What: The UpTake Meet and Greet!  Come meet The UpTake staff and mingle with other UpTake volunteers, fans, viewers and more.   Nothing formal - we just want to meet you!

When: February 18, 2009.  8-10 PM CT.

Where: Groveland Tap, in St. Paul.  Come for just the meeting, or order from the menu.

RSVP: Drop Jennifer a line at jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org. 

All are welcome.  Hope to see you there!

Hello, UpTakers! Ah, it's nice to relax. The recount's over; Election 2008 is at a close. Let me just put my feet up on this ottoman - oh, wait? What's that you say? Norm Coleman is filing an election contest? Millions are descending upon Washington DC for an inauguration? The Minnesota Legislature quietly convened in the last week? No sleep for the wicked! Or, in this case, The UpTake.

Here's what we've got in store for the next months:

1. Quick on the UpTake: after popular demand, we'll now be broadcasting a regular live show starring the UpTake team, and whomever we drag on with us. Our first show, hosted by our Mike McIntee, will be this Thursday, at 2 PM CST. Join us live, right after MN Governor Pawlenty's State of the State Address. Mike will recap the week, and take your questions.

2. Meet-Ups: Sometime in the next month, we'll be hosting our very first UpTake meet-up for volunteers and fans. We'll have speakers. We'll have a training session. We'll have the entire UpTake team at your mercy. Come meet the faces behind The UpTake, and your fellow UpTake fans. More details to come.

3. State of the State, 12 PM CST, Thursday, January 15th: We'll be live as MN Governor Pawlenty presents his State of the State. How bad are things, anyway? Join us live, and on the blog.

4. Inauguration: Oh, we'll be there. Will you? We'd love to have your input! Have a camera? What's your inauguration story? How about the guy next to you? Want your footage on The UpTake? Contact us at info@theuptake.org.

In between all of this, we'll be covering the Minnesota legislature, the upcoming election contest and more. Stay tuned to The UpTake - 2009's going to be an incredible year.

Thanks for watching!

http://www.theuptake.org

jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org

PS: Tonight (Monday) join Mike live on The UpTake as he broadcasts from AM KNTF. 6 CST - 7 PM CST. You can watch him live on our site, or listen at http://www.am950ktnf.com/ (put in 55104 for your zip).

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATEMENT BY THE UPTAKE

Video news site clarifies MN GOP Chair's statements

 

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ST PAUL [12/30/08] - Earlier today Ron Carey, Chair of the Minnesota GOP, called The UpTake, an online video news gathering organization, the "Official Communicator" for the office of the Minnesota Secretary of State.  

Mr. Carey's statement warrants a small clarification.

The UpTake is not the "Official Communicator" for the Minnesota Secretary of State. The UpTake is currently providing an unedited switched video feed of Minnesota State Canvassing Board proceedings.  The UpTake is also webcasting the feed live at its website, http://www.theuptake.org.  The feed and webcast are free, public and available to any organization interested in obtaining it.  Many press organizations have already taken advantage of our pool feed.  Outlets from the Pioneer Press to Fox News have requested the code for our live webcast.

The UpTake is providing this service because the Capitol staff who normally provide both the video feed and webcast were not available. The UpTake volunteered to contribute equipment and technical personnel to continue to provide both. The office of the Secretary of State accepted our offer.  This conversation was transparent and also streamed live online.

Jason Barnett, Executive Director of The UpTake, commented, "We are extremely pleased that the Chair of the Minnesota GOP watches The UpTake and was able to enjoy today's State Canvassing Board hearing through our live coverage."

 

About The UpTake
----------------------

The UpTake is a citizen-fueled video news gathering organization that uses the Internet as its broadcast medium.  Since its inception, The UpTake has explored the frontier of social media and news gathering.   The UpTake is a 501(c)4, non-partisan, non-profit organization that focuses on video news gathering, production and publication.  The UpTake Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit, focuses on training people in the practice of participatory journalism.

Our video coverage has been seen on CNN, MSNBC, PBS and has been prominently featured on You Tube.  Donations to either organization can be made through our website at http://www.theuptake.org

 

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HOW TO EMBED THE LIVE FEED:

Our live feed of the Minnesota Canvassing Board proceedings is available to anyone.  Go to  http://www.mogulus.com/ theuptake, click EMBED in the lower left hand corner and you can change the initial volume and player size.  It produces a 400 by 400 pixel player that starts at full volume.  Note this is a JavaScript player.  Please consult with your webmaster.  If you know HTML you can see a variety of different options to customize the player.

This embed code will continue to loop related coverage even after the live coverage ends so no rush to take it down.  We often stream Franken, Coleman and Ritchie presss conferences soon after the meeting concludes.

If you see any future UpTake coverage you would like to use, feel free to embed our player using the same code again.   Please email info@theuptake.org with a notification on where you are embedding it so we can track usage and improve our service in the future.

***NEWS ADVISORY***

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                       
CONTACT: John Aiken                                                                                                                      

(651) 297-8919

STATE CANVASSING BOARD MEETS TUESDAY

-Office provides live feed of board meeting to media outlets

WHAT:   The State Canvassing Board's convenes to approve the allocation of the remaining withdrawn ballots in the U.S. Senate race.

WHEN:   Tuesday, Dec. 30
        9 a.m.

WHERE:  Room 15
                State Capitol Bldg.
        75 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul

                      

WHO:    Canvass Board members include Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric J. Magnuson, Justice G. Barry Anderson, Chief Judge Kathleen R. Gearin, and Assistant Chief Judge Edward J. Cleary.

NOTE:   The Office of the Secretary of State does not have access to House and Senate Media Services at this time. To continue to ensure transparency of the recount process, this office has accepted an offer from "The Uptake" to provide a live feed to media outlets for the Dec. 30 state canvassing board meeting.

We are planning to provide a clean feed of the production (full video and audio, but without graphics) to media through the services of "The Uptake".

The feed from Room 15 State Capitol Bldg. will begin at 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday morning and will switch over to a live camera feed by 9 a.m.

                The Uptake will provide access to their live web feed. If you are interested in embedding their internet video stream, please contact info@theuptake.org.

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NOTICE: E-mail correspondence to and from the Office of the Secretary of State of Minnesota may be public data subject to the Minnesota Data Practices Act and/or may be disclosed to third parties

Protect the Vote With Your Camera Phone - Here's How

The UpTake, a video-based journalism website, empowers everyday citizens to get involved in media and politics, both through viewing and creating online content, as well as by becoming citizen journalists.  Praised by Minnesota Public Radio, Wired.com, The Boston Herald and others for their instant live-streaming coverage of protester/police scuffles at the Republican National Convention, The UpTake has made ground-breaking progress in citizen journalism. 

Through the use of cellphone cameras The UpTake is able to broadcast the news the moment it happens.

Do you have a video-enabled camera phone? Here's how you can help protect the vote on election day! Join The UpTake and the "Video the Vote" coalition's effort to make sure every vote counts. Reports of voter intimidation and disfranchisement are already coming in from around the country. Remedial actions need to be taken immediately, so time is of the essence. Live streaming video from your cell phone is the most effective way to protect the vote.

Here's how you can add your phone to our network of eyes and ears across the country now through Election Day, in just 15 minutes.

GETTING SET UP:

1. Sign up with Video The Vote, so you can get alerts about voter protection in your community: http://videothevote.org/

2. See if you have a compatible phone here: http://qik.com/info/supported_phones

• The iPhone and iPhone 3G are both supported but they will need to be jailbroken. (That sounds bad, but it's not. It's a relatively simple procedure that's easy to reverse after Election Day.)
  
  
• Instructions on how to jailbreak: http://www.iclarified.com/entries/index.php?caid=2&scid=11&seid=2 Choose which tutorial fits your operating system and iPhone version.
  

• Then follow these instructions from Qik: http://qik.com/blog/206/qik-announces-iphone-3G-support

3. Signup with Qik: http://qik.com/sign_up You will receive a text message on the your phone that will install and activate Qik on your phone. Qik is a standalone application on your phone. It's very easy to use and will walk you through the settings. If you need help call (877) 745-7459 or email support@qik.com.

4. Make sure you are signed into Qik.com. Go to the following link and click on "Attend this Event". It's near the middle of the left hand column (see image on right) http://qik.com/event/537/vote-chasers-voting-coverage-with-the-uptake/day/4

5. Immediately email live@theuptake.org with a link to your Qik page and where you will be located on Election day. Qik pages are always: http://qik.com/USERNAMEHERE

6. Spread the word to others with camera phones!

REPORTING AN INCIDENT:

1. Use Qik on your phone to live stream any voter intimidation or any other questionable election-related activity. Your footage will be archived on Qik for our editors to distribute. Make sure all your streams are set to PUBLIC within the Qik settings.

2. After any incident, email as soon as possible live@theuptake.org with your Qik username and a description of what happened (where, who, how, why, etc)

3. Contact jason.barnett@theuptake.org if you have any questions related to election day live streaming voter protection.

The UpTake (http://theuptake.org ), an emergent citizen-fueled online video-news gathering organization focusing on providing alternative coverage of the 2008 political circus is looking for interns! We are looking for the right folks to build our team to carry our momentum to the next level. Our groundbreaking coverage of the Republican and Democratic National Conventions gained widespread recognition for the use of empowering citizen-journalists with cell phones with live streaming video capabilities. In general, we cover stories that are falling off the radar of the big media - compelling local stories, interesting viewpoints, strong personalities. Our mission is to empower citizens to commit acts of journalism.

Here's what we're looking for:

1. Join our coverage team! Pair with one of our video-journalists and learn the entire video workflow from capture to publication and distribution.

2. Join our research team! Our low costs allow us to investigate stories that get missed. Any topic is open but we are looking to focus on the economic crisis, energy and water quality issues and health care policy over the next two months.

3. Join our volunteer and marketing team! The UpTake's future success depends on building a broad-based grassroots movement to support its coverage goals. Help build a grassroots infrastructure and market The UpTake's mission to a wider audience.

The UpTake is run by a group of passionate, hard working citizens. You should be the same. Here's who we're looking for:

-Creative solver. Part of the problem is that the media status quo isn't working. Don't be tied down by tradition.

-Panic resistant. Things don't always go as planned and that's part of the fun of this job. Be able to keep a clear head and stay flexible.

-Robust organizer. Especially when covering politics there's a lot of noise. Compartmentalize information and make it usable.

-Tech Savvy. Everything we do involves technology in some way. Be proficient or a quick learner. These are vague by design.

We want a diverse group of applicants. If you are a journalism major this is a great way to get on the ground floor of building a new press organization in an era of media contraction. If you are an artist this is a great way to hone your video editing or design skills. Bring your personal skill set and commitment to our mission. We will work with your school to verify hours worked for class credit.

Contact Jennifer at jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org.  Please include a brief cover letter/resume/interview availibility.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Hello, friends. Happy Monday! It's going to be a busy week here at UpTake HQ, and we want you to join us. Here's what's happening:

It's (A)live!

 

Our infamous live stream is back in full force. (Perhaps you caught our live stream of the McCain/Palin rally in Blaine, MN last week? No? Check the front page for a re-cap.) We'll be live-streaming and live-blogging several events this week:

TONIGHT, Monday, September 22: CD3 Debate between Ashwin Madia (D), Erik Paulson (R) and David Dillon (I) from 7-9 PM. We'll be covering this live in our MN group.

Also TONIGHT, we'll be live-streaming the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists' post-RNC panel at Coffman Union, during the same time-frame, on the front page. We'll run a link to both events on the front page, so you can flip back and forth between the two streams.

There's a scattering of debates and events each night this week we're still working on. We'll let you know ASAP when you can join us on those.

Cover Your Race!

 

As always, The UpTake would love to have YOUR take on what's going on in your community. We'll soon have a sparkly magical apparatus in which you can choose the race you want to cover, but for now, send our Volunteer Coordinator, Suzanne, an e-mail and let her know what you can do: suzanne.hughes@theuptake.org. Talk to your neighbors! Talk to your candidate! Talk to your Congresswoman! You know the scoop in your neighborhood - let the world know, too.

Intern with The UpTake

 

We need hard-working, passionate interns who can dedicate 10-40 hours a week to helping The UpTake thrive during the election season. This is an unpaid position, but you'll get to work with cutting-edge technology while you stand tall on the front lines of Election 2008. We need citizen journalists, research mavericks, volunteer coordinator assistants, technology gurus and more. We'll work with your college for credit. E-mail Jennifer to set-up an interview: jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org.

Videos, Videos

 

We're STILL wrapping up RNC coverage. (I think we'll be doing this for, roughly, the next thousand years.) Check out what St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman had to say about the protest events surrounding the RNC. Watch Citizen Kate as she learns that wearing the right clothes just might keep you safe on the streets during a riot. Sick of the RNC? What about Sarah Palin? (Hint: those 10,000 supporters who attended the Blaine rally might be saying, "McCain WHO?") All this, and more, on The UpTake.

Send Us Away!

 

Did you like our DNC coverage? How about when we traversed the northeast during snowy primary season? Traveling takes resources, and that's when we turn to you. We'd love to send our journalists to the upcoming presidential and vice-presidential debates to give you the live-streaming, action-packed coverage you're used to, but we need some help. If just 24 people donate $200, we can send two journalists to a debate. If 50 people send $100, we can do the same. We'd be grateful for your support, and proud to keep our reform train chugging. Please click here to donate.

Questions? Concerns? So excited you can barely stand it? Let me know: jennifer.whigham@theuptake.org. Thanks for watching!

Independent Journalists, New Media Gurus, Bloggers, Alternative Media Outlets...
Are  you looking for a place to work during the Republican National Convention?

Space is limited and will fill up quickly.

Where: 3 locations around the Xcel Center in Saint Paul.

Credentials allow access to all three locations during the convention. The UpTake New Media Space is only $50.00 for the week of August 31 - September 5

Location 1:  The UpTake New Media Space
 
Just outside the convention center, The UpTake New Media Space is the closest space with internet access – only 300 yards outside the convention center!  It’s as close as you can get to the RNC without security clearance!

Who: The UpTake is an online news organization reporting political news through citizen journalists.

What: The UpTake New Media Space will provide a safe, comfortable place for journalists to work, meet and relax during the convention.

The New Media Space features:

300 Yards from the front door of the Convention Center
Dedicated T-1 Upload and Download
Open 8:00 am to late
More fun than you can Twitter about!

Space is limited and will fill up quickly. 
http://theuptake.org/

Location 2: Golden’s Deli

Where: Just blocks from the Xcel Center, Golden's Deli will provide access to events both inside and outside of the convention hall. A locally-owned shop with tasty chow made with local ingredients, it's a great place to get away from all that conservative rhetoric. For more info visit www.goldensdeli.us  We will have WiFi access and screens to watch the RNC action at night and during the day there will be media events you can cover.

Who: Alliance for a Better Minnesota www.allianceminnesota.org is a Minnesota-based online progressive advocacy and communications organization working to provide cutting edge online tools for working families and give a voice to progressives statewide.

What: ABM will be providing a versatile space that will be part blogging green room and part event center. Expert panels will be held on key issues with added commentary and availability of progressive Minnesotans and working people to be integrated into traditional coverage of the convention through streaming web feeds, live satellite feeds, and other media methods.

When: The space will be available starting on the afternoon of Sunday, August 31st through the afternoon of Friday, September 5th until midnight each night.

Location 3: "Liberal Lounge."

"Liberal Lounge – Sponsored by the SEIU" will be set up as an evening venue in which progressive bloggers, activists, new media and alternative media to relax, socialize, network, perform and write.  Located within walking distance of both the Xcel Energy Center and the offices and workspace of The Uptake Citizen Media, "Liberal Lounge – Sponsored by the SEIU" will provide a convenient gathering space for media and bloggers to move on to once the major coverage from the day is complete and the official workspace are closed.

The "Liberal Lounge – Sponsored by the SEIU" space is a converted pool-house that currently serves as an events space.  "Liberal Lounge – Sponsored by the SEIU" will be open from 5 pm to 12am. Monday, September 1st through Thursday, September 4th, and will have complementary beer, wine, soda, water, coffee and snacks available.  Entertainment will include not only convention coverage but live music, comedy and film.

I had a feeling of Deja Vu watching KARE-11, the Minneapolis NBC affiliate try using the Mogulus live streaming service today.  The live camera was coming from Eric Perkins, their reporter who is in Bejing covering the Olympics and their anchor in the Twin Cities.

I watched as even with the assistance of seasoned broadcast professional technicians, KARE had many of the same "learning curve" problems that The UpTake had when we started using Mogulus about 8 months ago.  There's getting used to the time lag of switching from one camera to another.  There's audio problems because you can't always hear the other person.  There's feedback as the audio gets routed wrong.

But then there's the things that TV people should know better than to do.  Eric was complaining about something and his microphone was open for all 43 people watching to hear.  (Rule one in broadcasting.... always assume EVERY microphone is LIVE....ask Jesse Jackson about that one).  Then Perkins started making faces to the camera while he was waiting to start... balancing a pencil between his upper lip and his nose...apparently oblivious that he was live for the entire world to see.

(Update: KARE-11 News Director tells me Eric was at the end of a 19+ hour workday and is a "incredibly creative and gracious force".  Having been in the same situation, I know that long hours can cause us all to do things we might not normally do.  My point here is not that Eric is a bad reporter... but that Moguls and live streaming is a new medium not just for us new media types, but for legacy media as well and knowing that the camera is "always on", is something we need to get used to)

On the Minneapolis side of this live webcast, the anchor was more professional.  I think it was Julie Nelson, but it was hard to tell since the lighting was so horrible.  The anchor was Kim Insley. Why they decided to have her sit in a dimly lit control room with no lights is beyond me.  I can understand not having proper lighting at a remote location, but not at a multi-million dollar TV facility?  Then there was the clowning around of what I assumed are station employees behind her.... waving to the camera and acting like they've never been on TV before.   

I think this was like this because TV people are conditioned that what they do before and after the "live shot" will not appear for the rest of the world to see.   When I worked at CONUS Communications I saw this a lot as TV reporters would do and say some pretty outrageous stuff before or after they went on the air via satellite.  CONUS was the nation's first company to enable TV stations to do live satellite reports... commonplace now, but back in the early 90s this was pretty cutting edge stuff.

Back then the only audience for those types of antics were the producers and editors at the other end of the feed... and perhaps a few people who had satellite dishes pointed in the right direction.

It shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that not all media people are as professional as they really seem on air.  It's good to pull back the curtain and offer transparency. I believe there's an old saying that we see the true person when they think nobody is looking.