The Kalish

The Kalish Workshop is an inspirational and intense five-day experience in editing visual storytelling. It is designed to benefit anyone who touches photography with a narrative storyline for online and print. It is a hands-on, collaborative learning environment with daily in-depth discussions and exercises about the best practices to edit, produce and publish successful multimedia and interactive stories.

Faculty attends every session and are accessible to participants (AKA Kalish Kampers) the entire week, making the workshop unique and rewarding in a casual environment.

Faculty includes both Emmy and Pulitzer Prize winning editors: Brian Storm, Geri Migielicz, Sue Morrow, Kenny Irby, Mark Edelson, Scott Sines and John Rumbach. Additional leaders in visual storytelling also join us during the week.

We kick it old school in the world of new media. The Kalish embraces multimedia storytelling across platforms while staying grounded in the foundations of picture editing and photojournalism.

Participants discuss and problem-solve tough ethical issues, how to select the best picture, how to effectively sequence and help solve riddles for successful user generated content (UGC).

Digital first, print second. The priority of the week is how to establish narrative, select media mix and post-production for multimedia and interactive storytelling in non-linear editing. A mix of lectures, hands-on exercises, critiques and group discussions create a stimulating learning experience.

Participants will decide how stories can be edited and presented for online, packaged for different platform viewing, and lastly, how the stories present themselves in print form. Final Cut Pro (or Express) and InDesign are used in the exercises.

All sessions embrace picture editing: what is visually compelling, why stills may work instead of video, what is good video.

Audio is the cornerstone to great multimedia. Participants will learn how to approach audio to achieve the best results.

The end goal: an exceptional eye for excellence in visual editing, its value, the process and its purpose in the workplaces of the participants.

Who should apply

Coming from all corners of the world with diverse backgrounds, Kalish Kampers have varied experience: radio, non-profit organizations, traditional newsrooms, freelance photographers and editors who work directly with image sequencing, audio and video storytelling. Graduate students and educators also benefit.

This is not a workshop about the tools; this is a workshop about storytelling where content is Queen. All content is provided for the exercises.

It is advantageous for chosen participants to have working knowledge (the ability to do basic functions) in Final Cut Pro, Audacity and InDesign, but a working knowledge in at least Final Cut Pro and/or InDesign is acceptable. Working knowledge of the tools will deepen the experience of the workshop.  

MediaStorm will offer attending participants a discount online training, which can be found here: http://mediastorm.com/train/online

The Facility

Ball State University – in lovely Muncie, Indiana – hosts the workshop in state-of-the-art computer labs in the Art and Journalism building. Each participant has exclusive use of a Macintosh computer. Ball State University is wireless.

NOTE: Bring a sweater. The AC is cranked low in June.

Lodging

Residence halls/dorm rooms: The rates for a single dorm room are $192.91 for 6 days (Sunday – Friday, leave Saturday) or $161.55 for those who want to check out Friday morning and leave after dinner Friday night. This includes all taxes plus linens, towel and washcloth each day and a made bed upon arrival. Rooms are single occupancy with a bathroom shared between two rooms (we group room pairs by gender). You will be housed in Park Hall, one of the newest on campus and in easy walking distance to the workshop. Here is a link to its description:  http://cms.bsu.edu/campuslife/housing/halls/map/parkhall.aspx Rooms need to be paid in US dollars by check or cash at check-in at the desk in the dorm. To reserve a dorm room, contact Tom Price at tprice@bsu.edu . Please let him know if you will need a parking permit.

The Pittenger Hotel in the Student Center: The Pittenger, the university hotel, is in the Student Center. Rooms have the usual amenities of hotels (no room service, however) with private baths. The faculty stays at the Pittenger. It’s a 10-minute walk from the workshop classrooms, restaurants, coffee shops and bars.

There are a block of rooms booked for the week at The Pittenger under The Kalish Workshop. If enough rooms are booked by May 25 there will be a 25% discount off of the (approx) $69 regular room rate depending upon the room type reserved (twin, queen, king). If you wish to stay at the hotel, call (765) 285-1555. Book early. Rooms go fast.

Off campus: Nearby motels are in the range of $69/day, but are not within walking distance. You will need transportation. If you choose to drive, university parking passes will be available at no cost. Beware, campus parking can be challenging.

Meals and Fun

The workshop provides two group dinners. Monday at the Thai Smile; Wednesday is pizza night. (Yes, we can accommodate dietary needs.)

There is a diverse food court in the Journalism building for a quick breakfast and/or lunch. A limited selection of beverages will be provided in the labs during the afternoons.

Bowling. Five bucks gets you in the door. The workshop provides transportation.

Travel

We will have a shuttle from Indianapolis International Airport to Ball State. There will be limited pick-ups, which means there may be a wait at the airport. Updated information will be available closer to the workshop dates. To arrange a shuttle ride, contact Tom Price at tprice@bsu.edu .

If you drive/rent a car, parking passes will be provided (at no cost) upon registration.
**Kampers have split the cost of rental cars and shared hotel rooms.

Arrive: Plan on being in Muncie on Sunday. Registration will be 4pm-7pm in the Journalism building. The workshop begins at 9:00 a.m. Monday.

Depart: The workshop ends at noon Friday. Shuttles to the airport will be available. However, a good portion of the group usually stays Friday night, goes to dinner together and has a great time. A Saturday morning shuttle can be arranged.

related links

• Local hotels and motels (via Expedia)
• Local hotels and motels (via Travelocity)
• Map of Muncie
• Map of Ball State University
• Directions to Ball State University

 

The History of the Kalish

STAN KALISH
Stan was a daring, innovative picture editor at the Milwaukee Journal from 1937 to 1950, when few papers had picture editors and it took guts and vision to achieve recognition. With the University of Missouri's Professor Clifton Edom, Stan wrote a book on picture editing that became the Bible of the picture editing community and was the only guide until recent years. Stan died in 1985 and his widow, Betsy Kalish, chose to honor his memory with a contribution to the National Press Photographers Foundation, making this workshop financially possible.

JOHN AND LOIS AHLHAUSER
John served as The Kalish director for the first eight years of the workshop. Lois oversaw operational details, both putting in countless hours. Through their insight and energy, The Kalish grew to become the premiere picture editing workshop in the country. John and Lois did it all without monetary compensation.

THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
In 1997, the Ahlhausers felt it was time to turn over the management of the workshop and they formed the advisory board. Its function is to develop curriculum that is current, innovative and relevant to the visual journalist.  This group provides direction, oversight and labor to assure the success of the Kalish from year-to-year. They are: Randy Cox, Geri Migielicz, Sue Morrow, John Rumbach, Brian Storm and Scott Sines.

THE FACULTY
All are passionate photojournalists, widely recognized and serve without compensation. Some of the original players were J. Bruce Baumann, Bob Gilka, Bob Lynn, Claude Cookman, Carol McKay, Bill Blanton and Carolyn Lee.

In 1998, John Rumbach succeeded the Ahlhausers as director and served until 2002; Mary Jo Moss was the third director, serving two years; J. Bruce Baumann became director in 2004; Scott Sines is the current director.

BALL STATE UNIVERSITY
The workshop was held at Marquette University in Milwaukee for 14 years. In 2004, Ball State University journalism chair, Marilyn Weaver, and Tom Price, director of the BSU photojournalism sequence, offered their state-of-the-art facility as the new home for The  Kalish. Here, the workshop continues its excellence in education, teaching and leadership.