• Multimedia Minutes: Quick Tip for Sweeps

    April 26th, 2010

    This simple chart will help you choose among sweeps ideas.  As simple as it looks, it’s a map that separates the winners from the losers, so you can focus on what offers the most potential.

    “Identify moments” refers to the defining moments in the story — what will stick in viewers’ minds and provide promotion with compelling material.  For example, a tough question holding a person in power accountable or a memorable soundbite of a parent who’s scared to send her child back to school because of bullying.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 1 Comment »

  • Multimedia Minutes: What Makes a Great Sweeps Story?

    March 13th, 2010

    “What makes a great sweeps story?” is a question on the minds of many multimedia journalists.  Here are ideas based on viewer research.

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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.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 18 Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Last Minute Sweeps Checklist

    November 7th, 2009

     

    You work hard on them, but many of your sweeps reports likely fail to pull ratings or build your image as a multimedia journalist.  And that’s assuming you provide the promotion producer with memorable moments and strong viewer benefit.

     

    Based on our studies of literally hundreds of thousands of viewers, here are keys to success.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Asking Better Questions with Facts

    September 26th, 2009

     

    Multimedia journalists score points with viewers when their questions are based on important facts.  That’s not a surprise.  The hard part is getting the facts.  Here’s one valuable source when it comes to big issues affecting viewers — like health insurance reform.

     

    In this case, you’re able to ask your representatives tougher questions, serving as the voice of the viewer.  As you know, many seniors, for example, don’t believe Medicare benefits will be protected under the president’s proposal. 

     

    So you can ask your Senator:  “How can you say seniors won’t lose out if the Congressional Budget Office says almost three million people will lose their so-called “Medicare Advantage” coverage?”

     

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

  • Multimedia Minutes: Turbocharge Your Sweeps Planning

    September 12th, 2009

    Turbo charge your sweeps planning with these tips in a two minute video.

    Posted in broadcast journalism, TV news training | No Comments »

  • Multimedia Minutes: Power Up for Sweeps

    August 23rd, 2009

    With sweeps just a few weeks away, here’s how can you can power up your targeted special reports to recruit viewers while building your brand of journalism.  The learning video, which is based on our significant research into what recruits viewers, runs 2:33.

     

    Posted in broadcast journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »

  • The Exceptional Sweeps Report

    May 31st, 2009

    Many targeted special reports fail along with their promotion.  They’re not relevant to the vast majority of viewers.  

    To improve your chances of success, apply these criteria based on our insights into what drives viewers to watch one story over another.

    Posted in Power Tools for TV Journalists | 152 Comments »