The Contributor: Changing Lives, Challenging Communities

by Kelsi Carter

A thesis presented to the Honors College of Middle Tennessee State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation from the University Honors College Spring 2013

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Completing this thesis project has undoubtedly been one of the most challenging activities I have ever attempted. This project would not have been possible without the constant support and guidance of several individuals. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to those who have been instrumental in the successful completion of this project. First and above all, I give thanks to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for giving me the strength, patience, perseverance, and knowledge that this experience required. Without the many blessings he has bestowed upon me, I would not be where I am today. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 I would like to thank my thesis advisor, Leon Alligood for assisting me with this project. His enthusiasm for journalism is undeniable and has inspired me to push myself towards my career goals. He sacrificed his time to advise me throughout this process, and I am tremendously grateful for his insight and constant encouragement. To my Committee for giving me their time, knowledge, and insight. It has been a pleasure to be surrounded by a group of intellectual individuals who push me to be the best student I can be. To Laura Clippard for helping me navigate my way through the honors program. She encouraged me, and always found answers to my questions, no

matter how simple they seemed to be. I would not be where I am today without her help, and for that I am extremely thankful. I would like to acknowledge the University Honors College faculty and staff for providing a college experience that I would not have received otherwise. My professors inspired me to work hard, and taught me to always strive for success. I want to express my deepest gratitude to my family for their unwavering guidance and encouragement throughout my life. I couldnt have asked for a better support system. They have helped me in numerous ways throughout this experience, and I am extremely grateful for their support and sacrifices. Individually, I would like to thank my dad, Mike Carter, for being a constant source of inspiration and teaching me to value my education. He is one of the most honest, knowledgeable, and hard working people I know. I am so proud that we will share the same alma mater, and Im grateful for the time he has sacrificed to help me with this project. My mom, Kat Carter, for constantly reminding me to take each day at a time, and for motivating me to see the good in everyone I meet. She has taught me that hard work and kindness are just as important as intellect, and I hope that one day I can become a fraction of the amazing woman, friend, mother, and wife that she is. My brother, Austin Carter, for his continuous support and friendship. I am very grateful for his assistance during the interview sessions, and for encouraging me throughout this entire process.

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My grandmother, Jean Odom, for spending countless years nurturing my curiosity, and providing numerous educational experiences when I was growing up. She is undeniably one of the most intelligent people I know, and Im so thankful for her influence in my life. Lastly, I give my sincere appreciation to David Lee Dozier IV for his love and support. He generously invested countless hours into this project without complaint, solely to help me reach my goal. He accompanied me on the majority of my interviews, and continued to believe in me, even when I did not believe in myself. David is one of the kindest and most patient people I have ever known, and I am so honored to have had him by my side during this process. This thesis could not have been possible without my family, friends and everyone else who has stood behind me throughout the completion of this project. Words are inadequate to express my gratitude.

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ABSTRACT

The Contributor is a highly disputed street newspaper in Nashville, TN. It is purchased, and sold by homeless or formerly homeless vendors. Articles printed in The Contributor provide insight into the homeless community by covering relevant news and events. Although many community members do not agree with the distribution of this newspaper, it is valuable to the Middle Tennessee population. On any given night, approximately 4,000 people are homeless in Nashville alone. The Contributor is a stepping-stone out of poverty by providing jobs to nearly 400 vendors, and housing to one-third of those who are employed. This photojournalism project focuses on the vendors that sell The Contributor, and seeks to use emotion to humanize the issues surrounding this newspaper. Telling the vendors stories in a multimedia format gives a new perspective on the effects of homelessness, and proves that The Contributor needs to remain in Nashville.

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Table of Contents Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... i Abstract ............................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ................................................................................................ v Definition of Terms ............................................................................................ vi Section 1: Background ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 An Introduction to The Contributor ..................................................... 1 1.2 The Argument against The Contributor .............................................. 2 1.3 Homeless Statistics in Tennessee......................................................... 7 1.3.1 Figures................................................................................... 8 1.3.2 The Contributor Vendor Profile Statistics ......................... 10 Section 2: Creating the Photojournalism Project .......................................... 2.1 Project Description............................................................................. 2.2 Why Use Photojournalism? ............................................................... 2.3 Methodology ..................................................................................... 2.4 List of Equipment Used .................................................................... 2.5 Photography Equipment and Use....................................................... 2.6 Audio Equipment and Use ................................................................ 2.7 Conducting the Interviews ................................................................ 2.8 List of Software.................................................................................. 2.9 Editing Process................................................................................... 2.10 Video Compilation .......................................................................... 2.11 Making the Website ........................................................................ 2.12 Issues and Obstacles Encountered .................................................. 2.12.1 Changes to the Original Plan ........................................... 11 11 11 12 14 15 16 17 20 21 23 25 29 31

Section 3: Conclusion ........................................................................................ 33 3.1 Findings.............................................................................................. 33 3.2 A Personal Reflection ....................................................................... 34 Works Cited ........................................................................................................ 39 List of Appendices ............................................................................................. 42 DVD .................................................................................................... Back Cover

DEFINITION OF TERMS 501c3 non-profit organization: An organization that is exempt from federal income tax because of its charitable, religious, educational, or scientific characteristics (Exemption Requirements 501(c)(3) Organizations). Ambient noise: Music intended to serve as an unobtrusive accompaniment to other activities, (as in a public place) and characterized especially by quiet and repetitive instrumental melodies (ambient). Aperture: An opening that controls the amount of light that passes through the lens on a camera (aperture). Artificially Lit: Using man-made lighting to illuminate an object for the purpose of taking photographs. Bandwidth: A measurement of the ability for an electronic communications device or system (such as a computer network) to send and receive information (bandwidth). Batch edit: Editing a group of photographs together as a single unit, instead of editing them individually. Bi-monthly newspaper: A newspaper that is published twice a month (The Contributor).

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Chronicle Homelessness: Refers to an individual with a disability who has either been continuously homeless for one or more years, or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years (Defining Chronic Homelessness: A Technical Guide for HUD Programs). Code of Conduct: A set of conventional principles and expectations that are considered binding on any person who is a member of a particular group (code of conduct). The Contributor: A bi-monthly street newspaper based in the Middle Tennessee area (The Contributor). The Contributor Inc.: A 501c3 nonprofit organization in Nashville, Tennessee that prints a bi-monthly street newspaper (The Contributor). Cutting audio: The process of removing a selection of an audio clip for editing purposes. Domain name: A sequence of usually alphanumeric characters, that specifies a group of online resources, (as of a particular company or person) and that forms part of the corresponding Internet addresses (domain name). Editor: A person having managerial, and sometimes policy-making responsibility for the editorial part of a publishing firm or of a newspaper, magazine, or other publication (editor).

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Embed: To make something an integral part of something else (embed). Exposure: The amount of light per unit area of an image. Frame: A single unit within a storyboard or group of images. Headshot: A close-up profile image of an individuals face. HTML 5: HTML5 is a W3C specification that defines the fifth major revision of the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML). One of the major changes in HTML5 is in respect to how HTML addresses Web applications. Other new features in HTML5 include specific functions for embedding graphics, audio, video, and interactive documents (HTML 5). HTML code: Short for HyperText Markup Language, the authoring language used to create documents on the World Wide Web. HTML is similar to SGML, although it is not a strict subset. HTML defines the structure and layout of a Web document by using a variety of tags and attributes (HTML). Independent Contractor Agreement: An agreement vendors must sign prior to selling The Contributor that outlines the terms and conditions of employment (The Contributor).

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Metering: Using the cameras built in meter to adjust the image exposure based on the surroundings. Multimedia Journalism: Using multiple forms of media to tell a story. NASNA: The North American Street Newspaper Association is a nonprofit trade association of street newspapers throughout North America (North American Street Newspaper Association). Natural Light: Using sunlight to illuminate an object for the purpose of taking photographs. Panhandling: To obtain by accosting and begging from someone (Panhandle). Raw files: Original photography or audio files that have not been edited yet. Release Form: A legal binding document, that gives permission for a publication, performance, or exhibition to be made available to the public (release). Photojournalism: The job or activity of using photographs to report news stories in magazines or newspapers (photojournalism).

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Rule of Thirds: A technique used to help photographers set up the composition of an image. The frame is divided into thirds, and the subject is placed along one of the intersecting lines. SEO Settings: SEO is short for search engine optimization or search engine optimizer. Search engine optimization is a methodology of strategies, techniques and tactics used to increase the amount of visitors to a website by obtaining a high-ranking placement in the search results page of a search engine (SERP) -- including Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines (Search Engine Optimization). Sequence: The location that the imported files are placed in Adobe Premiere Pro, and defines the initial settings for the project. Shutter Speed: This is the amount of time that the shutter on the camera remains open. The shutter speed setting determines how much light is let in to expose the image. Software package: A saving technique that keeps all of the files used within a project together for easy access. Still Life: A picture consisting predominantly of inanimate objects (still life). Street Photography: Taking non-posed photographs in an open environment that result in a variation of candid images.

Street paper: A commercial newspaper that primarily addresses issues related to the homeless community, and is distributed by poor or homeless vendors (The Contributor). Tone: Overall lightness or darkness of an image. Vendor: A person who sells things, especially on the street (vendor). Widget: Any small mechanical or electronic device [often used online or on another electronic device] (widget).

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Section 1: Background

1.1 An Introduction to The Contributor The Contributor Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization based out of Nashville, Tennessee. The organization prints a street paper known as The Contributor, which is sold across Middle Tennessee by homeless and formerly homeless vendors. It is currently sold bi-monthly, but soon will become a weekly publication. The paper provides insight into the homeless community by covering relevant news and events. Anyone can submit to the paper, but one must currently be homeless or have experienced homelessness to become a vendor. Just like any other job, potential vendors are required to participate in an extensive interview process and training program prior to being hired. They also must sign an Independent Contractor Agreement, and a Vendor Code of Conduct, which explains the expectations that come with working for The Contributor. Once hired, vendors are allotted fifteen free papers to get started. After that, the papers cost $0.25 each, and are currently sold for $1.00. Vendors may also choose to purchase The Contributor bumper stickers for $0.50 each and sell them for $2.00. The vendor keeps any profits that are made while selling the newspapers or bumper stickers (Street Paper). The paper has grown exponentially since its first circulation in 2007. During the first year, eight issues were printed with the highest circulation being 977 copies. In 2010, the paper was averaging 100,000 issues distributed per month. In 2011, The Contributor distributed 1.3 million papers and had an overall

profit of $2.6 million that went directly to homeless and formerly homeless individuals in Middle Tennessee. By 2012, the paper was being printed twice a month and had hired over 400 vendors. As a result of these sales, one-third of the vendors who work for this organization find housing. Today, The Contributor is the nations number one leading street newspaper in circulation, and serves as a model for similar organizations (The Contributor). Besides the monetary income, there are psychological benefits that come from selling a newspaper like The Contributor. According to the North American Street Newspaper Association, selling this newspaper allows homeless individuals to share an experience with others, and it gives them a sense of community. It also allows an individual who is not associated with the homeless community to give back and positively influence another persons life (NASNA). The paper also provides a place for writers and artists to showcase their work and express themselves. Homeless people provide half of the published content, and the other half can be submitted by anyone. The only restriction placed on submitted work, is that those who are not living on the street must write about issues surrounding homelessness. This is crucial because there is no other news source in Middle Tennessee that will report solely on the events that are occurring in the homeless community (Crutcher).

1.2 The Argument against The Contributor Although The Contributor provides a way out of poverty for many people, many individuals do not support the paper for multiple reasons. One of the most

common, but unspoken dislikes of The Contributor newspaper is that many individuals believe that it attracts more homeless people to the Nashville area. Another common complaint amongst members of the community is that vendors continue to sell the paper even when they have gotten back on their feet, and that it is simply another form of panhandling. Moreover, many people have criticized vendors for not appearing homeless, claiming that cell phones, and cigarettes should not be accessible if an individual cannot afford housing. The above reasons are just the tip of the iceberg in the constant clash of opinions revolving around the distribution of The Contributor newspaper. Citizen complaints like the ones mentioned have pushed some communities into full-blown legal battles against The Contributor Inc., in an attempt to control or ban it entirely from the Nashville area. Although some believe that The Contributor attracts homeless individuals to Nashville and surrounding cities, this is not necessarily the case. There are other street papers located all over the country that are similar to the one in Nashville. While almost every vendor interviewed during this project did relocate to Nashville from another area, not one said that they moved here to work for The Contributor Inc. In fact, none of them had even heard about the opportunity until they began living here. This proves that information about this program is not spreading extremely quickly within the homeless population, and it shows that The Contributor is not the cause for an increase of homeless individuals in Nashville.

While The Contributor may not be enticing the homeless to relocate to this area, many still believe that it is simply a form of panhandling. However, this is not the case. Vendors are selling a product and are not allowed to ask for tips. In contrast, panhandling by definition means to obtain by begging (panhandle). Moreover, the negative stereotype that gives panhandling a bad reputation is that its believed the money obtained is not spent on the necessities for survival, but liquor or drugs instead. However, the vendors selling The Contributor do not fall into this category. The interview process one must go through to obtain a job as a vendor is extensive, and the stakes are high. If vendors are caught on a substance such as alcohol or illegal drugs, they will be suspended from the job. In contrast, traditional panhandlers do not sell a particular product, and can spend the money they have collected on drugs or alcohol with no direct repercussions to their source of income (Street Paper). Oftentimes, individuals in the community will criticize or question vendors who do not appear homeless by traditional standards. They do not think that a vendor should have a cell phone or cigarettes if they cannot afford necessities such as housing. On The Contributor Inc. website, this issue is discussed and explained. The writer states that as far as cell phones go, some prepaid phones are as cheap as $30 for 300 minutes, and are very important for vendors to have in case of an emergency. It is also explained that while this is a sort of a stepping-stone job from homelessness to a better source of income, The Contributor Inc. cannot simply fire a vendor from selling The Contributor simply because they are back on their feet (The Contributor). Selling this newspaper is a

job just like any other job. A product is purchased and resold to consumers. Therefore, the employees of this organization have every right to spend their earnings on whatever they would like to, just like an employee at any other organization or company. If someone does not agree with how the vendors are spending their money, the answer is simple, just dont buy the paper. No one is forcing the consumption of this paper, or the information it has in it. The Contributor Inc. and its publication cannot be banned from society or censored simply because it appeals to a section of the population that is not considered the majority. Everyone has a right to determine whether or not they will support the distribution of The Contributor monetarily, but no one has the right to ban another individuals job out of mere dislike, and no source of free speech can be silenced. Constant complaint towards this newspaper in many of the communities outside of Nashville has led some city officials to pursue legal battles against The Contributor Inc. For example, in November 2012, A U.S. District Court ruled in favor of the city of Brentwood, in a legal battle against the American Civil Liberties Union and The Contributor Inc. The court ruled that the vendors were violating a city ordinance, and were no longer allowed to sell paper within the city limits. The ordinance in question was created to deal with traffic and safety, but officials claimed The Contributor Inc. violated it by allowing vendors to sell the paper on the median rather than the sidewalk. The ACLU claimed this was just a measure to keep vendors out of Brentwood because of an image they were trying to uphold, and it was in violation of their first amendment rights (Luxen).

Although some may not agree, there are legitimate reasons that The Contributor should continue to be sold, and some people in the community have supported it through tough times. Recently, The Contributor made headlines because a lack of funding threatened the organizations survival. Although the vendors buy each copy of the newspaper for $0.25, the director of The Contributor Inc. revealed in an interview with Nashville Public Radio that it just wasnt enough. $0.25 only covers about half of the cost of publishing the paper, says Tasha French Lemley. Thats how The Contributor can be in a financial pinch even with a circulation of 100,000 [copies] a month. For several weeks the community was unsure if the paper would be able to survive the financial struggle, and it quickly became apparent that the organization did have some support within the community. Nashville Mayor Karl Dean spoke at the papers recent anniversary party. At the prospect of failure, Dean says that he hopes for survival (Farmer). It took time, but eventually The Contributor Inc. received enough donations to continue distribution, and they worked to improve the current system. The Contributor Inc. plans to raise the buying price for vendors from $0.25 to $0.75, and the cost of the paper will be $2.00 instead of $1.00. Additionally, the paper will be printed weekly rather than twice a month. The community must realize the importance of this newspaper remaining in Nashville. It is a legitimate form of journalism that covers news not represented in any other media source. The papers staff is made up of educated professionals, award-winning journalists, and upcoming journalists. Writers include a range of people from those living on the streets, to college professors and ordinary Middle

Tennesseans. The diversity of writers and the issues covered within The Contributor is why this street paper should be seen as a valuable asset, both to society and journalism as a whole (The Contributor).

1.3 Homeless Statistics in Tennessee Although it is an issue that is sometimes easy to ignore, Tennessee has a large homeless population. In 2013, Tennessee alone had over 9,500 individuals considered homeless (Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness). 13% of those homeless individuals are believed to be Veterans (Nashville Homeless Organizing Coalition). On any given night, approximately 4,000 are homeless in Nashville alone, and chronic homelessness statistics in this city are 20-30% higher than the national average (Street Paper). Additionally, Nashville public schools report nearly 2,500 children are homeless, bringing the total number of homeless individuals in the Nashville area to about 6,200 (Nashville Homeless Organizing Coalition). While these statistics are startling, one must remember that homelessness is impossible to measure with 100% accuracy because it can change so quickly. In addition to homelessness, poverty is a major issue in the state of Tennessee, and if not corrected can lead to a rise in the homeless population. According to the Federal Census Bureau, in 2012, Tennessee was ranked as having the 12th highest poverty rate in the nation. Approximately 13.7% of families, and 18.3% of individuals living in the state were said to be living below the federal poverty level.

The conditions that lead individuals or families to experience poverty and homelessness vary greatly. Although there is no direct solution to the issue, something must be done or the numbers of homeless individuals will continue to rise in Tennessee. If an organization such as The Contributor Inc. is willing to provide a possible solution for selected individuals experiencing homelessness, the community should support them. The distribution of The Contributor newspaper is not the cause of homelessness in Nashville, but it is a possible solution.

1.3.1 Figures

Figure 1.1 What Triggers Homelessness? (Nashville Homeless Organizing Coalition)

Figure 1.2 Change in Chronic Homelessness by State (National Alliance to End Homelessness)

Figure 1.3 Poverty in Tennessee by County (LIHEAP Action Center)

1.3.2 The Contributor Vendor Profile Statistics The vendors who sell The Contributor are not all currently homeless, and their situations vary. Below is a statistical profile of The Contributor vendors in 2011. This information illustrates that vendor demographics can range significantly in age, ethnicity, gender, and homeless status.

Figure 1.4 2011 Vendor Profile (The Contributor)

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Section 2: Creating the Photojournalism Project

2.1 Project Description This creative thesis is a multimedia, photojournalism project that has been uploaded to a website for public viewing. On the website, visitors are able to view the ten featured vendor stories, as well as several photographs taken during the project. The stories are displayed as videos that are comprised of still, black and white photographs, and audio of vendors explaining why The Contributor newspaper is important to them. Additionally, there are pages on the website that answer frequently asked questions about the Contributor Inc., and the methodology behind the project itself. Visual and emotional appeal, as well as facts and research were used in this project to prove this newspaper is not only valuable to society, but is a real source of American journalism.

2.2 Why Use Photojournalism? By definition, photojournalism is the activity of using photographs to report news or stories in newspapers or magazines (Photojournalism). Photojournalism was selected as the primary medium for this thesis project because photographs convey human emotion in a way that is universally understood, regardless of language differences. Images are able to tell stories in a unique way that words cannot. Combining photography with audio interviews in a slideshow format, instead of traditional video, allows for the viewer to see and hear the subject, while still leaving some of the situation to his or her imagination.

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It is a unique multimedia experience that conveys emotion and information to the viewer in a way that no other medium can. The stories are directed to captivate viewers, and encourage them not only to see the positive aspects The Contributor has to offer, but also to encourage viewers to support its existence in the Nashville area. Additionally, photojournalism was selected as the primary medium for this project because it is the career choice I hope to pursue in the future. This was my first experience with photojournalism, and it only strengthened my determination to make a name for myself in this field. This project allowed me to pursue my dreams while still in school, and taught me numerous skills that I wouldnt have learned without this hands-on experience.

2.3 Methodology The first step in creating this photojournalism project was to adequately research the issue of homelessness in Tennessee. I researched local and statewide statistics surrounding the issue, and gathered background information about The Contributor Inc. The project itself revolves around the vendors that sell The Contributor, so researching this job and the organization as a whole was the primary starting point for this project. The second step was to gain permission from The Contributor Inc. to interview the vendors that sell newspaper. I contacted the executive director of The Contributor Inc., Tasha French Lemley, and asked her permission to use The Contributor as the subject for my thesis project. She agreed, but asked that I did

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not use the vendors last names for privacy reasons. Once permission was granted, a lawyer was contacted in order to draft a release form that would be signed by every vendor interviewed. The release confirmed each subjects knowledge of what the project was for, and what exactly would happen with his or her information after the interview was completed. Not everything within the release verbiage was a requirement of the project, but simply a precautionary measure to ensure that there would not be any issues after the process was finished. Once the research was complete, and all permissions had been granted, the creative part of the project began. In summary, I began by drafting a written questionnaire to use during the interview process. Once the questionnaire was completed, the interview process began. Vendor interviews were conducted over a seven-month time span, and took place in many communities within Middle Tennessee. When I had all of the photographs and audio files I needed to finish the project, I began editing them with the appropriate software, and later saved them in the correct format. The next step was to upload each video to YouTube in order to generate the embed code that would be used to place the videos onto the website. I decided to use Wix.com to design and develop the website, and later added a small amount of HTML code to embed the multimedia vendor stories. Once the website was finished, I purchased the domain name, www.TheContributorMatters.com, and edited the SEO settings for optimum search engine results. Lastly, I created a simple DVD to archive the multimedia videos with the written part of the thesis project. The entire project from start to finish took me approximately a year and a half to complete.

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2.4 List of Equipment Used Canon Rebel XS Canon 70D Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III lens Canon EF 50mm f/8 II lens Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM lens SanDisk Ultra 16GB SD Card (X2) Olympus Digital Voice Recorder WS-802 Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex 1 TB External Hard Drive Tripod Apple MacBook Pro

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2.5 Photography Equipment and Use The success of this project heavily depended on the equipment used. The majority of the photography taken during the interviews was shot with a Canon Rebel XS. However, near the end of the project I was loaned a Canon 70D, and subsequently used it for some of the still life photography and supporting images. Prior to conducting the interviews, it was important that I made sure all of the equipment was cleaned, charged and ready for use. Once in the field, the aperture and shutter speed were adjusted as needed, and a metering technique was used to get the correct exposure for the surroundings. I used a variety of lenses for every interview to ensure that different types of images were captured. Because the subjects were outside selling The Contributor at the time of the interviews, I used natural lighting exclusively for the headshots and street photography. Some of the supporting images and still life photographs were artificially lit, but natural lighting was the default lighting source throughout the project. The traditional rules of photography were used to gain visually pleasing images, including the rule of thirds, a technique that can be used as a simple guideline for framing an image. Once I had completed all of the interviews, the images were downloaded, and organized in the appropriate files on my computer under the corresponding vendors folder. Furthermore, a backup copy was created and placed on an external drive for safekeeping. Making sure that all of the image files remained organized was an important part of the project so that information was not mixed up or lost prior to completion. Moreover, many of the packages exported by the

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various software programs I used, will only function correctly if the supporting photography and audio files are kept together.

2.6 Audio Equipment and Use When it comes to recording audio, the equipment used can make a big difference in the quality of the audio produced. Some voice recorders are better than others, and this project required one that was capable of performing well in noisy environments. Before I purchased a voice recorder, I conducted a great amount of research to determine which devices had the best reviews, and what format the audio should be recorded in. Once the research was completed, I decided to purchase an Olympus Voice Recorder WS-802. I picked this particular recorder because of its features and high ratings amongst professional journalists. In addition to the traditional functions offered, the recorder also had a built in USB plug, which made it easy to download the audio files onto my computer once I finished an interview. The audio was recorded in mp3 format, and folders were set up within the recorder itself to separate multiple vendor interviews conducted on the same day. Using this recorder did require a learning curve. I had never used a voice recorder before, and I didnt have much time to learn. I never went on an interview alone, so I always had an assistant with me, which became useful for collecting audio. Many times I would have the person helping me hold the recorder near the subjects mouth, while I took notes or photographs. Similar to the photography files, once I had completed the interviews, the audio files were

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downloaded and organized into the appropriate folder on my computer, and a backup copy was placed on the external drive.

2.7 Conducting the Interviews The quality of the interview was the most important part of this project. A good interview will portray the intended message to the viewer and can incite sympathy. In contrast, a bad interview may not interest the audience at all, or could portray the wrong message. This project does not include any voice over, so it was important that I asked each subject good questions in order to ensure the message was clear and powerful. Furthermore, it was essential to the integrity of the project that none of my questions were biased in any manner. The vendor interviews were crucial to the success of this project, so I invested a great deal of time in them to make sure that the information I needed was obtained. Initially, I created set of questions to ask each vendor during the interview process. The questions were somewhat formal, and centered on the individuals personal life, as well as what The Contributor meant to them. In the majority of my journalism classes, I was taught to formulate a list of questions like these prior to the interview, and use them during it as a guide. However, once the interviews began, it became apparent that there was a better way to get the information that the project required. I kept the formal interview questions on hand in case the conversation wasnt moving quickly enough, or went in an unnecessary direction, but for the most part, I treated each interview in a conversational manner.

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First, I explained the process and my purpose for the interview to each vendor. If the subject agreed, they were asked to sign the release form. Once the form was signed, the interview process began. Once recording, I asked each vendor to state his or her name, and position with The Contributor Inc. All of the questions asked were open ended, and unbiased. The initial questions I created in the beginning of the project were rarely used, because most of the individuals I interviewed were more comfortable when they felt that we were having a casual conversation instead of being interrogated. One I had collected all of the audio I needed from the vendor, the photography session began. I began by taking a headshot of each vendor to use as a profile image. Once the portrait image was taken, I simply thanked the vendor for his or her time, and asked the individual to return to selling The Contributor like normal. This allowed me to capture candid photographs of vendors selling the newspaper, and I was able to witness them reacting to the environment around them without risking posed images. When I had finished the interview, I thanked the vendor one last time, and purchased a newspaper from them. None of the vendors knew beforehand that I planned to buy a paper after the interview, but all were very appreciative. The vendors sacrificed time that they could have been selling The Contributor to help me with this project, so it seemed like the right thing to do. In total, I spent nearly a month developing the formal interview questions, finding vendors and actually interviewing them. Many different factors were taken into account when it came to the physical interviews. Every interview was

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conducted in a public setting, and I never went alone. Individuals who were found selling The Contributor in the middle of the street or heavily trafficked areas were not interviewed out of a safety precaution. It was important to get all of the information I needed for my project, but these were a few of the factors that had to be considered prior to beginning the interview process.

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2.8 List of Software Adobe Photoshop CS6 Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4 Adobe Audition CS6 Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 Adobe Acrobat Pro Wix HTML5 Website Builder iDVD 7 Audio Adapter Microsoft Office 2011

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2.9 Editing Process By far, the editing process was the most challenging part of the entire project. The majority of the time I spent working on this thesis was used to edit all of the photography and audio files. It was crucial that this part of the project was done well because the message that is portrayed to the viewer is dependent on how the information is put together during the editing process. This is when the raw footage is transformed into an artistic, interesting and persuading story. Much of the editing process took a long amount of time because it was a learning experience for me. Although I had worked with some of the software before this process began, I had not used Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 or Adobe Audition CS6. I spend a significant amount of time researching how to do certain things within the software programs, and YouTube tutorials turned out to be very helpful. Although the editing process was slow in the beginning, it definitely sped up once the software became familiar, and my intentions for the project became clear. The first video I edited took nearly fifteen hours to complete; in contrast, the last video only took three hours from start to finish. I always edited each vendor story in its entirety before beginning the next one. Working on the stories one at a time was the easiest way for me to keep all of the files separate and organized. The first step in the editing process was to import all of the original photographs into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 4. I used this software to batch edit the tone and exposure of the images together as one unit instead of individually. Once I finished with the batch edit, I viewed each image individually and further

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adjusted them if needed. When an image needed a major adjustment, I exported it into Adobe Photoshop CS6, which provided a better range of editing possibilities. When all of the images were ready for viewing, I exported them into a new edited folder, which was placed within the corresponding vendors main folder. Once all of the photography had been edited, I imported the audio clips into Adobe Audition CS6. Initially, I edited each clip individually to remove background noise, and to adjust the overall volume. Each interview had anywhere from one to five individual raw clips, which ranged in duration from one minute to ten minutes. Once I had edited all of the clips for a particular vendor, and resaved them in the proper format, they were compiled into a single audio file. This file was then edited by cutting the audio in certain areas, and further adjusting the clips to flow naturally. When I had completely finished the audio compilation, I saved it in the related vendor folder. The next step was to locate background music to play behind the captured audio. This music I used was all found on the website, SoundCloud.com. Although the type of music, artists and usage restrictions on the site varies, all of the music I selected for the project was free for commercial download and use. As a precaution, I contacted the artists on the website, and all were happy to have their music associated with the project. I placed an acknowledgment at the end of each video to give credit to the artist and song. Moreover, a text file containing the artist name and the song information was created and kept with each background music file, so the artist could be contacted again if needed.

22

Now that I had picked the background audio, I created a new session in Adobe Audition CS6. The finished audio interview, and the background music clip were imported into the software program, and the length of the background music clip was adjusted to ensure that it fit with the interview. Then I adjusted the fading cues, and volume at particular points to emphasize the vendors voice, or the music if the video was ending. Once I had completely finished the audio file, I saved the session into the associated vendor folder so that it could be used to create the final video. At this point, all of the photography and audio had been edited, and the only thing left to do was create the multimedia aspect of the project. I repeated the above process for all ten vendors that were interviewed.

2.10 Video Compilation The compilation of the audio interview with the photographs taken of each vendor into a multimedia format was an important part of my project. The success of the thesis depended on whether or not the multimedia stories proved to viewers that The Contributor had value and needed to remain in Nashville. The first step in making the videos was to create the title images for the introduction and conclusion of the story. I created a main project title, vendor name title and a credits title for each vendor in Adobe Photoshop CS6, and then saved them as a JPEG images. Once I had finished the titles, I created a new project in Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, and all of the photography, audio and title files were imported. After

23

setting up the Premiere Pro file, the next step was to place the audio into the appropriate spot within the sequence. It was important for me to add the audio before inserting any photographs, so the length of the interview could be used as a guide for how many images I needed to put in the video. Once I had put the audio in place, I added the introduction and credit titles to the piece. The lengths of the clips were adjusted to start and stop at the appropriate times within the story. After this part of the process was completed, it was time to place the photography files. I played the audio, piece-by-piece, so I could select the images that best supported what the vendor was speaking about. Although it was a slow process, it was the only way for me to ensure that the photographs I picked were appropriate for the words being said. I attempted to match the photographs with the audio in a way that expressed the actions or emotions that the vendor was experiencing at that time in his or her story. When all of the photographs were in place, I adjusted the opacity of the clips at the beginning and end of the video to give the illusion that the titles were fading in and out at the appropriate moments. Next, I added transitions between each clip that made the images dissolve into black for a more visually appealing video. Once the transitions were in place, I created motion effects for each photograph so that the images appeared to move throughout the video. These effects simply added to give the project dimension and visual interest. After all of the video editing process was completed, I rendered the work area to remove any flaws from the playback. Then I removed the unused resources to make the project smaller, and saved the package in a central location

24

for easy access. Lastly, the project was exported in H.264 format and set to the YouTube HD 720 preset, which matched my initial sequence settings. I repeated this process for each of the ten videos until they were all complete. At this point, I uploaded the videos to YouTube.com because an embed code was needed to put the videos on the website. YouTube generates the embed code very simply, and works as a host for the videos so they dont take up space on the project website. Once the videos were on YouTube, a blank thumbnail was added for consistency, and they were ready to be put on the website.

2.11 Making the Website The website was the last part of the creative project that I completed. I decided to use the Wix.com HTML 5 website builder to create the site because of its simple interface and sleek templates. Making this website was another phase of the project that proved to be somewhat of a learning curve for me. I had to conduct a great deal of research to understand the software, and several of the problems I encountered were solved through trial and error. Making sure the website was visually appealing and fully functional was vital for the success of this project because it is the platform that the project is publically viewed. I wanted it to have a simple but modern design that would not distract from the professionalism, and importance of the project itself. In the beginning of the website building process, I selected a template that complimented the project and the mood that I wanted to be conveyed to the audience. Once the template was selected, it was time to customize the website.

25

The first step in the design process began by adding pages to the website. First I created a home page that served as a landing spot for those who visited the website. Next, I added a page that explained what the project was about, so viewers could get a brief idea of my intentions before watching the multimedia videos. After I finished the project page, I created a gallery page named stories, to display the headshots of the ten vendors used in the thesis project. I customized the photographs on this page to dim when they are hovered over, and I placed the vendor names below each image. When a particular vendor headshot is clicked, it will go to the corresponding photojournalism video. I connected all ten videos through a navigational arrow at the bottom of the page, which allows visitors to move between the videos without revisiting the main gallery. The next page I created was dedicated to the photography I took for this project. I divided all of the photographs into three categories: portrait photography, street photography, and still life photography. These three individual galleries are each represented by one image that when hovered over will dim just like the vendor headshots. When a gallery is clicked on, it opens to the corresponding page, which are all connected through a navigational arrow near the bottom of the page. When a viewer is in one gallery, he or she can easily move to the next one by using these navigational arrows rather than returning to the main photography page. Each category page contains a scrolling set of images, that when clicked, will expand for viewing. After I finished the photography gallery pages, an About Me page was created. This page provided a way for me to tell visitors a little about myself, and

26

why I am so passionate about this project. Then, I added a contact page to allow visitors a way to send me messages or questions, and links to my various social media pages were made available. Lastly, I designed a FAQ page to answer several frequently asked questions that fall into one of three categories: The Contributor, the project, or the vendors. When the pages were completed, I added a background image of a Contributor newspaper to tie it all together. Other items were designed and placed throughout the website to provide as much interactivity as possible. I spent a great deal of time on making sure that items were placed in the exact same location when repeated on multiple pages, and that the interactive features flowed correctly. Once the design was finished, I uploaded all of the videos and photographs to the website by using embed codes. Some items on the website called for more customization than the template would naturally allow. Although the Wix.com developer has several widgets and apps to help users customize the websites, there were some things that were not directly available to me without adding HTML code to the site. I downloaded a HTML code app onto the page, which allowed for specialized programming for the videos. The original embed code generated by YouTube.com, allowed the videos to be placed on the page, but they showed the traditional YouTube navigation controls, ads at the end of the video, and a title at the top. By adding the control function code, &controls=0 I was able to hide the default navigation controls from the video. Similarly, the HTML code, &showinfo=0 removed the title information from the top of the videos, and

27

&rel=0 hid the related ads. Lastly, the videos were created in an HD format, but a special HTML code was needed to make them embed and play in HD rather than normal playback. The code I used to make the videos HD was, rel=0&vq=hd720. It made the playback smoother and added clarity to the images. Although working with HTML code was a somewhat difficult learning experience, it now makes more sense to me and allowed for the customization I needed for this project. Using HTML coding was one of the many skills learned throughout this process. Overall, I spent several months tweaking everything from the font size to the content on each page until the design was completed. Once the visual part of the website met my standards for the project, I upgraded the account to remove the ads on the website, and to claim the domain name, www.TheContributorMatters.com. This upgrade cost me $100.00 for one year of service. In addition to the personalized domain name, the premium site expanded the amount of bandwidth to 2gb of space. Additionally, the 1gb of online storage space allotted to non-premium subscribers was raised to 3gb when I upgraded the website. The amount of bandwidth on a website is important because it determines how much traffic can visit the site while still allowing it to function properly. The online storage space is equally important, because the photographs used on the website are stored on the Wix.com platform, making a large amount of storage space a necessity. Lastly, I customized the SEO settings for each page so that the site could be found in search engines such as Google or Bing. I added keywords to each page, as well as a primary description about the website to make it easily

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distinguishable amongst similar sites within an online search. A SEO wizard provided by Wix.com was used to improve the search results, and ensure that each page was properly formatted. Once the website was completed, I asked several people to navigate their way through it on their own time, and to keep notes for problems that were encountered, or designs that were not appealing. This feedback allowed for problems to be found that I had previously overlooked, and ensured the website was easy to use. The process of creating this website was not necessarily difficult, but it was a learning process for me that took a great deal of time to overcome. There are not enough words to explain all of the work that it took to get the website design to its final place, and the amount of information I learned throughout the process.

2.12 Issues and Obstacles Encountered Many issues and obstacles developed during the creation of this photojournalism project. Although everything did not turn out exactly as I had planned, being able to adapt to change, no matter what the situation was, was a valuable life lesson that I was forced to learn. The first issue I encountered was during the interview process. I quickly realized that not every vendor could write legibly, which meant the release forms were not all readable. This was not a major issue, but it was something that I had not previously considered.

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Another major issue that I had to confront was dealing with background noise in the audio files. Interviewing the vendors in their natural setting meant dealing with a significant amount of noise from wind, traffic and other ambient sounds. Some of the sounds were easily removed during the editing process, but others could not be fixed. I attempted to correct some issues in the files, but it only further corrupted the actual interview audio. If I were to do the project over again, I would take the vendors to a quieter place for the interview process. Another obstacle I encountered was finding a way to accurately tell a story through the specific clips of audio and photography that I had gathered during the interviews. Sometimes it became apparent that there was simply not enough information to say what needed to be said. It took a few tries to determine what the exact message was that I wanted portrayed through these multimedia stories. In total, I interviewed fifteen vendors, but only had ten successful stories. The last major issue that I faced during this project was locating vendors to interview. Although there are 400 currently employed vendors, they were not always easy to find. Sometimes I would see a vendors selling The Contributor, but they wouldnt be in an accessible locations, or would deny the interviews. I spent many weekends in Nashville and surrounding areas looking for vendors, and in the end, only fifteen were found. Although this was frustrating in the beginning, it ended up being a positive issue to have because I later realized that there was not enough time to edit more than ten multimedia videos. Ultimately, the issues and obstacles that were encountered can be seen as positive experiences because they showed me what this job would be like in the

30

real world. I learned from the mistakes I made, and they resulted in a better project in the end.

2.12.1 Changes from the Original Plan Although I spend a significant amount of time planning and researching during the beginning of this creative thesis project, there are always unforeseen obstacles that make small changes to a plan, inevitable. The basic idea of the project always remained, but there were some small alterations made throughout the process. One of the most significant changes I had to make was the amount of vendors I interviewed. In the proposal phase of the thesis, I planned to interview a minimum of twenty vendors, and make multimedia videos for all of them. However, the amount of work it would take to complete this process was not completely understood until the project began. I realized after the first few interviews, that not only would I not have enough time to complete twenty interviews and accompanying videos, but that even finding twenty vendors was going to be a tough obstacle to overcome on its own. In total, I interviewed fifteen vendors, but only the top ten were made into multimedia videos for the website. In hindsight, twenty photojournalism videos would have been overwhelming for the audience to view, and wouldnt have resulted in anymore of a reaction. Another deviation from the original plan was a decision made to only interview vendors of The Contributor, instead of including other staff members. I made this decision because the vendors are the ones who interact with the general

31

public, and are the face behind the newspaper. Furthermore, using only vendors for the multimedia stories provided a pattern within the project, and evoked sympathy through emotion for the viewers. Lastly, I changed one type of software from the original plan. I initially decided to use Adobe Dreamweaver CS6 to create the website, but it became apparent that using the Wix.com HTML 5 developer instead would be a much easier process. The customer support for the company was very useful, and the interface was simpler to understand than Adobe Dreamweaver CS6.

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Section 3: Conclusion

3.1 Findings This project required an immense amount of time, research, patience, and creativity. Through the process of creating this project, I came to a few different conclusions. Although the issues of homelessness as a whole may be inevitable, there are programs out there that can provide hope, and a future for many of those individuals who find themselves in this situation. One of these programs is The Contributor Inc., which provides vendors with a job that can support them and give them something to be proud of. It is a failure of society to turn a blind eye to the issue of homelessness, and ignore something that has the power to change so many peoples lives. When it comes down to it, the unspoken fear of many community members is that the distribution of The Contributor is going to attract more homeless individuals not only into Nashville, but into the smaller outlying areas as well. This assumption is based from a lack of information and is far from factual. There has been a problem with homelessness in Nashville long before The Contributor was established in 2007. Furthermore, the money made from selling the paper has allowed one third of vendors to find housing, therefore shrinking the homeless population in Nashville, not increasing it. While The Contributor is the leading street paper in the nation, it is not the only one of its kind. There are other similar programs in many other states within the nation, and even other countries throughout the world.

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The Contributor is valuable to the Nashville community because it provides a way of living for a group of the population that cannot find work in other places. Furthermore, many of those employed by The Contributor Inc. simply enjoy their job selling the newspaper. Several of the vendors I interviewed make a decent living selling the paper, and one vendor confided to me that he makes more than minimum wage by working for The Contributor Inc. These vendors buy a product and sell it. This is a job just like any other job; the only difference is that they are selling the product on the street, instead of inside a store. The paper deserves to be sold in Nashville, TN, and it is something that the community needs to take the time to understand. Homelessness is an issue that has been around long before the creation of The Contributor, and will remain regardless of the papers existence. If the community would stop and notice the good things that have come from this newspaper, they would realize that this program is one that Nashville can be proud of.

3.2 A Personal Reflection When I began this journey over a year and a half ago, I never imagined the various ways that it would impact me personally. Throughout this experience, I have learned life lessons and technical skills that I would not have been exposed to otherwise. Although I have known for quite some time that my dream was to become a photojournalist, I had never actually worked on a photojournalism project until I began this creative thesis. I had researched the field for years, and have spoken to many professors about photojournalism as a career choice, but

34

nothing I learned within the classroom could compare with what I have learned through this hands-on project. I want to take a moment and reflect on the things I have learned through this process, and why I am grateful for the experience. Through this creative thesis, I learned exactly what being a photojournalist in the field is like. Through trial and error I taught myself how to conduct a recorded interview, and combine the audio clips with photography to create a multimedia video. Moreover, I learned how to use to use new types of editing software including Adobe Premiere Pro CS6, and Adobe Audition CS6. The project also allowed me to learn how to design a website, and write HTML code. Before this thesis, I had no experience with HTML, and did not exactly understand how it worked. However, the need for customization on the project website forced me to learn how to use HTML coding, and through the process I now understand it. These are just a few of the technical skills I acquired because of my experience with this project. While all of them will benefit me in the future, none are as important as the life lessons that were gained through meeting the vendors I interviewed. As a journalism student, it is important to understand the line between being professional and being human. While it was important to the success of the project to remain unbiased, it was sometimes difficult to remain separated from the information learned about personal hardships and experiences during vendor interviews. All of the people I interviewed were very different, but they all had one thing in common, and that was that they had a story to tell. All of them had been through difficult things during their lifetimes, that I could not imagine living

35

through. If I am honest, I would have to admit that prior to this project, I was guilty of assuming that every homeless person I saw on the side of the street was there because they had brought that situation upon themselves. I believed that if I donated money to them, it was probably always used to buy alcohol or drugs. I believed and lived by the stereotype trap that so many people fall into, and that is the belief that homelessness is always a choice. However, this project proved to me that the stereotypes were not only false, but also unfair. Homelessness is not always a choice; sometimes it is simply a hardship that one must work to overcome. The vendors I interviewed taught me to look past the rugged appearance that came from years of living on the street, and to truly get to know them as an individual. I soon realized that while years of being quick to judge left me with nothing but annoyance towards homeless people begging for my money; only a couple months of being open-minded left me with memories and lessons that I will have the rest of my lifetime. These people reminded me how important it is to be compassionate, sympathetic and loving. Furthermore, they reminded me why I became so passionate about journalism in the first place, I love to hear and tell stories. Everyone has a story, and everyones story is different. Some are happy, and some are sad. While every story may be different, all have a place within the world, and deserve to be told. Meeting the vendors of The Contributor reminded me of the truth behind the old saying; you cannot judge a book by its cover. Many of the stories I learned from interviewing these individuals were some of the most inspiring stories that I had ever heard,

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and yet they came from people that I previously would not have given the time of day. One vendor in particular completely changed my life, and the way I view homeless people. The day I met Steve, I had already interviewed three other vendors. It was a cold, windy Saturday afternoon, and I had not planned on doing another interview that day. I was heading back home when I saw a man selling The Contributor on a corner down the street. Something told me not to pass up the opportunity, so I turned around. I parked near where he was sitting, and walked over to introduce myself. The vendor I met that day was Steve. He was in his mid 50s, and something about him seemed refreshingly genuine. I ended up talking to him for nearly two hours, and by the time I left, I had a completely different outlook towards homeless people. At one time, Steve had it all. He owned his own company and was netting an average of $500,000 a year in profit. Like most of us, he never believed that he would ever be homeless, until it happened. Steves company collapsed during the recession, and unfortunately, he held on too long. He was a hardworking businessman who seemingly had it all, and within months it was gone. He lost his company, home, marriage and the life of luxury he was accustomed to, from a situation that was completely out of his control. Steve confided that he just assumed he would easily find another job, but apparently no one wanted to hire a fat, balding guy in his 50s. So now he stands on a corner in South Nashville selling The Contributor because it has become his livelihood. Steve told me stories about the people who have helped him during his time as a vendor, and

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those who have hurt him. He told me how people have thrown money in his face, and laughed while calling him worthless, but even then, he was grateful for his job and remained hopeful. Steve has kept faith in society, even when society had failed him. When I spoke to him I couldnt help but notice the wrinkles nestled deeply at the corners of his eyes that held years of happy memories. The mixture of sadness, kindness and hope that he emitted when he spoke drew me in and expressed his constant battle to elude the truth of his situation. When the interview ended, I couldnt help but feel like this man I barely knew had somehow altered my life. Steve reminded me of the importance of this project, and he inspired me to remain positive even in the face of adversity. Steve is only one story out of hundreds that are held by vendors that sell The Contributor. This project and the people I met like Steve taught me to appreciate everyone I come in contact with. Perhaps the greatest lesson learned throughout this project is this: no human being is more valuable than another, and everyone had a story that is waiting to be told. This project began as a way for me to change the views within the Nashville community. To prove that The Contributor newspaper has value to society, and the vendors selling it have the right to do just that. However, the project became so much bigger than my original intention. It changed my life, taught me numerous things, gave me the opportunity to go above and beyond what is required for an undergraduate degree, and most importantly, gave me something to be proud of.

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Works Cited "Ambient." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. "Aperture." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. "Code of conduct." WordNet 3.0. Princeton University. 29 Mar. 2014. The Contributor. The Contributor Inc. 2013. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. Crutcher, Paige. A New Road to Travel: The Contributor. Examiner.com. Clarity Digital Group LLC, 12 July 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Defining Chronic Homelessness: A Technical Guide for HUD Programs. United States. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2007. Web. 12 Dec. 2013. "Domain Name." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 30 Mar. 2014. "Editor." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. "Embed." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. HTML 5. Webopedia. ITBuisinessEdge, n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. HTML. Webopedia. ITBuisinessEdge, n.d. Web. 1 Mar. 2014 Exemption Requirements - 501(c)(3) Organizations. IRS, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 25 Mar 2014. Farmer, Blake. "'Street Papers' Sold By Homeless Are Thriving." NPR. Nashville Public Radio, 23 Dec. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. Gitlin, Todd. The Whole World Is Watching. Los Angeles: University of California Press, 2003. Print.

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Kessler, Lauren. The Dissident Press. Beverly Hills: SAGE Publications, Inc, 1984. Print. Lemley, Tasha. Sans Houses. Blogspot.com. Web. 08 Feb. 2013. LIHEAP Action Center. The Campaign for Home Energy Assistance, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. Luxen, Emily. "City of Brentwood Wins Legal Battle Against The Contributor." News Channel 5. WorldNow, 14 Nov. 2012. Web. 11 Feb. 2013. McMillian, John. Smoking Typewriters: The Sixties Underground Press and the Rise of Alternative Media in America. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011. Print. Nashville Homeless Organizing Coalition. Nashville Homeless Organizing Coalition, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2013 National Alliance to End Homelessness: Are You Ending Chronic Homelessness in Your Community? National Alliance to End Homelessness, n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. North American Street Newspaper Association. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. "Panhandle." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. "Photojournalism." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness. United States. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2007. Web.12 Dec. 2013. Poverty. The United States Census Bureau, 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. "Release." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.

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"Search Engine Optimization." WordNet 3.0. Princeton University. 29 Mar. 2014. "Still Life." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 23 Mar. 2014. Street Paper. Dir. Christopher Roberts. Digital Bohemia. 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2013. Streitmatter, Rodger. Voices of Revolution: The Dissident Press in America. New York: Columbia University Press, 2001. Print. "Vendor." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2014. Walters, Kevin. "Franklin's Proposed Street Sales Ban Draws Criticism." The Tennessean. Gannett, 24 Jan. 2013. Web. 11 Feb. 2013.

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LIST OF APPENDICES

A Photography ................................................................................................ A.1 Mark ................................................................................................. A.2 Margaret ........................................................................................... A.3 Davis ................................................................................................. A.4 Bobby ................................................................................................ A.5 Marie ................................................................................................ A.6 Steve ................................................................................................. A.7 Baron ................................................................................................ A.8 Lisa ................................................................................................... A.9 Mark M. ............................................................................................ A.10 Tucker .............................................................................................

44 45 49 53 56 59 62 66 69 72 76

B Interview Questionnaire ............................................................................ 78 B.1 Vendor Questionnaire ....................................................................... 79 C Editing Step-by-Step Screenshots ............................................................. C.1 Batch Editing Photography Using Adobe Lightroom 4 ................... C.2 Editing Images Individually ............................................................. C.3 Editing Original Audio Clips in Adobe Audition CS6 ..................... C.4 Removing Background Noise .......................................................... C.5 Finding Background Music on SoundCloud.com ............................ C.6 Mixing the Interview with the Background Music ........................... C.7 Exporting Final Audio ....................................................................... C.8 Video Title Creation in Adobe Photoshop CS6 ............................... C.9 Creating a Premiere Pro CS6 Sequence ........................................... C.10 Adding Files to the Sequence ......................................................... C.11 Editing Video Transitions and Motion ........................................... C.12 Rendering the Work Area ............................................................... C.13 Exporting the Final Video .............................................................. 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93

D Creating the Website Step-by-Step Screenshots ..................................... 94 D.1 Creating a New Website on Wix.com ............................................... 95 D.2 Adding Pages to the Website ........................................................... 96 D.3 Embedding Videos ........................................................................... 97 D.4 Populating the Photography Galleries............................................... 98 D.5 Adding an FAQ Section ................................................................... 99 D.6 Changing the SEO settings ............................................................. 100 D.7 Publishing the Website.................................................................... 101 E The Final Website...................................................................................... 102 E.1 Home ........................................................................................... 103 E.2 About the Project ........................................................................ 104

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E.3 The Stories .................................................................................. E.3.1 Mark ............................................................................. E.4 Photography ................................................................................ E.4.1 Portrait Photography .................................................... E.4.2 Street Photography ....................................................... E.4.3 Still Life Photography .................................................. E.4.4 The Expanded View ..................................................... E.5 About Me .................................................................................... E.6 Contact ........................................................................................ E.7 FAQ .............................................................................................

105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114

F Contacting the Executive Director of The Contributor Inc. ................ 115 F.1 Letter to Tasha French Lemley ....................................................... 116 F.2 Email Response .............................................................................. 117 G Vendor Release Forms ............................................................................. G.1 Mark Release Form ..................................................................... G.2 Margaret Release Form ............................................................... G.3 Bobby Release Form ................................................................... G.4 Davis Release Form .................................................................... G.5 Marie Release Form .................................................................... G.6 Steve Release Form ..................................................................... G.7 Baron Release Form .................................................................... G.8 Lisa Release Form ....................................................................... G.9 Mark M. Release Form ............................................................... G.10 Tucker Release Form ................................................................ 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128

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Appendix A: Photography

The following pages display the photographs that were used in each multimedia video. Each group of photographs are separated by the vendor names. These images played a very important role in the entirety of the project, and therefore I thought it was important that they could be viewed outside of the multimedia component.

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A.1 Mark (Vendor Headshot)

45

A.1 Mark (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

46

A.1 Mark (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

47

A.1 Mark (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

48

A.2 Margaret (Vendor Headshot)

49

A.2 Margaret (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

50

A.2 Margaret (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

51

A.2 Margaret (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

52

A.3 Davis (Vendor Headshot)

53

A.3 Davis (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

54

A.3 Davis (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

55

A.4 Bobby (Vendor Headshot)

56

A.4 Bobby (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

57

A.4 Bobby (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

58

A.5 Marie (Vendor Headshot)

59

A.5 Marie (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

60

A.5 Marie (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

61

A.6 Steve (Vendor Headshot)

62

A.6 Steve (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

63

A.6 Steve (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

64

A.6 Steve (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

65

A.7 Baron (Vendor Headshot)

66

A.7 Baron (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

67

A.7 Baron (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

68

A.8 Lisa (Vendor Headshot)

69

A.8 Lisa (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

70

A.8 Lisa (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

71

A.9 Mark M. (Vendor Headshot)

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A.9 Mark M. (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

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A.9 Mark M. (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

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A.9 Mark M. (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

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A.10 Tucker (Vendor Headshot)

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A.10 Tucker (Supporting Images from the Multimedia Video)

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Appendix B: Interview Questionnaire

The next few pages contain the original questionnaire, which was created to use during vendor interviews. Although it was not utilized as often as initially planned, it was still occasionally referenced during the interview process as needed.

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B.1 Formal Vendor Questionnaire 1. What is your name? 2. Are you from Nashville? -If no: What brought you to Nashville? 3. Are you currently homeless? -If yes: How long have you been homeless; how did you become homeless? 4. How long have you been selling The Contributor Newspaper? 5. How did you learn about the opportunity to sell this newspaper? 6. Where do you sell The Contributor? 7. Did you choose that location for a particular reason? 8. What is your favorite part of this job? 9. What did you do before you began selling this newspaper? 10. Whats your greatest memory from selling the paper? 11. Do you have a lot of regulars? 12. On average, how many papers do you sell a week? 13. How often do people pay more than just a dollar for one paper? 14. What hopes do you have for the future? 15. How has selling The Contributor helped you? 16. What would you like to say to people who oppose The Contributor? 17. What would you say to someone who thinks this is just panhandling? 18. Where do you think you would be now if you hadnt found this job? 19. What do you like to do in your free time? Hobbies? 20. Is there anything else you would like to tell me about yourself?

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Appendix C: Editing Step-by-Step Screenshots

The editing process for this project took a large amount of time, and was very complicated. I thought it would be beneficial to see a few of steps that went into the completion of this project. Screenshots from the major editing steps involving photography, audio and video can be found on the following pages.

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C.1 Batch Editing Photography Using Adobe Lightroom 4

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C.2 Editing Images Individually

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C.3 Editing Original Audio Clips in Adobe Audition CS6

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C.4 Removing Background Noise

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C.5 Finding Background Music on SoundCloud.com

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C.6 Mixing the Interview with the Background Music

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C.7 Exporting Final Audio

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C.8 Video Title Creation in Adobe Photoshop CS6

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C.9 Creating a Premiere Pro CS6 Sequence

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C.10 Adding Files to the Sequence

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C.11 Editing Video Transitions and Motion

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C.12 Rendering the Work Area

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C.13 Exporting the Final Video

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Appendix D: Creating the Website Step-by-Step Screenshots

The next few pages contain pictures of a few editing steps that took place during the development of the project website. These screenshots are included to give readers a chance to see visually see this part of the editing process.

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D.1 Creating a New Website on Wix.com

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D.2 Adding Pages to the Website

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D.3 Embedding Videos

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D.4 Populating the Photography Galleries

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D.5 Adding an FAQ Section

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D.6 Changing the SEO settings

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D.7 Publishing the Website

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Appendix E: The Final Website

This section contains screenshots of the completed project website. I thought it was important that readers were able to see the various pages without having to actually view the online site. Although not everything on the website is shown in these images, they give viewers a good idea of what can be expected when viewing the website.

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E.1 Home

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E.2 About the Project

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E.3 The Stories

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E.3.1 Mark (One of the tem multimedia video pages)

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E.4 Photography

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E.4.1 Portrait Photography

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E.4.2 Street Photography

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E.4.3 Still Life Photography

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E.4.4 The Expanded View

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E.5 About Me

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E.6 Contact

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E.7 FAQ

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Appendix F: Contacting the Executive Director of The Contributor Inc.

The Following two pages contain the letter I sent to Tasha French Lemley informing her of my intentions to interview the vendors that sell The Contributor, and her response.

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F.1 Letter to Tasha French Lemley

Hello! My name is Kelsi Carter. I am a mass communications student at Middle Tennessee State University and I am currently working on a creative thesis project through the honors college involving The Contributor. I am planning to create a photojournalism project that will tell vendors stories through the use of audio interviews and black and white still photography. The interviews will be hosted on a website that I will develop, and will eventually be available for public viewing. Through this project I am hoping not only to inform the public, but also prove that The Contributor is a valuable part of society, and that it is helping people and the community in many ways. I am contacting you to simply let you know that I will be conducting interviews and taking photographs of some vendors, with their permission. I am also willing to meet with you or your staff to better explain my plan and what the finished project will consist of. Lastly, if you have any suggestions as to who I should interview, anyone I should not interview, or things of that nature, I would greatly appreciate the help! If you have any other questions, concerns or would like to schedule a time to meet, you may email me at: kec4e@mtmail.mtsu.edu or call: (615) 7072927. Thank you for your time and I look forward to working with you and The Contributor staff and vendors! Kelsi Carter

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F.2 Email Response

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Appendix G: Vendor Release Forms

The legal documents signed by the vendors prior to the interview process can be found below. These documents state that the vendors understood what the project was for, and what their information would be used for.

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G.1 Mark - Release Form

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G.2 Margaret - Release Form

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G.3 Bobby - Release Form

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G.4 Davis - Release Form

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G.5 Marie - Release Form

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G.6 Steve - Release Form

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G.7 Baron - Release Form

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G.8 Lisa - Release Form

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G.9 Mark M. - Release Form

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G.10 Tucker - Release Form

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