Workshop Participants
Johnny Hanson is the digital media editor at AramcoWorld magazine and corporate publications advisor for Aramco Services Company. He earned his MA in visual communication from Ohio University and a BS in journalism from the University of Illinois. Johnny started his career in the newspaper industry by stuffing ad inserts for the Chicago Tribune at the age of 14. Prior to Aramco, Johnny worked as a senior visual journalist at the Houston Chronicle, a photo editor and operations manager at Citysearch.com and for numerous newspapers and himself, as a photojournalist.
Johnny has taught various storytelling workshops and held speaking engagements with numerous youth-focused groups and high school students.
He is blessed to have an incredible family that includes his wife two amazing kids (who are now his most photographed subjects) a dog and a blue fish named Goldie.
Johnny’s work has been recognized by the NPPA, POY, APME, BOP and South Asian Journalism Society and he currently has featured images in the exhibit Whispering Bayou at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston.
Johnny participated in the December 2015 MediaStorm Methodology Master Class. He had the following to say about his experience:
The workshop for me was an experience that brought me back to the basics of simple storytelling. It gave me the ideas, information and tools, through real examples, of how to take our multimedia storytelling to the next level. I can now create and implement a new strategy of how we will cover online stories, starting from the time we decide to dedicate, to new workflows and rolling out the final product.
As we battle for eyes and clicks, it’s just not enough to have a video online for the sake of having it online. Your team showed us that when you take on a project thoughtfully, one you care about and is true to who you are, and you present that story manner that respects peoples time you can keep people engaged and facilitate a dialogue and buzz through marketing the final product. This process starts with the respect, the time and the way you treat the people who are the heart of the story.
You showed us how relationships can build unexpected bridges, and in the same way we can build bridges on social media by engaging and marketing to those who might have a vested interest in the story.
The workshop allowed me to meet and engage with some really amazing people from various backgrounds and expertise who I’m sure I will work with in the future.
I have already told three others friends in the industry that they should consider attending because I know they would benefit from the workshop.
I have a lot to do to get started but I’m thankful that I was able to attend. Now it’s time to put what I learned into practice!
Thanks again Brian and MediaStorm!
Johnny Hanson, Digital Media Editor, AramcoWorld