A MediaStorm of cutting edge photojournalism
By Kelly Vormelker, Staff Writer
May 11, 2007 | 9:11 p.m.
MediaStorm.org manages to capture raw human emotions and present them in a blatantly beautiful way through various photojournalism media. Talented journalists create these masterpieces and present them for the public's benefit.
At MediaStorm.org, viewers can find a riveting story of one man's journey from Africa to a better life and a touching depiction of a couple's struggle to take care of a fading parent. Visitors of the site will see a disturbingly realistic conversation that bridges the generation gap between the teenaged and the middle aged: a complex, melodramatic cartoon set to the backdrop of Radiohead's "Creep" and countless other works that delve into the human psyche and spirit.
MediaStorm.org is a Web site dedicated to producing quality works of photojournalism. The site features various videos, slideshows, pictures and media that each tells its own story.
The complex stories are meticulously put together. At MediaStorm, this wide array of works varies from more powerful, deep and touching pieces to lighter, less dramatic yet still memorable pieces.
Brian Storm is the president of MediaStorm.org. Storm obtained his master's degree in photojournalism from the University of Missouri and began his career in visual journalism at Corbis, a digital media agency owned by Bill Gates. He then moved to MSNBC.com, where he acted as the director of multimedia. While there, Storm began the widely acclaimed "The Week in Pictures." Storm is also a leading figure in the debate over the impact of new technology on journalism and has spoken at various conventions and universities throughout the world on this topic.
Brian Storm took time away from his chaotic life in photojournalism to talk with Speakeasy about MediaStorm.org and the superior photojournalism it showcases.
SE: What sparked the idea of MediaStorm?
Storm: "This is actually MediaStorm 2.0. The first time we published I was in grad school. The technology has changed a lot since the first publication in 1994, but we still have the basic concept. The media and relations have grown but the same idea of combining photographer's work with audio is there."
SE: How has MediaStorm evolved since its conception?
Storm: "The current site is more innovative. The distribution is also wider. We are now able to reach 100 different countries. It is really cool to reach this kind of communication revolution."
SE: What is the importance of a site like MediaStorm?
Storm: "The site helps people understand important world events. People read a lot but they do not always feel the story. Stories like Kingsley's 'Crossing and Never Coming Home' are very emotional and powerful.
"It is also exciting that independent voices get to publish and share their stories."
SE: How is MediaStorm cutting edge?
Storm: "The stories themselves are not cutting edge. They still embody the fundamentals of journalism. Some are innovative, some are just great stories. We try and attract people who wouldn't normally watch with our wide range."
SE: What do you look for in submissions?
Storm: "Every story on the site is something that a person would want to watch twice, that they would think is interesting, watch more than once and even send out to their friends.
"The Sandwich Generation is like our prototype story. It combines the power of video and the decisive moment of a still picture. It also shows the ambient power of a still photo. This story is different because it was specifically commissioned and assigned to our team. But this is the quality story we are ideally trying to raise all of our pieces to."
SE: Is there a balance within the site between the various works?
Storm: "I strive to have the same kind of balance that I started at The Week in Pictures. I had to edit to achieve a balance between the cute animal pictures and the pictures from space, pictures of war. That feature pulled on the idea that the DNA of the world is not car crashes and war. I want to accentuate how amazing this planet is. People need positive information about the world. The MediaStorm site accentuates the heaviness and also celebrates the beauty of life."
SE: How does the comment section enhance the site?
Storm: "It is good to have some transparency to the site. It is also good to give the viewers a voice. I wish that it was used more. I aspire to create a virtual experience, and richer community playback. One day I would love to have a situation where 50 people around the world can watch the same video and have a conversation about the story at the same time."
SE: What kind of an impact do you think new technology has on journalism?
Storm: "New technology is disruptive to journalism. Just look at what the Web has done to the newspaper. It has sucked audiences away. Ad money is shifting. The revenue for a full page ad in the New York Times is $1 million, the Web is not making up for this. Although, technology is great and non-print news is good for the environment. But newspapers are critical in keeping people informed. It is vital that they find their way though this movement."
SE: In what ways do you think photojournalism differs from print journalism?
Storm: "There will always be good writing and good photos. They need each other. But photos are spongeable and adaptable. They work well everywhere. I love to read, it is a different experience then looking at a photo. But at the same time I am never going to want to read an article on my PS3 or iPod like I would watch a video."
SE: Can you express the impact of a photo?
Storm: "No medium will ever diminish the power a photo has. Life is fleeting but a frozen moment is not."
SE: What do you look for in a good photo?
Storm: "That is difficult to define. A photo should hit you, resonate with you, or teach you something. The composition, light and moment should align."
SE: What advice do you have for aspiring photojournalists?
Storm: "Learn how to do audio. A photo lacks context. People bring their own interpretations without something there to explain it. If a photographer brings their voice to the photo with audio or video it adds a lyrical quality to the work."
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