Guest blogger: WSU pj student on the First Amendment, utilitarianism

By Megan Kusulas

Wayne State University photojournalism student

   The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” 

   As a college student majoring in journalism, freedom of the press directly effects my career because it allows me to freely pass on information to the society while being protected. 

   Freedom of the press does not only influence how we write, but it also influences the photos we take.

Megan Kusulas: Recipient of this week's Golden Camera

As a college student, this is important to me because the First Amendment allows me to take photos of the university or about the university to highlight the truth of campus events. 

   It allows student and professional photojournalists to document and share information with the public without being persecuted. For example, it protects against being thrown into jail if photographers do not give up sources, reveal information about the government or shoot controversial pictures.
   There is a sense of pride when it comes to delivering the truth to citizens, which the First Amendment allows. 
   As an aspiring photojournalist, I am lucky to live in a country that does not have strict laws on the press, but also follows ethical standards, which are very important to this industry because they create a reliable source of information. 

   While the United States has laws to protect the press, there are no laws to protect photojournalists from ethical issues. As a visual journalist, it is important to know how far is appropriate to go, in order to get a good shot.
   There are three ethical decision-making foundations: utilitarian, absolutist and the Golden Rule.
   Utilitarian approach is sharing photos whether they are good or bad, to better society. Absolutist is the idea that everyone has the right to their own privacy. The Golden Rule is putting yourself in the subjects shoes and deciding if you would want the photo published.  

Of the three ethical decision-making foundations, utilitarian relates to me most. I have a strong desire to spread the word about important issues in order to inform society.

   I think utilitarian is the best way to approach photojournalism because it spreads importance of the issue at hand. By this, I mean printing a photo of a tragic car crash if it would change the way viewers think, therefor, helping to prevent car crashes.

   With this power of the media, I feel I have an obligation to the public to take photos of important moments. I feel it's my duty as a journalist to share information that it is critical to help society. 
   Truth is a very important component of photojournalism, which is why the utilitarian approach to shooting photos is justifiable. I want to use my photography skills to document emotion in a story, which could change the way readers feel about a certain topic. The utilitarian approach to photojournalism is a strong way to evoke the emotions of readers and leave more of an impact.
   Overall, the First Amendment and ethical standards are guidelines that bring society accurate news. As a collegiate photojournalist, I am excited to join the field because I can influence society for the good with photos I take.

Definition of First Amendment
SPLC freedom of the press quiz

Voices of Storytelling podcast show premieres on Owens' OCCR station

From left: Lori King, Kurt Steiss and Drew Scott in the Outlook Student Media Center. (Photos by Adam Jaquay-Williams)

   Soon there will be a new page on the top bar menu called Voices Podcasts.
   This new podcast page will symbolize a new, dynamic trend of listening to stories, rather than viewing or reading.

Kurt Steiss 

   On that page, there will be a growing collection of podcasts on movers and shakers at Owens, including the president and the athletic director. These podcasts will be produced by my OCC Visual Storytelling students, called Voices of Storytellers. Though the podcasts are class assignments, they will also be published, giving the Broadcast Technology students a chance to build a portfolio in sound.
   I am also kicking off my own podcast next week. Called Voices of the Media, it will feature photographers, journalists, and radio and tv personalities, like Toledo Blade reporter Sarah Elms, who will discuss the topic of reporters who shoot their own photos and videos with a cell phone, and DJ Denny Schaffer, from Q105.5, WQQO-FM.
   These podcasts will air on the OCCR station Thursdays at 2 p.m., and also the Owens Outlook online student newspaper. So, please subscribe to the OCCR Soundcloud and the Owens Outlook if you are interested in what our guests have to say!
   It is now time to introduce the first podcast of this semester, recorded and produced by Visual Storytelling student Drew Scott, featuring his guest, Toledo Blade photographer Kurt Steiss:

To view Kurt's portfolio, go to his website

Owens Visual Storytelling students collaborate on OCCR station jingle

   As the faculty adviser to the Owens Outlook online student newspaper for half a decade, I've experienced a regeneration or two. But we keep getting back on our feet.
   So it's with excitement that I announce we are in yet another rejuvenation, but I'm confident this one is the beginning of a golden era for students who will walk through the Outlook Student Media Center door for years to come.
   Back in Room 156 (a great space we used to share with student government, then were moved out to two other locations) in the Fine & Performing Arts Center on the Perrysburg Owens Community College campus, we now have a media center manager, Rob Thomas, and an OCCR radio manager, Herbey Adkinson. These two gentlemen will help keep the center going.
   The biggest change is that the Owens Outlook is now sharing space with the OCCR station, and eventually with the new television component. This is possible because of the new Broadcast and TV Technology majors.
   As part of this new collaboration, we are rebranding, which is why these students in the video were recording a new jingle for our show, Voices of Storytelling podcast, which debuts on the OCCR station next Thursday between the 2-3 p.m. hour. It will be a weekly 15-minute podcast, recorded and produced the Visual Storytelling students.
   There is much to do: rewrite the student media policy manual; redo the student staff application; rebrand the media center and its components; recruit, recruit, recruit; train, train, train. Then what we do best - write, photograph and broadcast! 
   So stay tuned for what's to come, and listen to that jingle on our OCCR station!

Best Practice: Posting images to your social media accounts

   Congratulations! Many of you have recently created your first social media accounts, establishing yourselves as published visual storytellers.

   You will be required to regularly post on social media for three primary reasons: 

• Create a visual portfolio
• Build a following
• Earn a grade (I grade off of your SM posts) 

   Throughout the semester on this blog I’ll be posting Best Practices sheets, which are guidelines and tips to help you accomplish your assignments faster and easier. 

   However, I want to stress here that there are many ways to get things done, so my way isn’t necessarily the best way. Ultimately, do what works best for you.

   The first Best Practices tip is a series of steps to help guide you when posting a photo(s) to your Instagram and Twitter accounts:

1. Select your chosen photo in Photo Mechanic (Be picky! Quality over quantity, always)
2. Write the AP style caption in Photo Mechanic. Include #hashtags and photo credit
3. Edit the photo in Photoshop (simple crop and correction of color/exposure issues)
4. Post the photo to your blog. It will retain the caption
5. To post on Instagram and Twitter, follow these steps:

• Copy the caption and email the photo and caption to yourself
• Open email. Select all and copy.
• Save Image(s)
• Go to Instagram on your phone and click the + option
• Select the photo. You can choose a filter as long it doesn’t change the content of the image
• Paste the caption in the text area
• Add required and appropriate #hashtags
• Share to Twitter (and Facebook). This way you don’t have to go to Twitter and do it all over again

Prezi on social media tips

Welcome to a learning space maintained for my photojournalism students

Covering an Obama campaign rally.

   This blog is especially beneficial to my students in the Visual Storytelling (Owens Community College), Digital Photojournalism (Wayne State University) and Teaching Multimedia (Kent State University) classes.
   Because I am teaching all three courses this semester, there will be mixture of content. Some posts will be for all classes, and some will be class specific. I will indicate those posts that are specific, but it won't hurt to read all posts. After all, every lesson offers something you might want to learn!
   I strongly suggest thoroughly scrolling through this blog in the next few weeks to become familiar with the content posted in past semesters.
   There is also a search bar that's pretty handy when you want to look for something specific, like shutter speed and f/stop controls and social media tools. Another cool feature is the archive box in the upper right corner. When we get to a certain lesson, I change the featured archived story to coincide with that lesson, like my Camtasia Studio video tutorials I created just for the Teaching Multimedia students! This way I don't have to rewrite a blog post. Why reinvent the wheel?
   Please check out this website at least once a week. But don't worry, if I want you to read a current post that corresponds with a particular lesson, I'll provide the link in that assignment module.
   Thank you for caring about journalism, and read on!

Storify Lesson: What is Photojournalism?

   Welcome to King's Klass Blog, a supplemental space for instruction throughout the semester.
   Whether you are in the WSU Digital Photojournalism, OCC Visual Storytelling or KSU Teaching Multimedia courses, you will find useful information that relates directly to your courses, so bookmark this blog and view it often.
   This Storify lesson is your first tutorial of the semester. I hope you enjoy it!
(This lesson stops after the 'what is a beat' content. It actually goes a little further, so click on the link to view the whole lesson. I'll be covering this in class, as well)

https://storify.com/toledophotog/what-is-news-and-why-should-i-care

In Pictures: WSU and Owens students learn about motion, depth of field

Owens Community College students  learn how to properly hold a camera. (Photo by Hanssel Martinez-Guerra)

Talking about the relationship between shutter speed and motion. (Photo by Hanssel Martinez-Guerra)

Wayne State University students learn about shooting for shallow and wide depth of field during class.

The Wayne State University Digital Photojournalism class of Fall 2017.  

Changes are aplenty for the Owens Outlook online student newspaper

    Last semester the Owens Outlook online student newspaper was dormant.

    That happened because my Visual Storytelling class (which is basically the student newspaper staff) was cancelled due to low enrollment. Since I wasn't teaching at all on campus (the first time that’s happened for me at Owens in 12 years),  the Owens Outlook didn’t have an adviser (I was the adviser), and without an adviser (or the Visual Storytelling class) there was no newspaper.

   Thus, the Owens Outlook website was frozen in time. The last article posted dates back to Dec. 7, 2016, and it's still there.  

   Now I’m back, with a small class of six. But there are a few changes to report.

1. I am no longer the adviser to the Owens Outlook. In fact, there won’t be a primary academic adviser at this point. The responsibility for student media will be shared, though I have no clue of the details.

Our first published photo this semester from Visual Storytelling student

Cameron Reef. Each student will now be able to upload their stories and

photos onto the backend of the website. 

2. The Owens Outlook office is being moved from its current space, Room 156 in the SHAC, to across the hall, in the Block Student Government and News Center. Yes, you read that right. That office used to house both the student newspaper staff and the student government, and there is a huge banner sign saying the Block Student Government and News Center above the office door to prove it. That phrase “sleeping the enemy” comes to mind, though the student government is certainly not our enemy…. but you get the point.

   When I became the new adviser to the Outlook about four years ago, I fought like hell to break us up. So we were moved into a spacious office in the Law Enforcement building across the street. Loved the office but hated the location ... for two reasons: Again, we shared space with an entity we report on; and we were detached from the Center for Fine & Performing Arts building, where the Visual Storytelling classroom is located. 

   Then a year ago we were moved into the former Student Activities office across the hall from the Block news center. Now we are currently moving back into our original office in Room 156, but student government is now gone, and broadcaster technology majors are moving in with us. The Outlook office has gone full circle.

3. The man who has spearheaded the new Broadcast Technology major, Dr. Michael Sander, was then the chair of the fine and performing arts department. This summer he became the interim dean for the School of Liberal Arts.

   He recently told me that he plans to remain in charge of the Outlook Student Media Center. He has his ideas of how he wants the media center to run, but I don't know what those ideas are yet. This semester could include a few game changers. But one thing is for sure, Sander is committed to keeping the Owens Outlook alive, and I am very relieved about that.
   I was also relieved that he decided to retain the Outlook name for the media center, considering the Outlook has been a part of campus student-produced news coverage for decades, and now will remain so. Yes, changes are certain, and I hope that's a good thing.

   So, with my little staff of six Visual Storytelling students and broadcast majors to help produce the content on the Owens Outlook student newspaper, we will soon be back in business.
   However, we can’t do it without the assistant of Katie Buzdor, the former longtime student editor-in-chief. Katie has graciously agreed to train the student staff on the backend of the website, as well as be an editor in some capacity. We need to soak up as much information from her as possible this semester since it’s her last … she graduates in December!

   We will all figure out how to handle the production of the newspaper moving forward, so stay tuned.

Taking the Wayne State COM 2280 Digital Photojournalism course?

Then read this Q & A ...

Q:  Why do I have to take this course? I’m a journalist/PR specialist, not a photojournalist.

A:  This course is necessary because at some point in your career you probably will be asked to take your own photos. Unfortunately, staff photojournalism jobs are dwindling each year, leaving journalists to pick up the slack with point and shoot cameras and cell phones. Despite their lack of photography experience, journalists are being tasked (and sometimes forced) to produce their own images. The only way to combat poor photo quality and legal/ethical issues is to offer courses like COM 2280, which is designed to prepare you for the inevitable.

Winter 2017 COM 2280 class

Also, even if you never take another photo for your job, this class will help you understand the photographers you will work with, for, or who will work for you.

Q: How hard is this course?

A:  Moderately difficult. This course is designed to give you basic photojournalism skills to prepare you to work in 21^st Century journalism newsrooms and public relations offices. It is a practical-skills driven course, meaning you will practice what you learn. 

You will be introduced to camera operations, and a few of the industry standard software used in the field, like Photo Mechanic, Photoshop and Adobe Premiere CC. So yes, expect a steep learning curve on a few assignments and exercises.

   The two most important tips I can give you are to pay attention and keep up. Please be fully engaged in every lesson, even if you’ve already been exposed to photography and some of the digital editing tools. After all, practice makes perfect (I never say perfect in this course) precision. Once you think you know it all, you stop learning and improving.

Q: How can I get an A?

A: I understand most students expect an A in every class they take. That’s human nature. But it’s not realistic. If you don’t earn an A, don’t fret. Remember that you are learning the building blocks of a very technical profession. Practice and opportunity in the field are what truly matters, not an A in a single class. Trust me, editors don't care much what your grades are when hiring; what matters is your portfolio of work and social media presence.

That said, here are several ways that will NOT earn you an A:

·       Tell me you need an A because you have a perfect GPA so far. If you want an A, you have to earn it with great attendance; zero missed assignments; good class participation; and a willingness to climb out of your comfort zone.

These are what I look for when determining good grades:

·       Nearly perfect attendance

·       No more than one missed assignment and zero missed quizzes

·       Willingness to help your classmates

·       No fear of asking questions when you don’t understand something

·       Pay attention to the little details, like spelling, AP styles, blog design, etc.

·       Redo less-than-stellar assignments

·       A good attitude

Warning: It is possible to get a D or flunk this course. Believe it or not, one or two students flunk every semester; not because their work sucks, but because they give up! It's true! They simply stop showing up, or stop shooting. Seriously, all you have to do is miss a lot of classes and homework assignments to earn Ds and Fs. 

Of course, I don’t like dishing out Cs and below, but I won’t give credit where it’s not due. It’s only fair to those students who worked hard throughout the course.

Good luck this semester! 

Sharing the pros, cons, photo stories of the hybrid Wayne State PJ course

  Another semester has ended at Wayne State University, and it was one of the best classes I’ve had the honor of leading.

   As I do for most semester endings, I’ll highlight a few positives and negatives. This is a good way for me to collect my thoughts so I can improve next semester.

   This particular Digital Photojournalism class earned a collective A. Rarely did a student miss any of the three quizzes, attendance was very strong, and though they had a tendency to turn in assignments late, they eventually turned them in.

   On the negative side:

• We, meaning university, experimented with a hybrid course format. The course typically meets once a week (on Thursdays) for 2.5 hours. But this semester we only met for 1.15 hours, cutting class time in half.

   This didn’t work for me, or the students. I found that I couldn’t fit in important lecture time, particularly on teaching technical issues on software like Audacity or Premiere Pro CC.

•    I also didn’t have time to critique their homework assignments, which are posted on their blogs each week. Homework involves shooting real photojournalism assignments: features, portraits, sports and a photo story.

   This class definitely goes beyond theory, thus they practice what is preached. For example, after a lecture on shooting sports, they’re required to attend a sporting event and shoot it. This entails them to get rosters for athlete identifications, and shoot action, reaction, fans and coaches.

   When I critique their work in class, they are collectively learning from one another what to do and what not to do on assignments. So not to critique their work in class is a missed learning opportunity.

   However, because I use Blackboard, a lot, and my own course blog (which you are reading now), they still had all of the lectures available to them.  I also created a few how-to YouTube videos as supplements. But, bottom line, I don’t like the hybrid approach for this course, so it’s back to full classes next semester.

   On the positive side:

•     From the negative came to the positive. I began creating instructional YouTube videos using Camtasia Studio, which records my computer screen, allowing me to show them how to use Audacity and Premiere Pro CC. 

   The videos allow them to view the content at their own pace, and soak it in. They can follow along with the videos while doing their own projects.

•    I am also convinced that allowing them to turn in late assignments is a good thing. I’m more concerned that each student learns the content at their own pace, rather not doing it at all. Yes, deadlines are critical in the journalism field, but they’ll learn that soon enough. At this point in their scholastic environment, they need to learn before they do.

   Now is the time I'm proud to present three of the photo stories they shot and produced. They are all different, and showcase how talented Wayne State students are.
   I present to you final projects by Taylor Lutz, Lucas Bell and Janika Green:

Adobe Premiere Pro CC training for still/video production

    If you feel like this final project is a bit daunting, you’re not alone!

   There is a lot of work that goes into a big project like this, so it’s important to concentrate on each step of the process as you go along. 

   Be systematic:

• Find a story that lends to visual variety.
• Pay attention to your camera settings as you shoot. Remember that there’s no need to constantly change your settings while shooting. As long as the available light doesn’t change, the settings don’t need to change (unless you want to change your depth of field or motion). 
• Don’t shoot under 400 ISO, or slower than 1/60^th of a second.
• When shooting the story, collect caption information as you go. 
• Record at least one interview, possibly in a quiet place. However, if you are collecting audio at the scene, like during a parade, just keep the audio device close to the subject so we can hear them.
• If you are shooting multiple days, keep your photos in a single folder as you go.
• When finished with your shoot: drag your working folder into Photo Mechanic; make a final selection via color coding them; isolate those color-coded images; select all photos at once and drag them into Photoshop to edit them.
• In Photoshop, only crop, and fix color balance and exposure issues.
• When saving each image, hit Save As and rename the pic so it doesn’t overwrite the original.
• Select only the edited images and copy or drag them into a final folder.
• Now write your captions. First do a skeleton caption for all photos so your meta data information is tagged to all pics. Then finish the captions per individual photo.
• Next select the two photos you’ll use for the title and end slides, and edit in Photoshop. Directions are in this YouTube tutorial. Once you’re done with these slides, Save As: Rename them Title Slide and End Slide.
• Edit your audio using Audacity (directions for using Audacity is an earlier post in this blog) and put that edited audio into the final folder. If you have audio from a video camera, then don’t worry about using Audacity. You can edit the audio in Premiere (directions are in this YouTube tutorial).
• Once all of your working elements (edited/captioned stills; audio file(s); title/end slides; music file) are complete and in the final folder, then it’s time to produce your story. See tutorial below:
• Review the workflow sheet for YouTube information, which is at the bottom of the sheet. You need to upload your story as an Mp4 to the course YouTube account so you can retrieve the embed code or URL code. You need the embed code to load the story onto your blog.
• You can also view these tutorials if you need more training with Premiere: 

- Tutorial for Beginners 1

- Tutorial for Beginners II

Gathering photo captions: Practicing what I preach

   This is me, a working photojournalist gathering caption information on a photo I took during an Empowerment Zone meeting in North Toledo March 3 for the Toledo Blade. (Photo Credit goes to my friend Rhonda Sewell)
   As you can see, my cameras are dangling off of my shoulders as I use my trusty pen and notebook to take down this kid's name, since I photographed him during the event.
   My Wayne State Digital Photojournalism students just completed their caption writing block of instruction, which included clipping captions from newspapers and taking a quiz. Spending time on caption, or cutline, writing is necessary in a photojournalism course because it's the journalism part of photojournalism.
   Most of the time I write down names and other pertinent information in my reporter's notebook, but sometimes I record that information into my camera, especially when my hands are too full to write or the weather isn't friendly to notebook paper. Whatever the method, taking down the who, what, where and when are the active ingredients to a good caption.
   This post is just a visual reminder that you are learning about captions because they are a part of a photojournalist's job. It is also the part that is sometimes the most challenging: Taking the photo from afar is one thing, but going up to strangers and asking them for their name, age and hometown is another.
   Gathering captions can give shy scholastic photojournalists a panic attack.
   When you are out there shooting your final photo story in the next few weeks, remember that the later half of the word photojournalism is journalism, or the art of writing.
 

Audacity training: Posting an edited podcast from folder to Wordpress

   This is the Audacity training recorded during the Kent State Teaching Multimedia course chat March 5.
   It takes you through the steps for editing audio using Audacity.

Why photojournalists prefer using Photo Mechanic to Adobe Bridge

An example how an edited photo using Photoshop returns beside the unedited version in Photo Mechanic.

   During a recent course chat with a Kent State grad student in the Teaching Multimedia course, she questioned the use of Photo Mechanic as part of the photography assignment workflow. She thought using Photo Mechanic was an extra, unnecessary step in the photo editing process.

   It is a good question. After all, if you already have access to Adobe Bridge, then why bother with Photo Mechanic (PM)? After all, both are media browsers that accelerate your workflow. Once photos are ingested, both allow you to preview your photo shoot and tag your selection via color codes or stars. 

   And neither offer the editing option. Although PM allows you to do a simple crop and crooked horizon adjustment. You still have to edit your images through Photoshop, Adobe Elements or Lightroom.

   But there are a few distinct differences that make PM an industry standard for photojournalists.     

   Here are a few reasons why PM is the browser of choice for photojournalists:

• PM is cheaper. Version 5 is a one-time price of $150. No monthly fee. You also get an education discount.
• It is a cross-platform, standalone browser that is compatible for both MACs and PCs, and one license will work on up to three different computers.
• You can write captions in the IPTC Stationary Pad. You can caption a single image, or a group of images fast and simple; and those captions carry over onto your Wordpress blog posts. The IPTC Stationary Pad also allows you to add copyright information.
• You can transmit your images right out of PM to your newspaper or organization. This prevents you from having to email, Dropbox or Google Drive your images.    

   So, if you are a Digital Photojournalism or Teaching Multimedia student of mine, it would be a disservice not to expose you to Photo Mechanic, a powerful image browser and workflow accelerator made for photojournalists who work fast and furious on deadlines.

   Consider this: After an assignment, we are expected to quickly upload hundreds of images, select and write captions for the chosen ones, edit them, and then transmit (export) them moments after the assignment has ended. 

   Adobe Bridge is just too impractical for what we have to accomplish.

Taking you through the editing workflow: Photo Mechanic & Photoshop

   The following Camtasia tutorial takes you through the motions of photo selection, editing and uploading photos to your Wordpress blog.
   It's certainly not perfect, but I hope it's a helpful guide. Please take 35 minutes out of your day to view it. This video will answer a lot of your questions. Thanks!

How to add keywords to your Wordpress posts

   Keywords are certain words in your blog post that are searchable. 

   For example, in the blog post (see below) about autism, notice that two of the keywords on the left, under the Category and Tags tab are autism, Bittersweet Farms, etc. When a reader is searching for those topics, your blog post could pop up.

To add a keyword, follow these steps:

1.              Log into your site by going to Wordpress.com

2.              Click on My Site

3.              Click on the words Blog Posts (to edit existing blog post), or the Add button to add a new blog post

4.              If adding keywords to an existing blog post, find that blog post then hit the Edit button and open up the blog post.

5.              In the left menu, Click on Categories & Tags

6.              Write your keywords that you should pull out of your blog post. Typically, add your keywords after you write your blog post so you know what words to use.

Example:

Podcast on camera controls: ISO, shutter speed and aperture explained

 

Beautiful chaos: The method of math in photography. White board at WSU for camera control lesson Feb. 2.

   The dual podcasts below offer simple explanations of camera controls: ISO, shutter speed and aperture.
   Because of time constraints on the free version of AudioBoom, which only allows you to record 10-minute podcasts, this lesson is broken down into two parts: ISO and shutter speed is segment one; aperture is segment two.
   Thank you for listening!

Photojournalism: Mental and camera bag tools of the trade

Guidelines for building a Wordpress website that works for you

Social Media

Guidelines

This semester, you will use your Wordpress website for several reasons:

•       Build a portfolio
•       Turn in your homework
•       Create a platform to share information with your students
•       Share your vision and voice

Consider these guidelines to help you find and organize your website.

Step One:

Template. It is very important you choose the right template; it could become a part of your portfolio/resume. 

• Spend at least an hour searching through various templates until you find one that works for you
• Make sure it’s easy to read and follow
• Keep it simply organized
• It absolutely needs to be photo friendly
• Stay away from websites designed for marketing or selling stuff
• Don’t feel you need to select the first one you find. Go through them until you find the right fit
• When you do find one you like, but then decide two weeks later it doesn’t work, then change it
• Spend the first month getting to understand and know your website. Experiment!

Lori King's website: With dynamic photo and menu

Step Two:

Homepage or cover page? When a visitor lands on your blog, what will they see? Will it begin with a cover page, with a dynamic photo and a menu like what on the right? Or a homepage, with a menu for the various pages? Or will visitors be greeted with your blog and social media right away?

Consider these options:

Visuals and Voices – This doesn’t have a homepage

Lori King’s Website – This one does

King’s Klass Blog – This is a true blog, not a website

King's Klass Blog: All elements on homepage

Step Three:

Blog. Once you’ve chosen your homepage option, then add a blog, or not.

Some websites are blogs, while others have separate pages for blogs. You have to decide which one works for you. Whatever you decide, your blog posts need to be found fast and easy, because this is where you will post 99% of your essays and photos.

Step Four:

Twitter. Your Twitter feed should be on the homepage.

Visitors need to be able to read your most recent Tweets. They also should be able to click on your name to go directly to your Twitter feed.

Remember the following requirements:

• Upload professional headshot
• Brief but informative description
• Include Website URL in your description
• Include required hashtags in every post
• Follow @intro2pj + five others from my feed

Step Five:

Instagram. Your Instagram feed should be on the homepage.

Visitors need to be able to view your most recent Instagram posts. They should also be able to click on your name to go directly to your Instagram feed.

Remember the following requirements:

• Upload professional headshot
• Brief but informative description. This can be the same as your Twitter description
• Include Website URL in your description
• You must post a first photo to make it active on your website
• Open a new account if your original account is mostly selfies and personal content
• Follow @toledophotog + five others from my feed

Prezi presentation on social media

Your Wordpress: The site that binds