Multimedia Minutes: “Secrets” to Get People to Open Up on Camera

March 9th, 2010

 What impressed me about Galen Culver’s profile of a ten year old “Lil’ Rapper” from Oklahoma City was how open and comfortable the girl looked and talked on camera.

Galen, a multimedia journalist for KFOR-TV, has been producing “Is This a Great State or What!” since 1991.  He partners with me in the training of multimedia journalists at client stations.

What’s your “secret” for getting people to be so open and at ease on camera?

 There’s nothing like a one person crew to connect with the person you’re interviewing. It’s just you and your subject. I like the informality of just ‘coming over’ to someone’s house, sharing a cup of coffee, talking things over.

Two or three people and a lot of equipment can feel like ‘company’. An MM journalist feels more like a friend dropping by. It’s more intimate. Great for good interviews.

An MM journalist has all the power. For every great experience reporters and photographers have together there are probably an equal number of horror stories where someone you work with doesn’t know what they’re doing or care.

They miss a shot or mangle the language or they’re just plain hard to be around. Working alone is a simpler process. You get what you need. You’re as creative as you want to be. You make the decisions. There’s more responsibility, no one else to blame when something goes wrong, but if you work hard then good things usually happen.

What’s your favorite experience?

Some of my favorite experiences as an MM journalist have come late at night or very early in the morning when I’ve felt as though no one else has ever done what I’m doing with my camera. No one else has ever captured this kind of moment or been here at this spot to take a picture.

Those experiences come through initiative alone. They don’t involve asking the desk to OK the overtime for a photographer or having to wait around for a reporter who didn’t feel the need to get up so early. It’s just me and hopefully a very interesting person to talk to and learn from. Those are the kinds of stories I recall most fondly. 

What’s most challenging?

Physically, the MM journalist’s job can be demanding. There might not be anyone available to help carry equipment. On something like a downtown shoot, in a government building, or hospital it’s a long walk to and from the car. Shoulders and knees take a beating if you don’t have a luggage cart or someone nice enough to help you nearby.  I carry a cart with my news unit for just such occasions.

Logistically, an MM journalist can find themselves at a numerical disadvantage when it comes to certain stories.  Big events where there are lots of other two or three person crews are tough. There’s no way to compete with extra boots on the ground. Court stories can be especially challenging if you have to listen to testimony and try to get pictures at the same time. It can be done, but not as well as the traditional two person local TV crew.

Safety can also become an issue on certain stories. A one person crew is wise to have trusted escorts in certain neighborhoods or when door to door canvassing. I try to keep a police officer in sight when covering spot news, and there have been instances where the police have cleared a crime scene and I refused to shoot anything because I was concerned for my safety.

Writing, shooting, editing is more difficult in many day to day instances. It can take longer especially if you’re on a learning curve but it’s not as hard as it used to be and it’s never been impossible.

Personally, I have to make a special effort to stay connected with the rest of the newsroom.  Working alone, there are times when I miss the camaraderie good reporters have with good photographers. I’m usually the last to hear good ’scuttlebutt’.  As the only MM journalist in the shop it’s easy to become the forgotten man.

More About Galen

In 1991, Galen began a unique assignment to find and showcase amazing Oklahoma sights and stories. Since that time the “Is This a Great State or What!” segment has aired nearly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on various NewsChannel 4 broadcasts. 

Prior to joining NewsChannel 4, Galen worked as a reporter, photographer and weekend anchor in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

He broke into the television business a reporter and photographer in Missoula, Montana. Galen earned his degree in Journalism and Communications from Washington State University.

Galen has received many photojournalism accolades including the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. His coverage of the first Gulf War won an Oklahoma Associated Press Award for Best General Reporting.

Galen is married to NewsChannel 4 anchor and producer Tara Blume. They and their Oklahoma born daughters, Evelyn and Holly, live in Oklahoma City.

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Sharpen your skills as a multimedia journalist by watching the short videos listed under Recent Posts.  It’s fast becoming the largest library of MMJ learning videos in the world. 

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Multimedia Minutes: Showing You’re Fair and Accurate

March 7th, 2010

Viewers don’t think TV news people report fairly and accurately.  So how can you set yourself apart?  

Improve your skills as a multimedia media journalist by watching the learning videos under Recent Posts — fast becoming the largest library of such videos on the planet.

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Multimedia Minutes: How to Shoot Your Own Stand-Ups

February 26th, 2010

Here’s how to shoot your own stand-ups.  Tips from an MMJ who does just that.�

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Multimedia Minutes: The Power of Show-and-Tell

February 25th, 2010

When you make calls on multiple story ideas — even if just to leave voicemail messages — you benefit over the next couple of days with just the right people and information you need.  That’s what multimedia journalist and anchor Marc Schollett finds.  Here’s an example he enterprised, shot, reported, edited, anchored, and posted on the Web site for his Traverse City, Michigan station. 

Become more valuable as a multimedia journalist by watching the videos under Recent Posts — fast becoming the largest library of multimedia learning videos in the world.

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Multimedia Minutes: Storytelling Tips for Spot News

February 23rd, 2010

Spot news tests the best of multimedia journalists.  See strong elements in this story reported by Scott Broom from a disaster area. 

Perfect your craft.  Check out one of the fastest growing multimedia journalist video training libraries in the world under Recent Posts to the right.

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Multimedia Minutes: Live Behind the Wheel, Taking Technology to New Heights

February 20th, 2010

“As a One Man Band, I’m talking about reporting live on-camera from behind the wheel while moving from one breaking news event to another. It’s compelling television and webstreaming content any way you cut it.”

That bold statement from MMJ Scott Broom, WUSA-TV in Washington, DC, comes to life in this example.

According to Scott:

Here is a typical behind the wheel scenario:

1) Laptop A is connected to a dash mounted web cam pointed at me in the driver’s seat.  A microphone is also plugged into the laptop via an XLR to USB filter and adapter.

2) Laptop B is connected to a dash mounted web cam pointed out the window.  No microphone is needed here.

Connecting and Getting on the Air:

Both laptops are capable of connecting to the internet from virtually anywhere there is 3-g cellular service via internal wireless broadband cards.  This is a simple matter of opening the software and hitting the connect button.

1) Once connected, I use Skype, the popular video calling platform installed on laptop A, to call the TV station.  The video call is punched up full screen at the station on a computer that is routed through the director’s board to take as an on-air source.  I use this to report from the driver’s web cam and microphone.

2) Meanwhile, computer B is busy feeding video from the dashboard cam via another web-based platform called Livestream.  Livestream recognizes encoded video routed from the webcam through Adobe Flash Media Live Encoder software.   This can also be punched up full screen and routed to air.

3) I can now report live on-camera on computer A via skype,  while from computer B the director can take the shot from the dashboard of live road conditions from the web via Livestream whenever he or she wishes –  or all this can be presented simultaneously in a double box with graphics.

4) I take IFB from my blackberry cell phone to an ear bud.

Scott credits other MMJs at his shop for also pushing the breaking news boundaries.  Scott is also a gifted storyteller for breaking news, as you’ll see in an example posting here soon along with my comments and takeways you can use.

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Multimedia Minutes: Tough Time with Tough Questions?

February 19th, 2010

“How can I do a better job asking tough questions?” is a frequent question MMJs ask.  You might, too, especially if you want people to like you.�

In this two minute learning video, you’ll hear a tough question that took alot of nerve to ask, then see it again with my comments at the bottom of the screen, followed by a checklist you can use.

I could have certainly selected a more current example, but this one showed extraordinary courage.  Odds are your next questions won’t put your life at risk, so you should find it easier.

Poliish up your interview, reporting, writing, and photography skills by watching other short videos under Recent Posts to the right.

Developing the “courage” to ask hard questions is a huge hurtle for any reporter.  I empathize with reporters who have problems asking hard questions because I know how difficult it was for me to ask hard questions of witnesses when I began practicing law – especially witnesses with whom I empathized or I thought were good people.  (Many of them did not look like “good people” when I finished asking them questions though.  They looked dishonest.)

 Bob made these points in the video but they deserve extra emphasis.  There are, no doubt, a number of paths to courage.  The simplest are (they are simple to say but not to put into practice),

1.    Understanding it is your job to ask hard questions because viewers rely on you.  When I see a story that could be revealing and would shine light on misconduct or incompetence turned into a less than probing piece of journalism, I am appalled.  (See the wild horse story this weekend – Summary, the wild horse advocates say they have “ideas” and the BLM says, “They are all ears.” – Horse plucky!)  

2.    Understand we are giving interviewees an opportunity to tell their story so the public will understand the difficult issues they deal with.  Barbara Walters asked First Lady, Betty Ford about her “slurred” speech amidst rumors of drug and alcohol use.  (Barbara was pilloried for being disrespectful to the First Lady.)  Betty said she was glad for the question because it gave her an opportunity to explain why she had slurred speech and the rumors were not true.  (Of course, Betty Ford did not tell the truth.)  I am sure the BLM wants to explain to Nevadans it did nothing wrong in the mustang roundup which resulted in the death of at least 39 horses and 20-30 mares having miscarriages – it must have been an act of god. (Sarcasm here) 

3.    Practice.  It takes practice to develop the skills to confront people on difficult issues.  One must practice continually.  We are raised to believe that being frank and honest in questioning others in polite society is unacceptable and rude (it is).  We all want to be nice so we will be liked.  One must choose between being a good reporter (or good lawyer) and being liked.  If one wants to be good, one must be brutally honest and occasionally confrontational.  That often means good reporters will not be liked, if they do the job expected of them – at least by the interviewee.  The News Director will have a different opinion. 

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Multimedia Minutes: Writing Tips with Examples from an MMJ

February 18th, 2010

Learn how to improve your writing with these powerful examples with comments from the MMJ shot them.

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Multimedia Minutes: Staying Sane by Staying Organized

February 17th, 2010

How do you make time your friend?  More time management tips from MMJ Marc Schollett who anchors three newscasts and reports several stories a week for a Traverse City, Michigan TV station.  Marc practices what he preaches, making it look easy. 

MMJs who follow the “multi-story” appoach we recommend report excellent results.  Rarely do you run dry.  You’ve created several options for yourself by making several calls and sending several emails checking out several stories.  Result:  Lots of information, news hooks, and human angles to keep you sane and successful.

What are your challenges as an MMJ?  Let us know:  bkaplitz@ar-d.com

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Multimedia Minutes: NBC’s Bob Dotson Answers One of Your Toughest Questions

February 15th, 2010

 Bob Kaplitz: Bob, you make your interview subjects open up so readily.  What’s the most important advice you can give reporters, photographers, and the new breed of multimedia journalists? 

Bob Dotson:  

As a young reporter, I once showed up late to a Governor’s news conference and begged the Governor to stay and answer just one more question.  The Gov, up for re-election, obliged.  I focused up and said, “Go ahead, Governor, answer a question.”

        “What question?”

        “Well, I don’t know.  Didn’t you just have a news conference?”

        “Yes.”

        “Did they ask a lot of questions?”

        “Of course.”

        “Well, pick one out and give me eight seconds!”

        And, you know — he did.

Most people you interview cannot do that, so the most important thing you can do is make them forget about your camera and lights.  Put them at ease, so they’ll feel comfortable enough to tell you what you need to know.  Talk about their hobbies, not your equipment.  Make the technical stuff seem no big deal.  If they’re nervous (and who isn’t?) tell a funny story about your struggles with all this.  If someone is working in a flower garden, start by asking a questions about the flowers and then gradually bring them around to the reason you are there. 

I use silence to get better answer more quickly.  People nearly always answer questions in three parts.  First they answer what they think you’ve asked.  Then, they explain in more detail.   If you don’t jump right in with another question, if you let the silence between you build, they figure you don’t yet understand and make an extra effort to explain their thoughts more concisely.

Often, they make their point more passionately and precisely the third time.Don’t settle for clichés:    A tornado victim I once interviewed gave me three answers to a question I asked:  “The storm sounded like a freight train … we hid in the closet … we’re going to rebuild.” 

But the sound bite I used bubbled up after a bit of silence built up between us.  He pulled a hunk of pink goo out of the rubble, a shattered set of dentures, and announced “Well, the tornado got my teeth, but it didn’t get me!” 

A lot of seemingly ordinary people, standing in the shadows of well-known people — are terrific stories.

Bob Dotson
American Story with Bob Dotson
NBC News Today Show

Also see one of my favorite Bob Dotson stories:  Multimedia Minutes: What the Nation’s Most Recognized TV Storyteller Learned from this Video

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