Indiana University School of Journalism

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Photo by Shannon Ryker

Sophomore Courtney Miller demonstrates some of the features of the new Sony camera she used in Africa over the summer.

Multimedia Check out this video, one of the first uses of the new Sony equipment, from the Footsteps of Ernie Pyle trip. Videographer: Scott Myrick (11.66MB) See a high definition version of a video from the trip (very large file). Videographer: Scott Myrick (84.86MB) Related Multimedia lab closed Sunday, Monday (Jan. 15) Lab, library set finals week hours (Dec. 7) School adds 35 HD video cameras to lab inventory (Dec. 4)

Journalism students now have access to some of the best video equipment on the market. Last spring, in conjunction with the university’s agreement with Sony that allowed schools to purchase Sony equipment at a discounted rate, the School of Journalism bought three Sony XDCAM PMW-Ex1 camcorders for student use.

“These cameras are professional. They are full high definition and have a higher resolution than most consumer grade products,” said Scott Myrick, the director of the Scripps Howard Foundation Digital Imaging Lab, or multimedia lab, at the School of Journalism. He used one of the cameras when he accompanied students in the  Footsteps of Ernie Pyle class as they traveled to England and France over spring break. “Right now, the cameras are mostly being used by students in upper level broadcasting classes or for special projects.

Courtney Miller, a sophomore majoring in journalism and international studies, used one of the Sony cameras for a documentary she videotaped over the summer. She and 12 other students went to South Africa with the student chapter of the One Here, One There organization.

“We donated 100 laptops to schools in South Africa and taught the children there how to use them. I really wanted to film this experience to help raise social awareness of what our organization does,” said Miller.

Photo by Shannon Ryker

Multimedia Lab Director Scott Myrick used one of the Sony’s during spring break as he traveled with a class that went abroad.

She approached one of the deans in the School of Journalism with her idea for this documentary and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to use one of cameras.

“I think the school is more than willing to help out any of the students in fulfilling their dreams,” she said.

Amy Reynolds, the associate dean for research and graduate studies, said she appreciates partnerships with manufacturers such as Sony.

“They were very generous with the discount they gave us,” she said. "To have this kind of equipment available for our students is remarkable, and without Sony’s program for providing this equipment to us at a discounted rate, it would have been much more difficult to get this equipment into the hands of our students."

Miller, too, valued having access to the equipment.

“I was so nervous walking around the airport in Africa, knowing how much money all the equipment I had cost. I didn’t let it out of my sight,” she laughed.

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