AmP to use Web2.0 features to report March For Life!

In order to, among other things, provide better mutimedia coverage of this year's March for Life I've purchased a Kodak V1253 Digital Camera.

In addition to taking pictures up to 12 megapixels in size, the V1253 is also the first commercially-available camera (as I understand it) to offer HDTV-quality video recording. To my way of thinking, 100,000+ catholics marching for life in near-freezing temperatures deserve to be represented well, especially when the mainstream media demonstres a hypocritical tendency to ingore their efforts.

My long term plan with this purchase is to provide more exclusive pictures and audio/video content of local Catholic events, and the March for Life seems like a perfect place for that plan to take shape concretely. This way, by the time Pope Benedict XVI visits in April, I should have a bit of experience in covering these sorts of events under my belt. And of course, if anyone wants to send a correspondent to World Youth Day in Sydney this summer.... I haven't yet unpacked my bags from the last one.

In terms of "web2.0" features, I'll be uploading my videos to the AmericanPapist YouTube channel (which has already been viewed 133 times, somehow?) and uploading the still images to the AmericanPapist Flickr page (over 15k views!). That updating will begin this weekend, once I have a chance to attend several of the March for Life-related events.

Needless to say, I'm footing the bill for all this myself, and I have no regular sponsors to compensate the time I spend blogging and covering these events. To that end, and specifically with another semester of books, lodging, internet access, transportation and (above-all) tuition to cover, any free-will offering would be most welcome. The little Paypal donate button on the sidebar is a good place to start.

Also, the timing has never been so opportune as now to place an AmP Blog advertisement, especially if you are trying to promote a pro-life product or service. I'm expecting a large uptick in daily visitors during the upcoming weekend and throughout the March for Life, so do take note.

After all, with over 1.35 million visits to AmP since its founding, it's clear folks are watching.

Okay, time to get down to business: this promises to be a wonderful weekend - stay tuned!

P.S. And if any of you are wondering, a redesign of the AmP blog is in the works, but still far off.