LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
May 2005, No. 113

Contents

• People + Content Videoconferencing
• Digital Camera Focus Tip
• High-Resolution Images Needed
• NDSU Bison Athletics Logos
• Write the Right Word
• Quote of the Month: Write the Impact

People + Content Videoconferencing

People + Content is a new feature in IVN's videoconferencing system for multi-point connections. People + Content enables you to send a presentation over the same connection as your video, creating a second stream for the presentation. The presentation is integrated with the video using a piece of equipment called a Visual Concert connected to the Polycom camera.

Problems can arise from using this feature if others in the conference are using cameras that do not support People + Content, ex. Polycom model SP or 128. However, this problem can be worked around.

When you schedule your videoconference through Gail Hokenson, 231-7881, be sure to ask to have the People + Content turned off. The folks who have the Polycom SP or 128 models then will be able to view the presentation.

The true implementation of People + Content requires two monitors. However, to have a clear image, the second monitor needs to be an XGA monitor, which costs about $1,500 for a 36 inch. If you do not have two monitors or have dual TVs but no XGA monitor, a small font will appear blurred. Be sure to use a large font. The size of the TV will have a bearing on the quality of the picture and presentation. As a good rule of thumb, use the largest font you can, and keep in mind the contrast of the font color with the background color.

For those interested in upgrading older equipment or setting up a new site, there is a package pricing program now available through one of the state contract holders for video equipment. The prices are:

• VSX7000 Camera (only) $3,000
• VSX7400 package $4,000
• (VSX 7000 Camera, Dual display adapter, and Visual Concert)
• VSX7400/VTX1000 package $4,250
• (VSX7000 Camera, Dual display adapter, Visual Concert, and VTX1000 telephone system)

Mike Miller, 857-767, mmiller@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Digital Camera Focus Tip

Many times a photo can be improved by placing the subject off center. An outdoor photo of a person, for example, may be more interesting if the person is on the right side with an interesting background in the center and to the left. A common problem when doing so, however, is that the subject (the person) is out of focus.

Most cameras are set on auto-focus, and they focus on whatever is in the center of the photo. To correct this problem, place your subject in the center of the photo then press and hold the shutter button halfway down for at least a couple seconds. The camera focuses on the subject. Then, reposition your camera, while still holding the shutter button halfway down, to place the subject off center. Then take the photo by pressing the shutter button all the way down. The result should be a more interesting photo with the subject off center but in focus.

Dave Rice, drice@ndsuext.nodak.edu  231-7381

High-Resolution Images Needed

How would you like to see one of your photographs in the 2005 Annual Highlights for NDSU Agriculture and University Extension? Or maybe in the next marketing brochure?

Agriculture Communication is always looking for good quality photos, and we can use your help. We need photos of people, events, workshops, 4-H, crops, livestock, timely topics... any photo of the activities and people you interact with on a normal basis.

Here are some guidelines:

• Digital images or photo prints are fine.
• Set your digital camera for the highest quality. Color printing requires high-resolution images (2MB is a good starting point). They can always be reduced in size for the Web or other uses.
• Closeups are best. Closeups of people doing something are even better!
• Watch out for distracting backgrounds, especially when taking photos of people.
• Get a photo release from the people in your picture. Contact me for a sample.
• Send me photos along with a brief description.

Deb Tanner, dtanner@ndsuext.nodak.edu  231-7891

NDSU Bison Athletics Logos

Ag Comm occasionally receives questions from NDSU faculty and staff about using a bison logo. These logos are owned and controlled by Bison Athletics, but are available by request. There are eight different designs, with numerous color configurations among those eight. If you want to use a Bison Athletics logo, e-mail me and explain the purpose for which you would like to use the logo. I will show you the different styles, then contact a Bison Athletics representative with your specific request. Permission is granted by Bison Athletics on a case-by-case basis. If approved, your use will be for one time only. Please provide sufficient time for your request to be processed.

Agnes Vernon, agnes.vernon@ndsu.edu  231-7409

Write the Right Word

Just when I thought I'd finally learned most of the important rules in The Associated Press Stylebook, the 2005 version came out this spring. The new Stylebook contains more than two dozen changes and new entries.

That's important because Ag Comm follows the rules in the AP Stylebook. Here are a few of the changes:

U.S. -- Use the abbreviation as a noun or adjective. North Dakota is part of the U.S. She had a U.S. map.

Ages -- Use figures for people and animals, but not inanimate objects unless the number is 10 or above. The girl is 15 years old. The race is for 3-year-olds. The dog was 5. (You don't need the word years when the figure is presumed to be years.) The law is eight years old. The building is 100 years old.

Backyard -- It is one word in all uses. He didn't want a swing in his backyard. The neighbors are holding a backyard barbecue.

Child care -- It is two words in all uses. She took her son to child care. The woman wanted to open a child care center.

Fundraising/fundraiser -- Both are one word in all uses. The Alumni Association planned a fundraising event. Fundraising is a tough job. The university hired a full-time fundraiser.

Best-seller -- Hyphenate in all uses. The book was a best-seller. She was a best-selling author.

Policymaker/policymaking -- Both are one word in all uses. Local policymakers attended the meeting. The policymaking committee will meet Tuesday.

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Quote of the Month: Write the Impact

Whether you're writing a news story, research report, grant summary or some other document, this quote reminds us to write the impact, not the background details.

Have you ever been to a concert where the performer introduced each song with a rambling explanation of how the ditty came to him? I want to scream, "Just shut up and sing already!"

Our readers feel the same way about many of our stories. We need to know the inner workings of the institutions we cover to fully understand and report their actions. But we mustn't dump every bit of information we know into our stories just because we went to the trouble of gathering it. We find the political and bureaucratic processes that produce the news far more interesting than our readers do. Information about process sometimes is relevant to the news, but the process rarely is the news.

This is impact: "The average homeowner's property tax will go up $100 a year as a result of the 3-percent increase passed by the City Council last night." This is process: "The 3-percent property tax increase passed by the City Council last night was the culmination of months of bitter Council infighting." Write the impact.

David Shapiro, The Quill