Video Journalist

A collaborative showcase of work produced by the Temple University Department of Journalism Advanced Video Newsgathering Class (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-60480863-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview');

[video-journalist]

Cherry Blossom Festival 2017

By Brian Roche

A popular tradition in Japan,the Festival of the Cherry Blossoms turned Fairmount Park into a little piece of The Land of The Rising Sun. Hosted by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia, the festival celebrated its 21st anniversary in Philadelphia. Thousands flocked to Fairmount Park to take part in this massive celebration.

The event featured some recognizable elements of Japanese culture including the art of sushi making to traditional Japanese knick-knacks. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney even made a brief appearance, reading a Kamishibai story to small children. This festival offered something special for everyone of all ages when it comes to the Japanese culture.

[video-journalist]

Temple Hosts Financial Wellness Fair

By: Dominic Barone

One of the biggest problems college graduates face besides finding their first good-paying job is repaying their student loans. There is 1.42 TRILLION dollars in American student loan debt. There are 44.2 million Americans in some form of student loan debt. If that were to be a country, my population it would rank 32nd in the world. 

Temple University hosted a financial wellness fair at the Bell Tower right around the time students are getting ready to graduate. Financial literacy is something students don’t take the time to teach themselves, and it can cost them in the long run.

We spoke with some students to see what they knew about student loan repayment and how much they were in debt. The results were not all that surprising.

[video-journalist]

GET UP AND SWEAT 

BY DARYL MATTHEWS 

Every spring Dilworth Park in center city is transformed into a free pop-up fitness center for all sizes male and female. Spring training whips you into shape with multiple classes to get the blood flowing and kick off the summer body you've always wanted. The program last for two months and showcases every Tuesday and Thursday.

[video-journalist]

Artists in Philadelphia - Photographers

By Montana Bassett

Jobs in the photography field are dwindling with an over abundance of talented photographers, but not nearly enough jobs available at one time for all of them.

Since 2002, the amount of jobs held by photographers has decreased by over half. But despite this decline, college students and graduates here in Philadelphia are finding inspiration and excitement for the art of photography through all of the artists benefits the city provides.

Young photographers are using Philadelphia as a space to pave their way as artists, grab hold of otherwise unheard of opportunities and learn about themselves.

[video-journalist]

Artists in Philadelphia - Illustrators

By Montana Bassett

Careers in the arts are bringing an unexpected amount of money into the communities in the the Philadelphia area. One such artist, Corey Brickley, has begun his career freelancing and based himself right here in the city after graduating from the University of the Arts with a degree in Illustration. 

Brickley says his professors from the University of the Arts have been largely important to his success and development as an artist and as a person. He also notices that the art community here in Philadelphia is deep and full of inspiration waiting to be found and finds that atmosphere to be helpful when shaping his style and learning about himself as an artist. 

Being from the State College area here in Pennsylvania, Brickley has now found a home here in the city where he can continue to evolve his craft.

[video-journalist]

Artists in Philadelphia - Comedians 

By Montana Bassett

Stand up comedy was very different 20 years ago, Variety says there were only about four comedians with the ability to sell out an entire theatre. Now? there are closer to 100.

Internet streaming has had an impact on the proliferation of stand up comedy. In fact, Netflix put out five different stand up specials in the first six months of 2015 and that trend has only continued since. 

The rise in popularity and accessibility has produced an audience and interest that philadelphia based comedians Kate Banford and Aaron Nevins have taken advantage of. Leading them to open the Good Good Comedy Theatre in October of last year where they have three to four live shows almost every night of the week.

But, women experience quite a different story when it comes to the life of a comedian. Banford explains her journey into her profession and how she broke free of stereotypes.

[video-journalist]

Benjamin Franklin Parkway Centennial Celebration

By Brian Roche

2017 will be a big year for the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The one-and-a-half mile strip will lay host to the NFL Draft at the end of April, but the festivities don’t stop there. The Parkway will be celebrating it’s 100th anniversary this September.

The celebration is a collaboration of all of the Parkway’s institutions and the Parkway Museums District. The centennial will run from September 8th of this year to November 16, 2018. Plans for the centennial include the “We Are Connected” Festival to start off the Centennial, to a public art installation which will feature “winter fountains” at five parks across the city. 

[video-journalist]

7th Annual Fishtown Chili Cook-Off at The Fillmore

The Fishtown Neighbor’s Association puts on a chili cook-off every year in Fishtown for the past seven years. It’s been such a successful event that they’ve moved it to The Fillmore the past two years.  

What makes this event exciting and inclusive at the same time is that both restaurateurs and Fishtown neighbors can take part. Some of the best chili at the event comes from someone’s kitchen in their home. And there’s more than just chili. The Fillmore opens their bar with a wide variety of beer and free Weckerly’s ice cream.

It’s such an awesome event that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney came to show his support for something that is purely community driven. All the proceeds go to the Fishtown Neighbor’s Association which is a 100% volunteer run non-profit organization. The FNA takes that money and continues to spread its impact on the Fishtown area. 

[video-journalist]

Philly Comics and Cosplay Day

The Philadelphia Comic Con is one of the biggest events for fans who want to submerse themselves in the comic book and anime universe. But now they don’t have to wait to indulge. Psycho Scene Events brings for the second year Philly Comic and Cosplays Day which happened on March 25th. This is a warm-up for the biggest comic con event in Philly all year, but Philly Comics and Cosplay Day is only getting larger. This year was so successful that they will probably need to find a bigger venue.

Fans got to dress in their best cosplay with other fans, and they even got to enter in a contest to see which cosplay was the best! The event featured plenty of vendors with items such as wallets, t-shirts, beard products, comics (obviously), key chains and even vintage Atari video games. They also invited food trucks like Wahlburgers to come and provide delicious food.

A good comic con event isn’t any good unless there are some notable names and faces that fans get to enjoy, and Psycho Scene Events delivered. People like Spiderman Noir creator Fabrice Sapolsky and former WWE superstar Gene Snitsky among others. The most important thing is that the people who attended enjoyed themselves and lots of people will most likely be at next year’s event.

[video-journalist]

DANCE TO A NEW BEAT OF AN OLD DRUM

BY DARYL MATTHEWS 

KICKING OLD STEREOTYPES TO THE SIDE AND ADDING A NEW SPIN ON OLD MOVES. IAM PHRESH DANCE ACADEMY IN NORTHEAST PHILADELPHIA PRIDES THEMSELVES ON MAKING THE BEST OUT OF EACH STUDENT. IAM PHRESH HOLDS THEMSELVES TO A HIGHER STANDARD FOR TEACHING DISCIPLINE AND LEADERSHIP ROLES.

BEING THE ONLY HIP-HOP BASED DANCE SCHOOL IN THE TRI STATE AREA DOESN'T PUT THEM IN THE NUMBER ONE SPOT, CREATING THE TOP DANCERS DOES.  FROM BEING ON MTV’S AMERICA’S BEST DANCE CREW AND WORKING WITH ARTIST SUCH AS JUSTIN BEIBER AND CIARA, ARE JUST WHY THEY FEEL THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. WITH A LITTLE HARD WORK ANYONE CAN DANCE AS LONG AS THEY PUT AND KEEP THEIR HEARTS IN IT.

[video-journalist]

Donald Trump Rally Meets Anti Fascist Protest

By: Dominic Barone

On Saturday March 25, 2017, a Donald Trump rally happened at Independence Hall around 11:30 a.m. Philadelphia doesn’t typically see public outings supporting republican views, and the level of support wasn’t large as there were only 100 to 200 people. The Donald Trump rally was swiftly met by a protest much greater than the rally.

Disrupt M.A.G.A. was planned just days in advance to see that the rally did not go without protest. The people in the original protest wearing all black were known as antifa, anti-fascists for short, and circled the block for an hour to intimidate Trump supporters.

Once the antifa knew the route the Trump supporters were going to take, they took it over and marched in place of them. Once they were dispersed, Police let them walk to city hall where after 40-45 minutes everyone was told to go home.

[video-journalist]

The Workshop School: A Different Approach to Public Education

By: Dominic V. Barone

When the students of The Workshop School in West Philadelphia tell their family and friends what they do during the day, some of them don’t believe it. Right off of 48th and Walnut, the school uses a project based model to teaching their students. They start their day in what’s called Advisory. They work on both group and individual projects. 

Students in some fashion get to choose what their projects are and what angle to take. Other times they are given a task. Some projects include debugging video games, Rube Goldberg projects, building composters, building portable watersheds and or solar powered cell phone chargers. 

Students also have the chance of taking college level courses at CCP and Drexel as well as internship opportunities. The school has standards of excellence, but the curriculum is fluid for a changing world.

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WOLF DEM - DJs IN PHILADELPHIA

The world of EDM continues to grow. The amount of tracks listened to within the genre have jumped 55 percent in the last year and the industry is said to be worth up to $7.1 billion according to Thumper. But how are DJs here in Philadelphia are using the city’s advantages to get their sound out there and grow as artists?

Wolf Dem, a local DJ group, is using local venues to proliferate their sound and fuel the EDM craze. Not only that, but they are realizing the benefits of artists basing themselves in the city regardless of their art form. “Its more affordable,” Eleyna, one of Wolf Dem’s group members said. “I have more time to work on my art.”

Lars, the second member of the group says the art community here is something that can grow and foster the people who are a part of it. “There is a community here that I felt I could be a part of,” he said.

The group wants to stay in Philadelphia, at least for near future, and keep taking advantage of its affordability, dynamic art community and plethora of local venues.

[video-journalist]

International Women’s Day Protest

While the month March is recognized as Women’s History Month, March 8th is known as International Women’s Day. With the still-recent inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States, protests for women’s equality were arranged all over the country. In Philadelphia, hundreds of protesters gathered at Logan Square Wednesday night, marching through Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, and down Broad Street as part of the “Day Without a Woman” strike. 

The strike had women out in full force in a massive crowd of red tops and pink hats. The protest was also joined by several organizations as a show of solidarity, letting their voices be heard as well. Chants such as “who’s streets? Our Streets” echoed down a closed-off Broad Street, letting all protesters have their voices be heard. 

 Written, filmed and edited by Brian Roche

[video-journalist]

THESE HEELS ARE MADE FOR STRUTTING

By Daryl Matthews

   From New York, London and now Philadelphia, fashion is taking over the world one runway at a time. The producers of Philadelphia Fashion Week Kevin Parker and Kerry Scott have ended February 2017with a bang. Giving Philadelphia a chance to see some of some astounding gowns, and models to strut their stuff.

    Designing clothes for 12 years, Tyrone “Marquette” is only just beginning this journey to having his clothing worn by his desired celebrity “Lavern Cox”. Progressing his hand-stitched gowns as the years evolve, gears his to work under any condition. Have working with numerous celebrities is a pivotal step of where his runway designs will take him in the near future.

[video-journalist]

THE MEANING OF LOVE 

BY Daryl Matthews 

In the city of brotherly love everyone wants to find that special person to be with for the rest of their life. In order to start a life with someone new you must first learn who you truly are on the inside. There are different misconceptions about the meaning of love, true love has no meaning it comes from within the heart.

A couple that workouts together grows together. Lamar Lockerman and Miss Posh are the training dynamic duo in Northern Liberties PUSH U Fitness that kicks all the negative stereotypes about love to the curb.

Tasnim Sulaiman M.Ed., LPC specializes in couples therapy and she says that “we must get to the deeper issues beyond the surfaces to enjoy what love and relationships can offer”.

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Philadelphia March Against Discrimination

By Brian Roche

In response to President Trump’s many acts being enacted in his first month as president, hundreds gathered to march down Market Street to City Hall in the March Against Discrimination. Protesters of all races and ages marched, expressing their frustration, and anger towards the acts of the new administration.

The march was organized by community activist Malcolm Kenyatta who believes that Philadelphia should be able to keep its funding as a sanctuary city, despite Trump’s recent threats to cut off funding for the city’s status a couple of weeks earlier at the Republican Retreat in Philadelphia. Other community activists joined Kenyatta in the march to city hall to protest policies enacted by Trump’s cabinet, and choices for his cabinet, addressing Senator Pat Toomey.

The protest was joined by state senator, Dailyn Leach at City Hall, giving the message to protestors not to stop fighting back. Leach is also optimistic that Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney will stand up to the President’s actions against the city.