thestoryofjory.com

I have been remiss in my blogging duties.  Since returning from the Rally to Restore Sanity, life has been quite busy.

I was asked a few weeks ago to present my thesis research on media literacy for the School of Media and Strategic Communications’ Colloquium series. I presented for about half an hour, then did a few minutes of question-and-answer with the faculty.  The experience wasn’t nearly as stressful as I thought it might be, and the discussion with my colleagues was interesting as well.  I’m posting my presentation here via SlideShare in case you’re interested in discussing it with me as well!

It’s been a long day of traveling for the Oklahoma Sanity Riders. There’ve been just a few stops – at Ryan’s Buffet in Springfield, MO for lunch and a quick stop off at a highway restroom east of St. Louis.

Most riders have passed the time either sleeping or reading. Some have watched movies on their iPods and computers. There are five televisions on bus one; they’ve played Law & Order, Scrubs, and of course The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. In addition to the televisions, the bus has wi-fi, several power outlets, reclining seats, and a restroom. It’s certainly nice, and we’re as comfortable as we could possibly be making a 24-hour bus trip.

I spent the morning on the bus editing and attempting to upload a 45-second video to YouTube. Tanner read mostly, and dozed. After our lunch stop, I got the camera out and made my way down the bus aisle to meet a few more of my fellow passengers. There are a lot of interesting people on the bus, and I wish I was able (and they were all willing) to talk to all of them. It’s been enlightening to hear what motivated such diverse personalities to board a bus to Washington with 120 strangers for a 60-hour whirlwind trip.  People are talking about their backgrounds, their hopes and excitement for the rally, and politics, of course.

I hope to do something meaningful with the information and footage that people have so generously shared with me. After we stop for dinner, I’ll try to make another (better?) video that better represents their views.

In just under 2 hours, Tanner, Bigyan and I will be boarding the bus headed from Stillwater to Washington D.C. for the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

Since the day we signed up, Bigyan and I have been working to document the trip and the people riding the bus. It’s been a fun process so far, and certainly a worthy one as our trip has now picked up national media attention.  NPR’s The Takeaway and The Story are covering Ronn & Vicke (the trip’s organizers), and CBS Evening News has a digital journalist, Ryan Corsaro, riding the bus there and back with us.  Of course the local media are also covering the action as well – News 9 out of Oklahoma City will have a live reporter there to see us off.

I’ll try to live tweet from the bus and rally, for those who are interested.  I may even get to update my blog with pics and video, since the bus does have wi-fi for 12 people and lots of outlets.

I also shot 6 interviews with people last night, and I can’t wait to show you some of the 7D footage we got. But it’s time to load up the car and go! Wish me luck. And, call D.C. police if you don’t hear from me by Monday :)