Multimedia Minutes: Time Management Tips from a Successful MMJ

January 29th, 2010

When you enterprise your own stories, you’ll find they’re much more engaging than the stories you’re handed.  One of the nation’s most successful and prolific multimedia journalists, Marc Schollett, anchors three newscasts a day and enterprises several stories a week.  How does he do it? 

Marc Schollett took our recommendation to work on multiple stories simultaneously to heart.  The idea was that if you’re making calls on only one story, you likely won’t get all the elements you want to turn it “day of.”  But if you enterprise several stories — like crime trends in the schools or which companies are hiring again — you put the odds in your favor. 

The messages and emails you send out today start yielding results tomorrow and the rest of the week.  As one MMJ told us, “It’s much better than the usual approach which doesn’t allow you enough time to get the strong elements you want.”

WANT A LAUGH?

You might enjoy some fun at the expense of TV news courtesy of Charlie Brooker and the BBC, which my colleagues Terry Heaton and Galen Culver wanted me to share. 

Ouch! 

Learn alot by watching the videos listed on the top right under Recent Posts.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 9 Comments »

Multimedia Minutes: How to Shoot Your Own Stand-ups

January 27th, 2010

Award-winning MMJ Galen Culver and a trainer for AR&D’s MMJ workshops, offers tips on how to shoot your own stand-ups.  The first step, Galen says, is to put a light stand where you plan to stand.

Learn more by clicking on the video links on the right.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »

Multimedia Minutes: Tips for Covering Spot News

January 26th, 2010

Learn tips about shooting spot news from a new MMJ who quickly mastered the fundamentals following AR&D training. 

Here’s the story reported and shot by Ariel Wesler of KSBY-TV in San Luis Obispo/Santa Maria, CA.  You’ll find our candid comments about what worked and what didn’t at the bottom of the screen, which are aimed at raising the bar.

You’ll find many tips for MMJs by watching the videos to your right under Recent Posts.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »

Multimedia Minutes: Creating Great Sequences and Other Tips

January 23rd, 2010

 Improve your sequences, avoid editing problems, and learn how to shoot under tight deadlines with tips from award-winning MMJ Galen Culver. 

Sharpen your storytelling skills by watching other Learning Videos.  Click on the links to the right. 

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »

Multimedia Minutes: Quick & Dirty Tip to Avoid Losing Viewers from the Start

January 19th, 2010

You risk losing viewers if you save the best video for last.  The lines represent interest in the story on a second by second  basis.  First viewer then staff interest as measured in one of our Real Time Response research projects.  

The story is bout how clean restaurants are.  The close-up of the opening shot grabbed attention — and kept it.  This is one of the most obvious examples in our research library.  The line is idea.  In many cases, the line drops from the start and might peak later — when it’s too late.   Yes, you’re looking at a closeup of a roach.

Multimedia journalists are surprised to learn that if you fail to start strong like this, viewers often don’t stick around to watch the story build.  So start with your most compelling shots as you roll out your story.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 1 Comment »

Multimedia Minutes: How to Avoid Wallpaper Video

January 15th, 2010

Wallpaper video could have bogged the story down, but graphics saved it.  Also, watch how the anchor-reporter comes across as a viewer advocate — a brand of journalism that helped propel the station, WRGB-TV in Albany, NY into first place in the last book.

You can learn a lot of watching the short learning videos you can find to the right.  Many multimedia media journalists and others tell us they can apply alot of the information immediately.  The videos are heavy on practical information and examples.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 88 Comments »