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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 ShowAlso 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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Multimedia Minutes: Just When You Thought You Knew Enough
February 14th, 2010
If you’re confident about your abilities as an MMJ, reporter, or photographer, you’ll think again when you watch this video. It shows what happened when one of the country’s most experienced reporters learned he didn’t know enough. This is from an enlightening profile of the genius behind 60 Minutes, Don Hewett. Look for takeways at the end.
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Multimedia Minutes: The Active-Passive Writing Challenge
February 14th, 2010
Active verbs form more efficient and more powerful sentences than passive. Many MMJs ask us how to tell the difference.
Active Writing: Change these passive sentences to active sentences.
1. We managed to determine the project’s deadline.
We determined the project’s deadline.
2. The president has made a request that employees give their support to community arts.
The president asked employees to support community arts.
3. The group offered a donation of food and clothing to the charity.
The group donated food and clothing to the charity.
4. Please provide us with a summary of your proposal.
Please summarize your proposal.
5. This equipment will serve to make reductions in maintenance cost over time.
This equipment will reduce maintenance cost over time.
6. We want to make progress toward the goal of better communication skills.
Our goal is better communication skills.
7. Please do a study of the policy’s effects.
Please study the policy’s effects.
8. Take the corner of the paper and make a fold on the dotted line.
Fold the paper on the dotted line.
9. Give them an estimate of your total cost after you’ve done a calculation of the new figures.
Estimate your total cost after you’ve calculated the new figures.
10. You will please note that Ms. Ames made an objection.
Please note that Ms. Ames objected.
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Multimedia Minutes: Strong Storytelling Hits a Challenge
February 12th, 2010
Learn valuable storytelling tips and what to do when you “run out of video” in this review of the work of one of our most promising MMJs, Carina Corral/KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA.
MMJ and AR&D collaborator Galen Culver contributed his insights to this review. KSBY-TV news director Dave Schermer submitted Carina’s work because she was able to deliver a touching, human story, which he as proud of. And rightfully so.
Learn more about powerful writing and storytelling by watching the videos you’ll find under Recent Posts.
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Multimedia Minutes: Polish Up Your Writing with Tips from Award-Winning MMJ
February 12th, 2010
Polish up your writing skills with tips from Galen Culver, a working MMJ, who illustrates his points for you with video examples.
Learn more about powerful writing and storytelling by watching the videos you’ll find under Recent Posts.
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Multimedia Minutes: What the Nation’s Most Recognized TV Storyteller Learned from this Video
February 8th, 2010
You can learn a lot from one of the nation’s most respected storytellers, Bob Dotson. He’s been recognized multiple times for his work, which appears on the Today Show as “American Story.”
This is one of my favorite stories. My comments — learning opportunities — appear at the bottom of the screen.
Bob’s comments on seeing this blog posting are gracious: “You even taught the guy who did the story. It’s not often that I get to examine my own process. Thanks for those kind words.”
Although Bob works with a photojournalist, the tips you learn here can improve your storytelling — from the angles you shoot to edits you make. You can find more of Bob’s work at: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/19333758/ns/today-today_people/
Increase your value as an MMJ by watching the videos you’ll find under Recent Posts.
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Multimedia Minutes: Writing Tips to Separate to from the Competition
February 8th, 2010
A frequent request: “Writing tips to give us credit for the work we do, looking out for our viewers.” In this quick read, you’ll find several examples you can learn from:
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Multimedia Minutes: Lessons from the Hottest Viral Video
February 6th, 2010
You can learn a lot from the hottest viral video around. And it’s from a surprisingly traditional brand.
You won’t likely find unicorns or tell stories that are excruciating and hilarious. But you should strive to engage viewers as Publicis & Hal Riney/San Francisco did in the spot.
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Multimedia Minutes: How to Get Ahead When You’re Behind
February 5th, 2010
When you’re running a day behind, how do you get a day ahead?
Multimedia Journalist Marc Schollett anchors three newscasts a day and sets up, shoots, reports, and edits several stories a week for a Traverse City, Michigan TV station. He’s figured out a way to do it.
To learn more to make yourself more valuable, choose from a variety of learning videos under Recent Posts. Look for videos about more time management tips and those answering questions MMJs ask most frequently during our AR&D workshops for MMJs across the country.
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Multimedia Minutes: Lighting Tips
February 3rd, 2010
Lighting can make a story look great. What do you need to know? MMJ Galen Culver shares his practical experience and examples during AR&D’s three-day training sessions for MMJs. Here’s a brief excerpt.
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