• Multimedia Minutes: Tips from the “Front Lines” for Overcoming Challenges

    July 30th, 2010

    A frequent question from MMJs is:  “How do you overcome challenges to great visual storytelling?”

    We presented these key points during a recent AR&D webinar for multimedia journalists.

    If you plan ahead, you’re in a better position to anticipate challenges. 

    You can even come up with a Plan “B” — a backup plan if things don’t work out.

    Several MMJs say they try to have a “hip pocket” back-up story they can always turn.  Of course, that only works if you can wait a day or two to cover the original story.

    If you must go with the original story, you can cut it down to a voiceover.

    Jeff Westlake, KVOA-TV (Tucson) MMJ, says you need to be resourceful. 

    At the last minute, he was able to “save” a story about trees.  Jeff rushed to a Home Depot store to find a “real person” to add a human angle.  You can only shoot a tree from so many angles.

    Come to think of it, home improvement stores are a great place to find people angles on those stories.

    You can see the story here:

    Multimedia Minutes: Overcoming Challenges — Finding a “Real Person”

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Reinforcing Your Identity

    July 29th, 2010

    Here’s a good way to reinforce what makes you uniquely valuable. 

     As a multimedia journalist, submit to your news director or promotion producer a few short defining moments.  They should show you in action, which means setting your camera up on a tripod.

     That way viewers can see you delivering on your station’s brand of journalism.  It’s a way to promote yourself and your product in these so-called “branders” which run inside and outside newscasts.  If you’re a news director, encourage your staff to identify these opportunities and look for them yourself.


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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Covering a Hard-to-Cover Story

    July 27th, 2010

    See how this reporter overcame challenges of weak video and school officials who refused to cooperate.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Finding “Real People”

    July 26th, 2010

    How do you breathe life into your stories by including “real people”?

    MMJs who do a good job of this make a flurry of calls on ongoing issues — like health insurance — to find people who are affected.  They also invite viewers to contact them to share their stories.

    This approach works because they’re not waiting for one person to call them back.  By calling a dozen insurance agents, for example, their chances of finding a “real person” are much better.  It might take a day or two to hear back, then you have to line up the interview, but at least you have a “real person” to breathe life into your story.  Maybe more.

    An MMJ who takes this approach says:  “It’s simple.  You double the odds in your favor when you just make two calls rather than one.  And leaving a voicemail message is fast.  While other MMJs are always waiting for people angles, I have several people angles in the hopper.”

    Here’s a strong print example showing two “real people” angles as www.wsj.com reveals an issue that will affect young and old.

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    Since health insurance or the lack of it impacts on just about everyone, it’s not too late to start making your calls.  Without the human angle, you’re left with officials and grabbing people on the street.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 30 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Overcoming Challenges — Finding a “Real Person”

    July 24th, 2010

    A major challenge for multimedia journalists is putting a face on a story — finding a “real person” to breathe life into storytelling.

    KVOA (Tucson) multimedia journalist Jeff Westlake points to this story was one of his biggest challenges.  You’ll see he did find a “real person.”  He says he did it at the last minute:

    No one in the area was worried about their trees or had trouble with them in the past. So, I went to a local Home Depot store where people shop for their homes where, fortunately, I found a man who knows a little about trees and Southern Arizona’s monsoon weather.  It worked out.  Aside from that, it was fun.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 7 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Showcasing Your Competitive Edge

    July 23rd, 2010

    A frequent question MMJs ask:  “I go the extra step but don’t seem to get credit for it.  What am I doing wrong?”

    Here’s an example of showcasing extra efforts from KIMA-TV, Yakima.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: What the Most Successful News Operations have in Common

    July 23rd, 2010

    “What do stations propelling their ratings have in common?”  The head of a group of TV stations recently asked me that question. 

    Although markets and challenges are different, one of the things they have in common is clear goals.  In going through my files, I pulled the example below of clear goals that I helped one station develop based on the research. 

    HOW CLEAR ARE YOUR GOALS? 

    Our experience shows, the best approach is to:

    – Focus on what’s most important to driving your ratings based on what you know about your viewers.

    – Keep the list to half a dozen calls to make it practical.

    – Contrast the old and new way.

    – Outline the “success path” to achieve the goals because they won’t happen on their own.

    – Identify the obstacles, which usually include “Don’t have enough time.”  Provide practical solutions.

     Here’s the example of the goals, which I recommend you review and adapt based on your action plan.

    You’ll notice the reference to “Watch any of our newscasts, and you’ll see…”  That’s because consistency is so important.  You can’t tell viewers “You watched the wrong newscast!”

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Softballs Can Save Boring Video

    July 22nd, 2010

    Here’s another way to avoid running “wallpaper” video, generic shots that bore you and your viewers.

     In a story about marijuana for medical purposes, KVAL’s (Eugene, OR) Kelly Koopmans says a grower or patient can’t have more than 24 ounces of marijuana, which is the size of these four softballs.

    Compare Kelly’s approach to simply using more video of marijuana. 

    That would have been easier, but lacking the visual storytelling impact.

    Here’s what you can do today.

     

    TAKEAWAYS

    1. Plan your story to include only the most engaging visual elements.
    2. Work efficiently in the field by shooting only the most visual elements.
    3. Think of memorable ways to illustrate your point when the video isn’t strong enough.

    KVAL ND Jenny Kuglin hired Kelly in May 2010 after she received an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 6 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Creative Stand-Ups

    July 20th, 2010

     

    Your stand-ups can reveal your creativity.  And they beat shooting and voicing over boring video.  Plus on-camera storytelling from the field helps build your identity. 

     

     

    For many more Multimedia Minutes, click on the links to the right under Recent Posts.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 38 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Anchor as Chief Journalist

    July 20th, 2010

    Anchors become more valuable when they’re Chief Journalists.

    “It’s a long haul from down here to up there,” as one old school anchor put it.  Fortunately, most we know have made or are making that journey.

    The more skills you have, the more valuable you are.  It can be challenging.  As my colleagues and I train MMJs across the country, we find it takes both a commitment then opportunities to learn the new skills. 

    While the pyramid view of things may seem overly dramatic, it IS a long way to the top.  The good news:  It’s do-able, and we see many success stories.

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

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