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Multimedia Minutes: Overcoming a Big Challenge — No Action
July 24th, 2011
How do you overcome the challenge of virtually no action in a story? Say just a guy in a chair. Here’s one approach.
Learn more to create engaging storytelling. Click on the links to the right under “Recent Posts.”
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: Questions Matter, Just Listen to Oprah
September 18th, 2010
Questions represent a powerful tool for multimedia media journalists and for how your stories are promoted.
Watch how this promo for an Oprah show engages viewers. Sure, it’s for a show, not a newscast, but you can learn alot by asking questions viewers want answered.
Your interviewees may not be as interesting, but if you ask the people in power the questions viewers want answered, you can engage your audience.
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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 WestVisit Kaplitz’s blog for free videojournalism lessons from a pro.
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 9 Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: A Major Snag on the Inside
June 15th, 2010
If you even wonder why moving a station ahead in the ratings is so challenging, watch this very short video. Based on a study of employees at corporation, it’s revealing about the challenges multimedia journalists and news managers face.
If as multimedia journalist you’re unclear about your station’s goals, ask. If you’re a news manager, check in with your staff to ensure your goals are clear. Studies show you can’t possibly over communicate goals and pathways to achieve them.
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 3 Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: Lena Vargas Won’t Let Officials Off the Hook
May 21st, 2010
Viewers value reporters who probe for answers, not just accepting the first thing they hear. KEPR-TV’s (Tri-Cities, WA) Lena Vargas shows how to be tenacious as viewer advocate. Plus she delivers other elements of strong storytelling.
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 10 Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: Strong Example of Viewer Advocacy
May 19th, 2010
Viewers want to know where their tax money goes, and this example offers you a story idea and a clever way to cover it.
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 1 Comment »
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Multimedia Minutes: Finding Humor in a Story
May 9th, 2010
Find humor in a story, add a creative touch, and you created engaging storytelling. Despite limited video, see what this reporter did:
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 6 Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: Reality Check
May 9th, 2010
Viewers value journalists who separate fact from fiction. This station does that in their Reality Check reports.
You likely can’t turn a story like this a day, but begin by making a few calls on stories important to viewers.
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Sharpen your skills as a multimedia journalist. Watch the videos and read the articles listed under Recent Posts. These short videos and quick reads provide tips you can implement today.
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Multimedia Minutes: Impact Team
May 9th, 2010
Viewers want to know where their taxpayer money– including stimulus funds – is going. They also want to be sure there’s no fraud, no waste. This promo shows the commitment of one TV station to deliver on that.
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Multimedia Minutes: Getting More Winning Shots with Help from Victoria’s Secret
May 8th, 2010
Wallpaper video like this shot bores viewers. I saw a bunch of shots like these in an otherwise strong multimedia journalist package about censoring Internet porn at libraries. Here’s what I told the client:- Cut down on waste. When speaking at NPPA to some of the best photojournalists in the country, I ask them to look at each scene in a story as either valuable or not. For example, this shot.
- Does it engage viewers or fill time? Which is it? It was an eye-opener for the new photojournalists who realized a third of their “day of” news stories contained video not advancing the story — the “wallpaper” shots. In short, it was a waste of time to shoot, to edit, and they did their viewers a disservice.
So what’s the practical solution when it seems all you have are “generic shots” of people sitting around. Here are a few best practices:
- If you single people out, refer to them. Be careful, though, about shots like these in connection with controversial stories — like Internet porn. You can damage someone’s reputation, even getting sued. I wonder what the lady in the foreground is so focused on. She’s very engaged.
- Reframe the story to minimize meaningless video. This is a practical and proven way to avoid becoming a victim by saying, “But this is all I had to shoot.” Each situation is different, but the idea is to zero the package in on an interesting, informative, and relevant angle. For example, sitting the library director at a computer, showing sites that might be borderline. For example, Victoria’s Secret. By focusing on angle like this, you don’t waste your reporters’ time and viewers’ time looking at multiple shots like the one you see above. You keep these shots to a minimum, and your reporter’s questions with the librarian looking at the screen make for an engaging topical promo. Efficient and powerful.
Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 135 Comments »
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Multimedia Minutes: Creative Opening Shot
May 7th, 2010
Promos demand the strongest visual elements from multimedia journalists because you’re trying to sell your news product. This promo begins with an especially creative shot.
Viewers tell us that some creative angles distract from the sell of the message. This example created by WRGB-TV’s Tim Pennings in Albany, NY shows shows can creativity can sell.
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Sharpen your skills as a multimedia journalist by watching the videos and short articles under Recent Posts — fast becoming the largest multimedia library of learning videos on the planet.
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