View from The UpTake office.  Which has no bearing on your internship, but it's pretty, yes?

 

Read these descriptions, then fill out our intern application.

 

We're looking for fall, winter and spring interns who can commit to 10-40 hours a week.  We run a relaxed and fun working environment, but we're looking for dedicated, cool-headed, hard-working and dependable people who are passionate about news, politics and technology. 

 

Office is in downtown St. Paul, but lots of opportunities to work from home (must be very, very disciplined for that portion - trust us). Unpaid, but valuable new media experience (yaddayadda). Will work with your school for credit, if you want it.

We have internships in the following positions...

1. Video reporting. You'll be one of our star citizen journalists.  You'll be assigned a beat, and expected to grab footage or stories from the beat for the week, as well as helping cover breaking news as it occurs. We provide the equipment and the training.  Must be comfortable with technology.  Camerawork knowledge helpful, but not necessary.  Hours: varies.

 

2. Editing. Know your way around video editing software?  Always wanted to learn?  Help us edit our video footage using a variety of editing software. We have a computer and software to edit on. Must be comfortable with technology, but can train you to edit if you’re interested. This can also be combined with the video reporting internship.  Hours: 10-20.

3. Livestreaming. Help us bring local and national events live to our audiences. Stop/start livestreams using Livestream software from your (or our) computer. Monitor local and national events using Livestream software. Opportunity to go on-site to local events with a journalist and livestream form there.  Post play-by-plays to our Twitter account.  Must be comfortable with technology, social media, have a good attention span and excellent writing skills.  We provide equipment.  This can also be combined with the video reporting internship.  Hours: 10-20, but must be available daily, Monday-Friday.

4. Volunteer coordinator/communications. Want to see what happens behind the scenes at a citizen-powered new media organization? Help our volunteer coordinator recruit, contact and assign citizen journalists to stories and other tasks. Help write weekly blog posts and e-mail communications to our UpTake userbase (3000+). Monitor our social media networks. Can work from home, and or come into the office where a computer will be provided for you. Must have great self-discipline, writing skills and be internet-savvy.  Hours: 10-20 a week.

 

5. Production/radio. Work directly with our Executive Producer helping him making editorial decisions.  Help him plan and book guests for his radio show on AM950. Scour news and press releases for story ideas, or plan themed days for the radio show.  Must be comfortable calling people and have a sharp eye for news.  Hours: 10-20 a week. 

 

6. Fundraising/accounts intern: Work directly with our Executive Director, helping him brainstorm and execute fundraising ideas.  Help proofread and contribute to grant applications.  Other tasks as needed.  Hours: 10-40 hours a week.

 

 

 

The UpTake's core staff gathered for UpTake co-founder and video ninja Chuck Olsen's wedding.

 

Front, from l-r: Jennifer Whigham, Noah Kunin, Mike McIntee

Back, from l-r:  Chuck Olsen, Chris Dykstra, Jason Barnett

Training #2: May 11th, 7 PM

Despite the three-judge panel issuing their Coleman v Franken ruling the night of our first training, it went well.  We're doing it again!  Monday, May 11th, 7 PM CDT.  We'll walk you through camerawork, editing and -- this week's special topic -- storytelling.  All levels welcome. 

 

Please RSVP jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org with your name, contact info, interest (camera, editing, storytelling or some combo thereof), and your experience level (novice, medium, advanced.)  Trainings will be the second Monday of each month at our HQ in downtown St. Paul: 411 Main St, Suite 307.  Call 651-224-2479 if the doors are locked when you arrive for the training.

Volunteer Opportunities

- We still need people to help us cover the legislature.  You can do this from home!  Here's the info.

- Not interested in Minnesota, but still want to help?  The White House now offers live streams throughout the day: http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/.  Take a look each day, and let us know if you find something you think we should put on our front page.  Drop us a line at info@theuptake.org.

- Calling all programming geeks!  We need some PHP help.  Check out this post in our tech group.

House Party!

Our first house party fundraiser!  Hosted by Sue & Greg Skog, and Coleen & Ross Rowley.  The party's on May 16th from 4-8 PM.  All are welcome.  Contribute what you can, and stick around for live music and food & drinks.  Kids welcome.  RSVP with Jennifer at jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org, or on the Facebook invite.  Hope to see you there.  (The party's at 1591 Mallard Drive in Eagan, MN.)

Oh, and in case you were wondering: we've raised nearly $10,000 of our $16,000 goal.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  We've had so many kind donations that I haven't been able to thank you all personally via e-mail.  (I will.  No worries!)  We -- no, really -- couldn't do this without you.  (Our donation wish list is here.)

 

Hello, UpTakers! If you haven't been watching lately, you've missed out: we've been broadcasting the Minnesota Legislature live, live-tweeting the sessions (on our UpTake MN account - http://www.twitter.com/uptakemn), and producing pieces featuring debates, quips, silly moments and serious oratory. As you saw with the Coleman v Franken trial, government is thrilling. (I think you'll find yourself getting sucked into this coverage as you did with the trial.)

And just like the trial -- in true UpTake style -- we need your help! Here's what we're looking for:

Watching the Coverage

 

In order to find the gems, we have to watch the coverage and take notes -- via Twitter or the Live Blog. You'll watch the coverage, and note the following things: what topic/bill is being discussed, if the bill passes or doesn't pass, and the interesting quips, speeches and witticisms along the way. Check our http://www.twitter.com/uptakemn for an example of what we've been doing so far. This is easy, can be done from home, is more fun then you'd think, and immensely helpful to us. The MN Senate and House have ever-changing schedules, but the shifts would look like this, more or less:

 

8 AM - 12 PM

12 PM - 4 PM

4 PM - 8 PM

Last day of the session is May 18th, though they may go into special session. If you aren’t available for an entire shift, let us know and we’ll work around your schedule.

 

If interested, e-mail Jennifer at jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org for more details.

Editing the Coverage

 

Do you have a broadband internet connection? Do you have a Mac or Quicktime Pro on a PC? Our distributed video newsroom needs your help. This work would involve taking large video files and cutting them down into manageable chunks. This is quite easy after some training and extremely helpful. Available editing shifts:

 

12 PM - 2 PM

2 PM - 4 PM

4 PM - 6 PM

6 PM - 8 PM

 

Please email noah.kunin@theuptake.org for more information and to sign up!

This is a fun, easy way to get involved in another of The UpTake's grand experiments. Even if you're not from Minnesota, this is a great way to help build a model for future coverage in other states and nationwide.

 

* * *

 

Operating and Staff Costs: $4000 per week ($533 per day, $22 per hour)
-This includes rent, misc operating costs and potential salaries for four employees

 

Internet (T-1): $200/week
- A T1 line is necessary to handle the large amount of video we process.

Phone, for landline and three iPhones: $125/week
-We use the iPhones not only for calls, texts and interaction with our audience, but also for live-streaming

EQUIPMENT:

Canopus Audio Analog to Digital (A/D) and Digital to Analog (D/A) Converter Box. (2) - $200 each
   - Model 110 - $200, $240 with plug in.  Model ADVC-300 is $420 with plug in.
   - We may need two of these.  We can always use them even if they aren't installed
     in the capitol closet because we may find a combination device.

TV tuners to broadcast 2 cable channels at one time. - $200-400 each
 - We need 2 tuner cards.
 - We currently are using borrowed equipment to get one channel up.
 - We may have one tuner per channel or we may have a dual tuner install.  

PC to operate the tuner cards with.  - $250
 - Most tuners are PCI cards and are only compatible with a PC. Mac solutions are
   limited in choice and expensive.

Remote Desktop Software (VNC) for the computer.  - $50
  - One license per computer that is accessed.

Secure cabinet to use for our equipment hold in the basement at the capitol - donated, or $100 - $500
 - Can be wood or metal
 - Must be secure with a lock.  We prefer a combination lock
 - Must have ventilation holes for air flow.
 - Should be big enough to store our broadcast equipment, plus a area for temporary gear
   storage.
 - our area size is two 4-drawer vertical file cabinets side-by-side.... up to 18" from the
   ceiling.
 - See Mike McIntee for more information on our needs.

Beachtek Compact Audio Adapter for each of our cameras. - $200
 - we currently have 2.
 - we need 1 adapter per camera - we currently have 9 cameras both owned and personal.
 - allows us to plug in ‘pro’ style plugs
 - allows us to use line level signals with our mic level cameras
 - Can mix both right and left sides

Sennheiser Compact Shotgun Mic -- “Sennheiser MKE 400 Shotgun Microphone” - $200
  - one for each camera
  - we currently have one working and one broken

An AudioVideo (A/V) distribution amp (1:4) - $110 each
  - We need one for each show we produce.  Currently we have 2 shows.
  - We have one donation on the way.

Audio Mixer  - $400 each
  - We need one for each show we produce.
  - We currently have one on loan for Tom’s Show that has to go back.
  - We would like to have at least 4 XLR inputs plus other source inputs.
  - We are thinking this will be an 8 channel mixer.

Tripods - $20-$50 each

- Need one for every camera set.  Currently have 2-3 semi-working tripods.

Set Lights - $1000 each
 - We need at least 3 lights for each set. 

Replacement SM57 Shure Mics - $100 each + $15 for windscreen.
 - We'r missing quite a few of our SM57 Shure Mics.
  -Need 6+ mics

 

Camera Kits - $100-$200 each

PZM Soundgrabber Microphone - $80 - $200

-Great for our Weekend UpTake show

Lav Mike - $30-$100

-Great for interviews/roundtable discussions

Tapes - $110 for a box of 50

 

 

1 TB Harddrives - $100 each

-All that video has to go somewhere.

 

We're working on our wrap-up pieces, but we're missing a major part of the story: you. If you have a webcam or camera, we'd love for you to film yourself on camera answering these questions: Why are you interested in the trial? Why is the trial important to you?   What role has The UpTake played in your ability to watch the trial?  We'll include them in a later piece about the MN Election Contest.  Once you've filmed your say, e-mail us at info@theuptake.org

 

If you don't have a camera, come on down to the UpTake's offices this Saturday, March 14th, and talk about the trial on camera for our trial wrap-up piece!  1 - 4 PM CDT.  411 Main St, Suite 307, St. Paul.  The UpTake staff is having a Saturday work day - come meet the staff, and record your bit for our piece.  Note: the building may be locked.  Please call The UpTake office at 651-224-2479 when you arrive.

 

Questions?  Let me know: jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org

In response to the Minnesota House media access debate, The UpTake has released the following statement:

 

"Freedom of the press" is a citizen's freedom more than simply the freedom for professional organizations and their employees. Citizens attempting to record at the State Capitol should be protected as "press" as is any media organization, and should not be prevented from recording proceedings as long as they conform with the regular rules of decorum.

 

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was written to protect the activities of pamphleteers, not professional journalists, nor media organizations as they were not yet developed in a significant way at that time. The modern equivalent of pamphleteers are citizens who maintain and distribute their own journals - i.e. bloggers (citizen journalists etc.)  Modern equivalents of the printing press include the video camera and the internet.

 

If the Minnesota Capitol building is "our House" as they say at the beginning of every tour, then the public should be able to access and record (using whatever tools they need) from the proper areas citizens are allowed - any public area.  Anything less denies citizens their constitutional right and creates a government that is less instead of more transparent.

 

 

Jason Barnett
Executive Director
The UpTake