Fall Multimedia Project

I've been thinking a lot about the multimedia project that I would like to pursue for my project this fall. I've had a hard time thinking of topics because I feel that there are a lot of news stories that would not necessarily work well in multimedia. I have, however, come up with a few ideas.

Sports, I think, are topics that are almost always better in multimedia form. Each year the Women's Crew team takes in new rowers and introduces them to the rowing culture. It is during the fall season that the novices actually learn to row, and it it is during this season that I would get the best variety of footage (they will have two races, I can get footage on the water, and I can get footage of them working out). Whether or not I am able to do this particular project is determined on whether or not I can get the coach's approval. This project is journalistically significant because it would introduce a culture that many people do not know about, and it would introduce it while the subjects are being introduced to it. The people who stick with the sport are generally hard-working students, so it would be interesting to film the evolution/introduction of rowing.

I also thought it would be interesting if I could find a story that involves the drama department. These students are trained to tell stories and perform, and so i think they would be great subjects to talk about. I know that I personally overlook the theater department, but there are some incredibly talented theater and voice majors at UNH. In the project I could highlight the students' ambitions, and perhaps learn exactly what it takes to make it big in the entertainment/theater industry after school is through.

I also had the idea of interviewing and telling the stories of international students at UNH. I think the most interesting way to tell this story is to find one person who is willing to let me compose a feature/profile piece on him or her. Why did he or she want to come to UNH? What is it like where he or she is from? Differences? Similarities? Culture shock? What does he or she propose to do with the education he/she earns at UNH? I heard a rumor that UNH is trying to increase the number of international students at UNH, and I might be able to incorporate that into this story as well (why do they want more?).

I'm pretty excited, but I'm nervous, too; multimedia reporting is much more "in your face" than regular reporting.