Les Taranto
Military: Active Duty: USMC 1975-78,
Reserves: Navy Seabees 1993-05,
Army Journalist 2005-2013
Stage Technician since May 1979
Interests: Journalism, Photography, Video,
Travel, Scuba Diving, Health
Location Houston, Tx
Activity
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Les Taranto made a comment
Born in NYC. Unemployed Stagehand (due to CoVid19) in Houston,Texas.
II have zero experience blogging but I'm starting an online business and this will definitely help with website promotion and helping clients getting to know me and my business. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Wow.
This course is a lot more complex than l anticipated... -
Les Taranto made a comment
The 5 Ws and How, all the facts and objectivity are all essential to a good news story
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Les Taranto made a comment
Cool course intro...
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Les Taranto replied to S'kha Masunda
Good point.
The crews supply their labor and expertise but aren't in business with the producers
& others in the creative end or those that are above the line... -
Les Taranto made a comment
The 5 W's and How.
Human interest angle. Who's affected
Photos, quotes and if possible video interviews asking questions that support the story.
"Just the facts maam" Jack Webb from Dragnet a 1960's US TV show
Get the facts minus the BS... -
good comment and follow up questions...
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Excellent comment Felicia, you hit the nail on the head!!
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Les Taranto made a comment
The 5W's and How are the basics...
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Les Taranto made a comment
Another excellent lecture thank you Dr. Eckler.
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Les Taranto replied to Rachel Doumbia
Social media--good one!!
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Les Taranto made a comment
Awesome posts everyone...
For some eye opening stories go to:
www.sovereignman.com -
Les Taranto replied to Igwe Chijiokem
Very interesting article and this currency issue not only to Nigeria but to the US as well.
Check out articles written by Simon Black on his blog: www.sovereignman.com
His writings are a real eye-opener... -
Les Taranto replied to Maria Montanez
True.
Pain and suffering sells papers and gets viewed.
It all gets back to the dollar or pound, (paid advertising) what turns heads gets reported or at least put in a place in the paper where it'll attract the most attention... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Very clear and very informative
Thank you Dr. Eckler -
Les Taranto made a comment
Very nice presentation...
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Les Taranto replied to Flora Asieri
Sure these stories are important and they have their place in print. BUT
it all gets back to money, what turns heads, gets people's attention, or gets viewed online..
Circulation and advertising pays for the salaries & the equipment that prints or broadcasts these stories.
The bottom line is the buck or pound or whatever the local currency is and if the... -
Les Taranto replied to norberto fernández
Very true.
Most journalists or their editors want to concentrate on turning heads and many times don't cover what needs to be reported on.
Sensational news the news that turns heads gets reported or gets top coverage on the front page "above the fold" and the less exciting news that may be VERY important to that local community may end up buried on the 4th... -
Les Taranto made a comment
This was a well done typical news report that obviously needs some following up on.
Where, when who, are covered but why, and how are still up in the air... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Great comments everyone...
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Les Taranto replied to Deepak Gupta
Good analogy...
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Les Taranto replied to LONWABO MAHLIKIHLA
Welcome aboard everyone.
Awesome course, instructors & cool group
of people.... -
Les Taranto made a comment
We are very fortunate to have some outstanding instructors...
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Les Taranto made a comment
I'm originally from New York City but currently live in Houston, Texas
in the southwestern US
Very diverse group we have here.
I can't wait to get started... -
Les Taranto replied to Marie de Montalembert
Very nicely written. I can really visualize the the woman walking at night and I'm wondering what will happen to her.
ls there more to this story or does it have a Hitchcock-like ending and leave you hanging and wondering. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Excellent video really gets to the point.
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Les Taranto replied to Kim Fan
Great
You write very well.
Try to study slang and get a mentor or someone who can explain words that are spelled the same but have different meanings. -
Les Taranto replied to Silvia Salvaneschi
Fantastic Silvia.
Like I told Colombian writer Lina Marcelo Palacios don't forget where you came from.
You can write for the Italian market as well.
Take English classes and find a mentor to help critique your English. -
Les Taranto replied to Lina Marcela Palacios
Cool Lina, don't be scared just go for it.
Keep improving your English but don't forget where you came from.
There is also an enormous Spanish speaking market worldwide that you can write, make films, shoot videos for and entertain. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Great observation Mark.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Great comments guys, I wish I had been able to keep up weekly with the course...
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Les Taranto made a comment
Since everyone was briefed beforehand about time & budget restraints, it looks like the director got what he wanted from both actors & crew.
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Les Taranto made a comment
It really is amazing what it takes to put together a 16mm short film, never mind a multi-million dollar Hollywood film.
Things can be chaotic at times.
I remember on a 16mm short film called "Something Else" I was assistant cameraman and we were getting ready to shoot from the sidewalk onto a porch where the actor was about to say his lines.
We were... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Les Taranto from Houston, Texas
Very interesting... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Explains very clear explanations...
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Give the anti-fracking contingency time to appear & view their opinions.
They said in the opening video that they weren't in favor or vs fracking but that both sides
would be presented... -
Les Taranto replied to Daniel Olguín
Yeah, I live in Houston, Tx.
The oil capital of the world.
It's a pretty nasty business but the economics really play into the big picture.
Extracting natural gas, gives a big boost to the nation's economy & creates many jobs.
& they're gonna exploit this technology & things hopefully will get cleaner as we learn more about it, but until then we have to... -
I live in Texas, & next to Pennsylvania, the second largest stateside fracking location.
This is oil country, & oil makes this country go. We gotta have it & say what you want but they're gonna do what they gotta do to extract it whether it pollutes or not. It also creates too many jobs to ignore & as the song says Money Changes Everything.
It's helped... -
Les Taranto replied to Harry Ledwith
I have to agree w/you Harry, Jack Nicholson is quite an actor.
Observing his acting style & having worked with him as an electrician on
Terms of Endearment, I got the impression that he's the same in all his movies.Have you seen The Last Detail? It's an old one, 1974, with Randy Quaid.
Vintage Nicholson.
Having been along for the ride on Navy ships... -
Les Taranto made a comment
It's been a few years but I've produced video programming for Public Access Cable TV here in Houston, Texas (USA) and would like to start up again.
I've always enjoyed taking pictures, watching movies and have worked live performances (operas, ballets, touring shows) in the industry as a stagehand and in the movies as an electrician, mostly in the labor end... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Hi Everyone
One suggestion to anyone wanting to pursue filmmaking might check out their local Public Access Channel and inquire about video camera and editing classes.
In the US most major cities local cable companies are required to provide public access studios where hands on training and free access to video equipment is provided. With this training... -
Les Taranto made a comment
Hook em with your headlines and introduction. "Just the facts, maam." (Dragnet 1970's US TV show) The 5 W's and how, start with the basics. Don't "softsoap it. Be bold. "It's not the 1st question you ask but the 2nd and 3rd (and following ones." (Barbara Walters) Dig, for the facts, educate but also entertain to keep your readers interest. Start with the...
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Les Taranto replied to Jane Mizon
Absolutely...
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Les Taranto made a comment
I'm originally from New York City but live in Houston, Texas...
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Les Taranto made a comment
I'm an ex-US Army journalist starting a little late but hopefully will catch up to you guys.
The Community Journalism course is outstanding and I highly recommend if it's offered again. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Excellent courses.
Take other courses, you won't be disappointed... -
Les Taranto made a comment
I'm very interested in learning more about journalism and the other medias of communication.
I highly recommend taking Community Journalism, if it's offered again. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Here in Houston public transportation leaves a lot to be desired. Most major cities have commuter rail systems thereby cutting down on auto traffic and fossil fuel use. A monorail system following the freeways into town from the bedroom communities surrounding the city would greatly ease traffic and could be operated profitably. But it's doubtful that it'll...
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Les Taranto made a comment
Built in 1974 when energy was cheaper, our house is by most standards, fairly large (almost 3500 sq ft.) and very costly to keep cool during the deplorably hot and humid Houston (Texas) summers. Ridge vents would passively vent heat out of the attic. An on demand water heating system is pricey. I have the thermostat set at around 80'f and run ceiling fans to...
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Les Taranto made a comment
Great course and excellent sites.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Hi. I'm originally from NYC but have been living in Houston, Texas since 1979.
I just completed the Journalism course and this course looked interesting and should
complement what I learned there. -
Les Taranto made a comment
I'm interested in providing a free weekly online and print newspaper that
could be turned over to others to run. Advertisers would be a must and having a printed version would probably make selling advertising much easier. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Excellent interviews & information shared...
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Les Taranto made a comment
Very informative... Nice presentation.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Awesome course. Looking forward to learn how to monetize.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Thank you.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Didn't attend.
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Les Taranto made a comment
The podium, microphone and US colors might look good as part of the newspaper's masthead.
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Les Taranto replied to Valery Chirah
Good one!!
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Les Taranto replied to Amy Dennis
Yes. You got it!!
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Les Taranto made a comment
I chose the microphone, podium with US colors signifying the voice of the community.
http://www.sunlakesblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/speaker1.jpg -
Les Taranto replied to Joel Buckland
Hey Joel you can do both.
Google each medium: photojournalism, photography and journalism and see what comes up.
There are many training videos done by actual working pros where you can learn the basics and then it's just a matter of doing it.
Find a local writers workshop or club where you can get feedback to hone your writing skills. Pick up some... -
Les Taranto made a comment
The course is much better than I anticipated.
It's loaded with essential information for the journalist and I feel it's a good starter course for anyone thinking about becoming one. -
Les Taranto made a comment
Many thanks to everyone for your reviews.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Excellent presentation.
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Les Taranto made a comment
The first week was a nice kickoff for things to come. There was a lot of important information to absorb but well worth the effort.
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Les Taranto made a comment
Community Journalism is the reporting of information via print or video of local news, stories and happenings that may be of interest to that area's residents.
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Les Taranto made a comment
I am a former US Army journalist, but having just been a part-time Reservist, didn't get the opportunity to write as much as would've liked to. I'd like to take my skills to the next level and this looks like a good way to head in that direction.
