus” segment serve to set it apart from the “In the news” chapter. In the podcast prototype, swooshes surrounded each actuality—but because they made Paul feel dizzy,
It's not just other blogs that talk about RIT. And while we like to tell you about the times that big-name publications interview our experts or mention us -- like USA Today, Business Week and the Los Angeles Times -- there are plenty of lesser-known papers and Web sites that do the same. Sure, they may not reach quite as wide an audience, but
I’ll be the first to admit when I’ve made a mistake. While compiling the Oct. 5 issue of News & Events, deputy managing editor Michael Saffran suggested the addition of a page-one banner reading, “Brick City Homecoming Edition.” We have included banners on a few previous issues—most recently, the Commencement Edition last May and the Welcome Back Edition on Sept. 7. I told Mike that
Welcome, my name is Marcia Morphy from University News at Rochester Institute of Technology. Consumer debt among American college students is at an all-time high, but it’s not an issue that’s being ignored at RIT. To the rescue is Dr. Robert Manning, author of Credit Card Nation and research professor of consumer financial services at RIT’s E. Philip Saunders College of Business. OK, I
RIT is preparing to welcome parents, alumni and friends back to campus this week for Brick City Homecoming. The passion and pagaentry behind this annual celebration of our extended campus community grows each year. I think it's cool how the university embraces its "Brick City" reputation! Not too many years ago, the physical landscape of our campus was the source of some embarrassment. But