The Mario Blog

I am always proud of the work my Columbia University students produce in a course titled Multiplatform Design & Storytelling. 

This has been my 7th year teaching the class at Columbia, and each semester the students do better than the last group.

The course’s aim is to turn these journalism students into mobile-first visual journalists. I think we have accomplished that.

This has been an extraordinary semester just like it has been a surreal time for most of us with the Coronavirus creating disruption, fear and uncertainty in our daily lives. The students rose to the occasion, and even though the last 7 weeks of classes have been online, via Zoom, everyone has participated 100%, including those students who tested positive for Covid-19, but valiantly continued to do their work. My respect and admiration always.

The assignment

For their final project, I assigned students to write, edit and design a multimedia story, thinking of mobile first. In the early stages of the assignment, students presented only a first screen of their story which was discussed with all in the class for its ability to “seduce” the audience into reading. Here is an example:

For the final presentation, students had to show the style guide to their project, outlining how typography and color had been selected. They were also responsible for creating a social media promotion of their story.

You can see here some examples of style guides: I require that the style guide be simple and done in one screen only. Take a look.

Social media promotion

It is important for writers to be able to promote their stories via social media, so this one of the requirements for the final project in my class:

The stories

Story #1

Headline:  The Loss of Touch Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Author:  Chaveli Guzman

Highlight:  

Touch is the sensation that stands as our first interaction with the world. It is a part of communication that begins at birth and expands into old age. Simplistically, touch carries the ability to evoke some of the greatest emotions that define and sustain us as humans. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the challenge is to learn to connect, and to express love without a primitive, vital form of human communication — touch.

Links:

Story #2

Headline:  The Fall of U.S. Tennis

Author:  Teerin Julsawad

Highlight: 

It has been 17 years since an American man held a major singles title.Where did we go wrong

Links:

http://tennis.teerinjulsawad.com/

Story #3

Headline:  The 100 Vacant Lands

Author: Xuechen Hu & Arun Karki

Highlight:  Empty properties revitalizing neighborhood of Harlem

Links: https://arunkarki.atavist.com/the-100-vacant-lands

Story #4

Headline:  The Cat and the Coronavirus

Author: Anderson Chen

Highlight:  

As reports of COVID-19 infections in felines begin to emerge, two Southern California cat owners are learning how to protect their four-legged family members

Links: 

https://readymag.com/u236912772/1852914/

Story #5

Headline:  Disconnected: Online Dating During Covid-19

Author: Kiana Murden

Highlight:  

How to connect for a date during lockdown and isolation.

Links: 

https://preview.nws.ai/amp/1288494786/disconnected/

Story #6

Headline:  An Exclusive Sit Down Interview with As$p Ferg

Author: Jenna Caldwell

Highlight:  

Like many, the Harlem-bred rapper A$AP Ferg has been confined to his home — and so have his projects. His latest music video “Value” is set in his living room — and for many, it doesn’t feel the same as some of his more creative ventures. On August 26, 2017 I got the opportunity to interview A$AP Ferg after American University’s
Welcome Week concert. He talked about his creativity, inspiration and success.

Links: 

https://readymag.com/u83834266/ASAPFERG/2/

Story #7

Headline:  A Roaring Ovation from the Nation: A New Ritual Emerges in NYC

Author:Taylor Dudley

Highlight:  
Typically, ovations stop right at Broadway. But this residential neighborhood in Washington Heights, in solidarity with many other New York City neighborhoods, are making noise for a good cause.

Links:

https://spark.adobe.com/page/e4MHq7SmM5M3R/

Story #8

Headline:  Love at first sight–Southeast Canada: paradise for those who seek beauty

Author: Xingqi Liu

Highlight:  
From Ontario to Quebec, a list of delightful discoveries you can find inher New York City neighborhoods, are making noise for a good cause.

Links:

https://readymag.com/u2113381260/xingqiliu/

Story #9

Headline: 12 Things to do in Seoul

Author: An Peng

Highlight:  
Where to eat, to get the best coffee and to play in the South Korean capital.

Links:

https://preview.shorthand.com/HXRi0HuLtYIZIDue

Story #10

Headline: The Long Wait: Drive-thru’s during Covid-19

Author: Penelope Blackwell

Highlight:

As the COVID-19 pandemic forces widespread social distancing and states are under stay-home order, people are only supposed to travel for essential services.

Link:

Story #11

Headline: Health, Anxiety and the Coronavirus, Not a Good Combination

Author: Santiago Montoya

Highlight: The writer tested positive for the virus and suffered its ravaging effects. This is his story.

Link:

https://readymag.com/u1386582783/1797761/

Story #12

Headline: The Hard Hit Navajo Nation Fights to Save Their Elders

Author: Carissa Quiambao

Highlight: Few regions have been hit harder by the coronavirus crisis than the Navajo nation. Here’s a look at how they are working to protect their most vulnerable community.

Link:

https://readymag.com/u836521868/navajo/

Interested in these stories?

If you would like to have access to publishing these stories, contact me directly at mario@garciamedia.com and I will facilitate communication with the student journalists who authored the pieces.

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TheMarioBlog post # 3249