SemelMedia

Shameless Plug VI

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:35:13 -0500

Looking for a few laughs on a Thursday night? America's Premiere Live News-Comedy Game Show, The News Distillery, returns to New York's 92nd St. Y Tribeca on July 1, 15, and 29. Hosted by Faith Salie, CBS Sunday Morning contributor and star of Planet Green's Treehugger TV, News Distillery panelists include MTV and Comedy Central writer-producer Gideon Evans, McSweeney's advice columnist and web show host Alison Rosen, New York Times "The Ethicist" columnist Randy Cohen, and comedians Brian Donovan (NBC, VH1), Dean Obeidallah (The View, Comedy Central's Axis of Evil) and Chuck Nice (The Today Show, TruTV), who face off in a no-holds barred competition to be the funniest, fastest, best-informed, and possibly prettiest news junkie in New York. Plus there's air conditioning (free) and beer (nominal charge).

The Decomplicator

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:40:37 -0500

Wouldn't it be nice if someone explained to us in simple, engaging language terms that the news folks take for granted?

Decomplicators from mrsemel on Vimeo.

The 5Ws

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:37:59 -0500

Could a quiz format be a way to keep TV viewers interested in current (and old) news stories?

The 5Ws from mrsemel on Vimeo.

No Right Answer

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:32:49 -0500

I'm always interested in finding fun new ways to comment on the week's news. Here's an off-off-off Broadway tryout of one such concept:

No Right Answer from mrsemel on Vimeo.

Radio of the Future

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 20:14:51 -0500

Ever wonder what the radio station of tomorrow will sound (or look) like? Edison Research's Tom Webster has a notion, based on - of all things - a new browser release.

Shameless Plug V

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:36:11 -0500

What is literacy these days? It used to be that being able to read and write made one literate. But since the advent of electronic media that's been redefined. For a contemporary examination of literacy in the digital age, follow The Literacy Post, the latest offering from writer and educator Colleen Carroll.

For Space Enthusiasts Everywhere

Fri, 15 May 2009 09:24:06 -0500

Given the ease with which video can be added to websites, many organizations are following the original model of cable television in appealing to ever-narrow but quantifiable audiences. One such example is SpaceFlight Now, which is aimed at the worldwide space enthusiast community. Always a one-stop source for all news about space, it's particularly valuable during Space Shuttle and other NASA missions.

On Aircraft Icing

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 13:01:04 -0500

As usual, Miles O'Brien has a thoughtful, thorough, and informative explanation of aircraft icing in the aftermath of the crash of Continental flight 3407 just before landing in Buffalo, NY.

Shameless Plug IV

Sat, 17 Jan 2009 09:51:10 -0500

Abbeville Press recently released the long-awaited "little sibling" to their award-winning "How Artists See" children's book series by author Colleen Carroll. The "How Artists See Jr." series of board books introduces art to the toddler and pre-school set. Like the original series, each volume examines a common topic in art. The four subjects - Dogs, Trains, Horses, and Babies - are universal favorites of pre- and early readers.

Is The Internet Outdated?

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 06:54:13 -0500

Recent exponential growth in broadband video, social networking tools, and IP telephony have relied on the ability of the Internet to support such huge data traffic. Now early Internet pioneers are pointing out that the web of webs was never designed to support such bandwidth. Luckily, being pioneers, they're hard at work on the next generation of technical underpinnings for the web. Read about it here (.pdf file).

Ephemeral Networking

Wed, 19 Sep 2007 13:22:01 -0500

One under-reported (in my opinion) aspect of broadband video has been how the internet enables ad-hoc networks to spring up around time- or location-specific events. An entire channel devoted to G8 summit coverage is exactly the sort of promise (from a programming perspective) internet video is meant to fulfill and is a fantastic way for a micro-broadcaster to excel where the traditional networks and even cable news organizations fall short.

Internet TV Grows Up?

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:32:44 -0500

For a thoughtful post on the professionalization of internet video, see Laurie Sullivan's NewTeeVee article.

Exploring The US Army's Web Strategy

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:27:29 -0500

For an inside look into how the United States Army develops and implements its internet strategy, watch this interview from blogger and Forrester Researcher Jeremiah Owyang.

Movies and TV Intersect (and Shameless Plug III)

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:55:38 -0500

Time was you could tell movies from TV shows. Movies had big budgets, big effects, and big stars, whereas TV focused on smaller stories and ongoing character development. But in recent years TV has caught up, at least in the realm of narrative ambition and production values, as evidenced by shows like Lost, Smallville, Battlestar Galactica, and the CSI franchise. For the latest evidence, check out NBC's big breakout hit, Heroes, and the work of the Emmy-nominated director who shaped it and other recent feature-caliber TV series like Revelations and American Dreams.

Who Pays To Use Our Skies?

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 11:12:48 -0500

An important debate is going on in Congress concerning how the Federal Aviation Administration should be funded. Basically the arguments center around whether Congress should retain the existing system, which provides funds from excise taxes and from the general revenue fund, or move to an entirely new system of user fees. Though the outcome will greatly affect all users of our nation's skyways, it's also a glimpse into how funding debates concerning other federal agencies and industries might play out and how interested parties make their case using all available media. For an admittedly biased but comprehensive view of the issues involved, see this summary.