AR&D Reinventing Local Media

Multimedia journalists frequently ask for tips to improve their spot news coverage.  Watch this strong example of storytelling from one of KSBY-TV’s newest MMJs.

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

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From Professor Ken Kobre who teaches photojournalism at San Francisco State University:

Free Tips from Bob Kaplitz’s Multimedia Minutes

We found a terrific resource for videojournalism instruction — and it’s free!

Bob Kaplitz is a principal and senior strategist for Audience Research & Development (AR&D), a TV news marketing firm which he joined in 1980 after a distinguished career in broadcast journalism, which included reports on the CBS Evening News.

He’s created a slew of excellent short instructional videos that offer tips for improving your video. He offers these “Multimedia Minutes” on his blog.

What makes them especially valuable is that Kaplitz uses actual footage from pros, and has annotated it with superimposed text that crisply points out the attributes and deficits of various aspects of the video and audio, as you’re looking and listening to it.

It’s like having the teacher right there at your side, critiquing it as you watch.

Among his topics:

* How to Use a Hidden Camera
* Creatively Shooting Your Own Standups
* How to Take Control of a Story
* The Most Important Word in Storytelling
* So You Want to Save the Best for Last?
* How to Spice Up a Story
* How to Use Words Sparingly
* Shooting Your Own Standups
* How to Shoot a Story that’s Tough to Shoot
* Asking Better Questions with Facts
* How to Lure Viewers and Hold Them
* Action-Reaction Approach to Strong Storytelling
* From Ho-Hum to Engaging Storytelling
* A Lesson Thanks to Jay Leno & Kanye West

Visit Kaplitz’s blog for free videojournalism lessons from a pro.

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.

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

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.

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.

“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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“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. 

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

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

 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