Hugging is Hip-video story

I watched "Hugging is Hip" on NYtimes.com as an example of video journalism on the internet. I read the print story a few days ago, and this blog assignment gave me the perfect opportunity to further examine what was already running through my head. When I read the story, I felt disappointed by the lack of visuals accompanying the text. The story attempted to describe the different types of hugs popular among teens and the reasons many schools are banning that type of affection. Several of the hug types were unfamiliar and confusing to me, a 20-year-old, so I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for an older reader to visualize. As a text story, administrators and teachers were quoted with their distaste for the fad, while students, parents and sociologists defended hugging in the hallways. Fairly confusing descriptions were used. The video presented examples of the hugs, showed one of the many student protests taking place around the country and offered interviews with the writer of the original story, a sociologist, principal, students, and parents. It simply helped the story come full-circle. Many people will think that this is a silly, trivial issue when first reading about it, but by providing a video, the New York Times helps familiarize viewers with what a nuisance "three-way hugs" and more could be in the hallway.