Archive for the '' Category

Multimedia Minutes: Example of Defining Moment

Monday, July 19th, 2010

A frequent MMJ question is “What are defining moments“?   They’re memorable moments you build into your visual storytelling to engage viewers.  The more, the better.

Here’s one of my favorites.

You’re right.  Steve Kroft worked with a photographer.  Several of them.  And this kind of investigative reporting is beyond most stations’ budgets.  But in the stories you develop, look for opportunities to provide a reality check for the person you’re interviewing.   Everything is relative.  Your questions and on-camera storytelling can serve as memorable moments.

Multimedia Minutes: How to Avoid Missing Key Elements in Your Story

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

Question:  How can we avoid missing key elements in stories?

Multimedia Minutes: A Different Kind of 3D

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

What drives ratings?

Many factors are responsible.  We boiled down what it takes on the content side.  What you need to know:

Your brand of journalism has to be obvious and have meaning for viewers.  So how do you make that happen?  It comes down to 3D’s.

  • You need to know the content Drivers for your market — like asking tough questions, holding people accountable for where tax money goes.
  • The Difference between your product and your competition’s has to be huge so viewers see it.
  • Delivery:  You need to consistently differ on the above.  You can’t tell viewers they watched the “wrong newscast.”

Multimedia Minutes: Robin Wojtanik on Her Ratings Success

Friday, July 16th, 2010

How did this news director take her station to first in news for the first time in more than a decade?

KEPR-TV (Tri-Cities, WA) news director Robin Wojtanik speaks about her management approach in this telephone interview.

Multimedia Minutes: Watchdog Looking Out for Waste

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Another strong example of proactive journalism, making the reporter and the newscast uniquely valuable. 

Multimedia Minutes: What Does Your Website Say About You?

Friday, July 16th, 2010

Multimedia Minutes: Overcoming Big Challenges

Friday, July 16th, 2010

How do you overcome big challenges in the field?

KVOA-TV (Tucson) MMJ Jeff Westlake shares his story, which you can see below.

This story was a little challenging in the way of including a real person.

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. I did make one mistake by double punching the record button on a valueable piece of video, the tree stakes. With hind sight in mind, I should of shot more.

Multimedia Minutes: You Can Learn Alot by Watching Molly’s Storytelling

Thursday, July 15th, 2010

This story delivers on key elements from the get-go.  Watch.

Multimedia Minutes: Avoid Those Awkward Two-Shots

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Do your two-shots leave an anchor on camera looking like he shouldn’t be there?  You’re not alone.  Here’s a solution.

Multimedia Minutes: Make “Next” Really “Next”

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Don’t say, “Coming up next,” unless you mean it.  Watch.