Category: INSIDE OSMC

Journalism students have gained new perspectives on the development of media technology and its impact on people’s lives through one of the featured courses “Media and Society” in the Spring quarter.

The “Media and Society” course is a walkthrough of the history of mass communication in the United States. All types of media including newspapers, magazines, books, radio broadcast, recorded music, television, films, internet and smartphones (the third screen) are covered in the 10-week of study. At different points of history, different types of media experience their rise and fall, which have posed an important impact on our culture and society.

Students enrolled in the course were required to research the latest media technology and business trends as their final projects. A few interesting topics were addressed.

Freshman student Zike Zhang, who has a background in computer science prior to pursuing his journalism study, presented his research on 5G technology. He suggested that the birth of 5G technology ushered the era of “the Internet of Everything.” It means that every object can become information collection and output end through 5G connection, therefore now “everything is media, everything is a platform.” This will revolutionize the way of newsgathering, production and dissemination.

With 5G connectivity, integration of artificial intelligence in newsrooms will soon become a norm. However, Zhang predicted that professional journalists are irreplaceable because robots are limited in terms of producing in-depth coverage and creative contents.

Another student Abby Peng researched on the development of WeChat, a mobile application founded in China. WeChat Pay (similar to Apple Pay) and WeChat mini program have opened numerous opportunities for Chinese businesses, even market stalls on the streets have adopted the technology.

WeChat official accounts provide leverage to media organizations and individuals to share contents that may not be able to pass the censorship in mainstream outlets. WeChat will continue to transform the media landscape in China with its superpower in connecting people.

“The media is undergoing profound changes in this century. By studying the Media and Society course, I have broadened my thoughts. Now I can see a clear picture in different stages of history and many times Christians have missed the opportunity to use the media for God’s work. I want to be the one to adopt the latest media technologies and advance the Gospel even further,” shared Zhang.

As Commencement Ceremony 2019 is scheduled to be held at Riverside main campus next Friday, Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) will be providing media services for this important event.

OSMC faculty and students have formed a professional photography team this week to support the commencement. The team will offer a photography service package to graduates who wish to get studio-quality “cap & gown” portraits. The service is available on Thursday, June 20 from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Graduates are encouraged to submit their reservation and payment to graduation@olivetuniversity.edu in advance. The photography service package also includes two photos of the graduate receiving diploma and posing with senior professors on stage during the conferring of degrees.

OSMC is responsible for covering event photos and news for the ceremony. Photos and news will be distributed via the school website and social media platforms. It also plans to conduct post-ceremony video interviews with senior professors and guest.

Meanwhile, OSMC is producing a new episode of “My OU Story” which will have its premiere at the commencement ceremony. Each “My OU Story” features a student’s unique experience at Olivet University (OU) that has helped one grow and live for God’s calling. OSMC is excited to have the opportunity to share “My OU Story” live with distinguished guests and friends of Olivet at the event.

Summer is coming soon and it is an important season for school admission. Among the many programs offered at Olivet University (OU), why should you choose to study media and communication?

1. We are called to proclaim the truth

We wake up every day to a world where news and information come freely and abundantly. Our phones send us top headlines from our favorite media outlets–even when we do not ask. However, the abundance of information does not mean that we are any closer to the truth. Messages espousing crude bigotry, hatred, extremism and blatant lies have infiltrated the media. Rather than being a force for unity and positive change, media is now the tool for division and mistrust.

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

Christians are called to bring the truth to the world, so it is essential that God-fearing men and women be a significant presence in media. We should be the ones to win the hearts and minds of the generations to Christ – so that they will be delivered from the broken world today.

2. We are called to be watchmen for the house of Israel

The Christian Church today has lost its strength. It is our mission to awaken, preserve and unite God’s people by providing them daily bread and courage. By making good use of the media to preach the Word of God, we have tremendous power to protect the people of God and the Church.

“At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me: ‘Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me.'” (Ezekiel 3:16-17)

The late Swiss Reformed theologian Karl Barth has remarked on the importance of newspapers and media. In a Time Magazine article on Barth published on May 31, 1963, Barth recalled that 40 years ago he advised young theologians to “Take your Bible and take your newspaper, and read both. But interpret newspapers from your Bible.”

Newspapers, Barth said, are so important that “I always pray for the sick, the poor, journalists, authorities of the state and the church-in that order. Journalists form public opinion. They hold terribly important positions.”

3. OSMC prepares you to be effective media ministers

Our goal at OSMC is to prepare students to be critical thinkers and effective storytellers. Students will learn how to tell a story in multimedia format – with texts, photography, videos and graphics. We train students to practice responsible journalism abiding media law and ethics. Our curriculum and technology are updated regularly to match up with the current standard in the media profession.

4. OSMC cares for your spiritual growth

Beyond professional development, OSMC encourages students to set up a strong foundation in Christian faith through spiritual training and theological study. We believe that only when you are well-connected with God, you can become a servant-leader to provide solutions for the world.

Students may start their study program at OU’s Riverside main campus where they study Bible and theology courses, and immerse in a spiritual environment filled with the Word of God and prayers. Master of Divinity (M.Div.)/Master of Arts (M.A.) in Journalism joint-degree program is available at Riverside campus.

5. OSMC offers unique Washington D.C. internship experience

OSMC students have the opportunity to study at the Washington D.C. campus.

Washington D.C. is the media center of the United States. Students will be able to gain hands-on experience in media ministries and create a media portfolio through the upper-level courses and internship program.

OSMC graduates have excellent communication skills, which is applicable and transferable in many different professions. They play major roles in the media such as reporters, editors, video producers, photojournalists, and social media strategists. They may also pursue a career in public relations and advertising for businesses, churches, ministries, and non-profit organizations.

Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) students at Riverside main campus are producing a new episode of My OU Story. The three-minute video will feature the journey of a Master of Divinity graduate Lisa Lin in finding her calling in Christian child education.

The first filming started last week at a where Lin leads a group of elementary school children on a variety group activities as part of her ministry practicum. OSMC instructor Edwin Tsuei led a team of university students, enrolled in the media journalism course, to document the interaction between Lin and the children.

Lin and the elementary children went hiking and playing by the lake. Then they came back to the classroom to observe the samples gathered from nature and write in their journals.

These outdoor and indoor shoots require advanced photography and lighting skills. OSMC students not only practice what they have learned in the classroom but also acquire some new techniques by improvising on the field creatively. “Compared to the prior episode of My OU Story, this new project is more challenging as it involves many kids and more diverse scenes. However, it is also when our skills are being put into the test. It helps us advance to the next level,” said instructor Tsuei.

Prior to filming, OSMC students and instructor Tsuei had taken a few weeks to interview and research the subjects, write the script, storyboard, and scout the suitable shoot locations. The pre-production process makes sure that every member of the production team can visualize the final result and have a common action plan in mind.

The filming is expected to be completed by the end of the quarter.

Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) was ranked No. 4 in the category of “Best Online Bachelor’s in Journalism Programs in America” by The Edvocate, a website devoted to advocating for education equity, reform, and innovation.

According to the Edvocate, “The Olivet School of Media and Communication is dedicated to offering a four-year program that allows students to work as professional journalists through Christian values. The study program includes courses in the Bible, general course requirements, and those specifically geared toward a future in journalism. Topics covered include professional conduct, style, and research methods, and technology in journalism.”

In the same category, The University of Massachusetts-Amherst ranks No. 1, National University ranks No. 2, Regent University ranks No. 3 and Penn State World Campus ranks No. 5.

“We thank God for receiving the Top 5 ranking for our online undergraduate program. It is truly by God’s amazing grace. Our faculty and staff are encouraged to keep up the good work to provide quality education to current and prospective students. May all the honor and glory be to God!” OSMC program director Eunice Or said.

Visit here for more information: https://www.theedadvocate.org/best-traditional-and-online-journalism-programs-in-america/

A new episode of “My OU Story” scripted, directed and produced by students at Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) is ready to premiere. It features the experience of a student participating in media project and receiving professional training at the Riverside main campus.

The latest episode of “My OU Story” is the first episode of this year. Media students produced the video as part of the video production class project, which marked a milestone in development.

The production lasted for one month from scriptwriting, storyboarding, shooting, audio recording, to editing and post-production. The team of eight students, plus instructor Edwin Tsuei, worked together each week in-class and weekends to nail their planned shots. Though challenging, the team persisted to complete their project.

“The challenges and delays were mostly weather related. We learned that lighting was a critical component and sometimes there was too much, or too little sunlight for our particular shots. Being patient and working with what the situation gave us was also a big lesson in the course,” said media student Sarah Murugan.

In the beginning, the shooting schedule was delayed due to the winter weather in the area, including two seasonal snow storms and the exceptionally large amounts of rainfall. However, the team was successful overcoming all the challenges and unexpected circumstances.

Olivet University (OU) Riverside President Dr. Nathanael Tran offered invaluable support and feedback to the team’s work.

“I thought the media students did a fantastic job in making this video. They were resilient and strategically overcame challenges through creative solutions. I believe they are on the right track towards becoming media professionals. It’s a testament to all the inspiring stories we have at Olivet University through the My OU Story video series,” said Tran.

The new episode of “My OU Story” features student Moses Chelliah depicting his journey in training to become a media professional. He hopes to evangelize the unreached in his home country of India through expanding Christian contents on websites and social media platforms.

India, characterized by its cultural and religious diversity, has nearly 88% unreached among its 1.2 billion population – making it the largest unreached people group in the world. Christian minorities in India are often subjected to persecutions and therefore uses the media for evangelistic outreach as a vital tool to spread the Gospel.

Currently, Moses is part of the media team at the Riverside campus which provided an environment where he can be equipped with professional media skills, leadership skills and becoming more mature in faith through spiritual training. The education he received at OU and its media school enables him to be a more effective minister.

The media team is excited to present the latest “My OU Story” in the upcoming student recruitment campaign.

Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) is preparing its new course offerings for the Spring quarter. Multimedia Storytelling and Journalism Capstone are two featured courses among others.

Multimedia Storytelling is a continuation of the the Fundamentals of Multimedia Journalism course offered in Winter. The latter course has provided background on new forms of digital journalism, including multimedia elements such as photo, audio, video, and graphics. The focus of the new Multimedia Storytelling course would be integrating all these media elements to create stories for digital publishing. The curriculum is designed to be student-orientated and uses project-based learning.

“In the new media world where many different screens are completing for audience eyeballs 24/7, publishers must take a ‘reach the news consumers wherever they are’ approach to provide information and content,” OSMC program director Eunice Or said. She explained, “The medium is the message. Presentation of information on different platforms will obviously be different and so will the content. That is why aspiring journalists must be trained to have a multimedia mindset and be equipped with multimedia production capabilities.”

The other featured course in Spring is Journalism Capstone. It is part of the graduation requirements for journalism graduate students. Students will pick a topic of interest to investigate and produce a publishable journalistic piece. The presentation can be one of the followings:

• Long-Form Narrative – A series based on extensive reporting, research and interviews, that is suitable for publishing

• Multimedia – A publishable series that includes multimedia elements such as original video, audio, photos, and graphics

The project should demonstrate the student’s mastery of media skills and commitment to journalism ethics and principles.

Students can register for the Spring quarter from now until Friday, March 22.

Students at Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) received hands-on videography training, lighting, and audio recording while filming a new episode of “My OU Story” as part of their video production class project. The filming started last week under the guidance of video production class instructor Edwin Tsuei. Since camera and lighting team members have worked on the storyboard and location scout during the pre-production stage, the actual shoot can be more efficiently done.

The camera crew takes charge of finding the right angle and directing the overall shoots. The lighting team decides the lighting style and sets up the lights based on the requirement of the location. The sound unit handles the microphone and recorder. Upon the “click” of the clapperboard, everyone goes into action and synchronizes with one another. Instructor Tsuei is on location with the team to provide assistance and advice as necessary.

For some of the students, this is the very first time they participated in a video production. Students share that it turns out to be a very challenging yet rewarding experience. By participating in the entire production process, students come to appreciate the art of visual storytelling. While students are gradually growing in various skills, they have to put in hard work in pursuing excellence in that chosen craft.

“It’s a fresh experience for me to participate in the ‘My OU Story’ video production,” graduate student Hannah Gong said. “I’m excited to learn everything about shooting videos on locations. It’s a creative process to bring a message to life with through audio-visual. Besides the complicated steps of assembling camera equipment, I have learned how light and composition plays a huge role in storytelling. I’m looking forward to the last phase of editing which will give all the footages and audio a new life.”

“My OU Story” is a short video series featuring current student experiences at Olivet University (OU). Its purpose is to witness God’s work on transforming and equipping ministry-bound men and women through education at OU. A new episode is scheduled to be released by the end of the Winter quarter.

Journalism students at Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) explore using mobile phones for news reporting in the multimedia journalism course this quarter.

The multimedia journalism course is designed to give students a broad perspective and practical experience in the emergence of new forms of journalism. Students will learn to produce digital multimedia journalistic pieces that combine text with still photos, audio, video, and infographics.

Reporting with mobile phones, in the context of multimedia journalism, is highly applicable. First of all, mobile phones become very handy in a breaking news situation where immediacy values most. Secondly, the pictures, videos, and audio recorded right at the scene with mobile phones are readily shared in their forms across various digital platforms.

During the multimedia journalism class, students watch demos and tutorials on how to take better photos with their smartphones. Many of them are amazed by the full capability of the camera on their mobile phones. They also learn some techniques of storytelling in an audio-only format.

Media student Abby Peng produced a 2-minute audio clip reporting on the recent Lunar New Year celebration by international students. The festivities becomes live and vivid in the clip through her mastery of voice and recording of sounds at the scene.

“It is my first time reporting with audio only. I thought it was very new and a fun experience for me. The class has given me inspirations to produce new forms of reporting that is not just informative, but effective and desirable,” Peng said.

Besides still photos and audio, the class introduces the basics of video news production such as shooting a video sequence and conducting interviews on camera. By applying some professional techniques in photography, students are able to produce video stories with their smartphones.

“While using professional gears for news production gives us the best result, it is also true that mobile journalism has its merits, especially in the multimedia capabilities. It is important for journalism students to sharpen their skills in this area,” course instructor Eunice Or said.

The video production class offered by Olivet School of Media and Communication (OSMC) this quarter has significantly advanced the media capabilities of Olivet University (OU) Riverside students.

Students enrolled in the video production class train on professional videography equipment starting from the pipeline’s beginning until the end. The whole set of tools include a mirrorless digital camera that can capture videos in 4K resolution, a range of camera lenses, LED continuous video light sets, different types of light modifiers, boom mic, lavalier mic, and external audio recorder.

In the class, OSMC will focus on skill training, team building, and ensuring students receive proper training so they can produce high-quality videos comparable to industry standards. Students not only find the class very exciting, but they are also strongly dedicated to the vision of using media to bring positive impact to the world.

The first project assignment for the course includes a mini biographical video entitled “My OU Story” which focuses on student campus life. The first two seasons of My OU Story were released in 2018. For this quarter, students have started content production and are getting familiar with the equipment.