Question 4

How did you use media technologies in the

construction, research and planning and evaluation

stages?

Research and PlanningWhen undertaking the Research and Planning stage of the A2 Portfolio, we understood that it was essential to include evidence of using different forms of technology to document the processes we went through.

By using a presentation software called Prezi we were able to upload all of our evidence of research and planning on to Blogger, in a slightly more creative way than continuously using PowerPoint slides. Within several of these Prezi’s we were also able to include another form of digital technology by exporting relevant YouTube clips on to the presentation.

Instead of just using the usual written interview, we were able to gain an exclusive interview clip from Bob Warner, a professional news anchor. This was uploaded on to our blogs via YouTube.

By using another presentation software called Slideshare.com we were also able to upload our PowerPoint presentations online and then upload them to our Blogger.

ConstructionThe construction area of our media product was also full of examples of the use of different digital technology. This was done through the use of Audacity, Photoshop and Corel.

By using the Audio Editing programme “Audacity” we were able to insert the voice recordings from our Apple IPhones which included our Radio report. After this, we then uploaded the royalty free jingle for our news theme tune and linked it as the background music throughout the radio extract.

On the Video Editing software Corel, we were then able to insert the images and videos from our filming day on to the programme. It then allowed us to edit and manipulate videos by using the “Multi-Trim” tool, which meant that we could cut and split the videos so that the overall news programme would be fast paced and flowing.

Photoshop was also another form of digital technology which enabled me to edit and manipulate images. By using the “Expert” mode, we were able to upload images taken from the filming day and crop, change the brightness or re-colour them to suit the house style of our title sequences and institution logo.

EvaluationOn the evaluation page of our blog, we demonstrated again the use of digital technology. As well as using Prezi and SlideShare again, we also started to use new software to answer our questions such as Movie Maker and emaze.com.

Within Movie Maker, we were able to upload videos of ourselves answering the evaluation questions. It also enabled us to upload images and record our voices speaking over them, while also including different animations and transitions on the slide.

The new presentation software called emaze enabled to answer another one of the evaluation questions but in a different way. It gave several templates, so we chose the “Newsy” template as it related well to our A2 Media Portfolio. This software also allowed us to upload videos from YouTube of our audience giving feedback.