• Delivering on What Viewers Want in Crime Coverage

    November 29th, 2010

    Alot of reporters cover crime, but very few cover it this way:  Revealing crime trends so viewers can protect themselves.  And that’s exactly what viewers want.

    KSNV (Las Vegas) veteran news director Bob Stoldal has assigned anchor-reporter Marie Mortera Crime Tracker 3, and she’s revealing neighborhood trends in a big way, even scoring interviews with some of the “bad guys.” 

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    Posted in Bob Kaplitz video, broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, Social Media, TV news training | 1 Comment »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Crimetracker Follow-Up Ideas

    November 13th, 2010

    Tightly written copy with a graphic can work better than a visually weak reporter package.

    Here’s an example from KEPR-TV in Tri-Cities, WA.  Also:

    • You’ll find ideas for follow-up stories that’ll work for all multimedia journalists.
    • Watch how effectively this station showcases important elements so viewers notice.
    • Watch for the conversational writing at the start.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Strong Storytelling through Crime Tracker

    November 4th, 2010

    One of the most powerful franchises we’ve tested, Crime Tracker, takes requires cultivating sources.  And that’s not easy.

    See how KSNV’s (Las Vegas) anchor-reporter Marie Mortera reveals crime trends while putting a face on her story.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Statistics Lead to Story Ideas

    October 20th, 2010

    You can generate several stories by requesting info about crime trends from police.

    As long as there’s crime, you’ll have story ideas.

    As you see here, you should ask questions because the police can help make the information meaningful.  You’re doing them a service by helping to get the information out to viewers to be on the alert for neighborhood crime trends.

    Crimetracker is the strongest franchise we ever tested.  Viewers say their safety is so important to them that they’ll dump their favorite station to watch a Crimetracker report, revealing neighborhood crime trends.

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    WHY THIS BLOG IS VALUABLE:  WHAT A GENERAL MANAGER SAYS

    Regarding the blog videos, I’d say the most value is in their regularity and frequency.  It’s good having something like that coming at the younger talent in the news room because it not only helps them in their growth, but makes them feel they’re on the “inside” and we’re engaged with them.  — Greg Raschio, General Manager, KVAL-TV/Eugene, OR

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 5 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: How to Punch Through

    September 25th, 2010

    Viewers are hard to engage, but if you give them reasons, they’re glued to the set.

    Watch viewer interest rise for an anchor-reporter who promises to reveal crime trends.  Our Real Time Response technology captured viewer interest second by second.

    We pulled this video from our files because many anchors and reporters ask “What can I do to stand out?”  Viewers liked the promo far more than the staff.  The franchise went on to become one of the most successful we ever created.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: A Better Way to Cover Crime

    September 16th, 2010

    Viewers get tired of the steady diet of crime news, including crime that doesn’t affect them.

    We developed a simple concept, Crimetracker, using maps to identify neighborhood crime trends.  It’s the strongest franchise we ever tested because viewers care more about neighborhood crime trends than total crime going up or down citywide.  As one viewer said, “I don’t live city-wide, I live in a neighborhood.”

    See  one of the first focus groups testing a Crimetracker prototype.  The story was far from perfect, but viewers responded to it.  Watch the Real Time Response “interest’ lines go up for viewers while news people didn’t think it was a big deal.

    ————————————————–

    From Professor Ken Kobre who teaches photojournalism at San Francisco State University and author of Photojournalism: The Professionals’ Approach.

    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.

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Top Ten Best Practices for Crimetracker

    June 14th, 2010

    This is a powerful franchise because it alerts viewers to neighborhood crime trends so they can stay safe.  But some stations take short cuts, labeling everyday crime stories as Crimetracker.  Viewers aren’t fooled.   Avoid those mistakes.

    Here’s our top ten best practices:

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 4 Comments »