Category Archive

In my continuing work with New Hampshire Public Radio and the Primary Place weekly segment, I will be leading a team of video bloggers through the streets of Exeter to interview citizens on the Presidential Primary. Here is an excerpt from an article in today’s Boston Herald called Candidates for Change: ‘Vlog Squad’ puts NH in online election spotlight:

It’s citizen journalism at its best - though learning how to vlog still takes a little know-how. That part’s been left to Exeter and Epping High School teacher and new-media guru John Herman.
“The first stage was teaching residents - young and old . . . some very, very old - how to shoot video and upload it to the Internet,” said Herman, who’s volunteering his services to NPR. “The philosophy is that if New Hampshire is to retain the first-in-the-nation primary, then the residents need to earn it. But it is really paving the way for future elections and how people will communicate their opinions.”

Tags: boston herald, exeter, John Herman, new hampshire, presidential primary, video on the net, vlog

I will be joining fellow presenters David Tames (Filmmaker & Media Technologist, Kino-Eye.com) and Anna van Someren (Media Producer, MIT Comparative Media Studies) for a Woods Hole Film Festival seminar called Media Literacy in the 21st Century. The seminar is August 1st at 4PM. For more information, click the image below. Come join us!

Here is a description of the event:

This seminar introduces media makers to the process of critically analyzing popular media including broadcast television, film, and internet video. Much of the media we consume reinforces stereotypes, distorts the news, and distracts from the critical issues of the day. By learning how to look at the media we consume as well as make critically, we can develop an enhanced awareness of how the messages delivered through media influence ourselves, others, and the society we live in. We can harness media to make positive contributors to society, challenge cynicism and apathy, and serve as agents of social change.

Tags: anna van someren, david tames, education, media literacy, woods hole film festival

I interviewed James Patrick Kelly, science fiction writer, recent Nebula winner, and NH resident, for The Wire. Here is a snippet of my article entitled, Truth is Stranger Than Science Fiction: New Hampshire author takes the Nebula Award:

New Hampshire writer James Patrick Kelly recently received the Nebula Award for his novella “Burn.” The science fiction writer joins the ranks of previous winners Frank Hebert, Isaac Asimov and Neil Gaiman. Hearing the beat of a different drummer, Kelly released his Walden-inspired science fiction book as a free podcast just as the book hit retail shelves. The action that might have seemed crazy to traditional publishers gave an otherwise small-print book the opportunity to develop a wide readership. According to the author, the whole thing was an experiment that turned out really well. He is now being called a pioneer.

Also here is a video interview of James Patrick Kelly from my video blog that was featured on Boing Boing.

Tags: burn, james patrick kelly, nebula award, science fiction, video on the net

I have been working with Jon Greenberg of New Hampshire Public Radio on bringing user generated content to his wonderful Primary Place segment. The goal is give a national voice to NH citizens that have the extraordinary opportunity to meet and greet candidates for the presidency.
Here is an article covering our efforts:

From New Hampshire Public Radio hosts presidential forum in Exeter

“It’s really neat to see that people, community members, will actually get to voice their opinions about a presidential primary in a whole new way. Four years ago no one had this opportunity and four years from now, every state will be doing this,” (John) Herman said. “It’s a once in a lifetime thing, from a historical perspective in technology. It’s not exactly Alexander Graham Bell using the phone, but it’s a milestone seeing people use technology that can affect real things.”

From a Letter to the Editor from Jon Greenberg:

Exeter resident John Herman deserves special thanks for single-handedly coordinating the video portion of the program.

Tags: jon greenberg, nhpr, presidential primary, public radio, user generated media, video on the net

This past week, my video blog The Eye was featured on Blip on Blip Episode #8 hosted by Dina Kaplan of Blip.tv. the show covers cool picks of the week. Other shows featured in the episode are Spices of Life and Space Geek.