Bob Kaplitz Blog

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 »
Proof of the Power of Viewer Videos

January 13th, 2011

If you expect to see high production in a promo for football playoffs, forget it. Instead, the NFL scored YouTube videos to focus on the fans, not just the players. That’s what made this a ground-breaking spot.

Posted in Bob Kaplitz video, broadcast journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, Social Media, TV news training | No Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: MMJ Station Manager

October 21st, 2010

Meet the first Multimedia Station Manager in the country, at least as far as we can tell.   Mary Beth Farrell, station manager of Reno’s KRNV, uses her Flipcam when she spots the right opportunities.

What made you think of shooting Flipcam video?

The President of our company, Ralph Toddre, suggested we get a couple of extra cameras for just this purpose so I bought flip cams for all of my Department Heads to expand our ability to gather video.

Being a news junkie, I’m always on the lookout for good video, and for something I think our viewers might be interested in seeing. That includes everything from breaking news to Fact Finders, to events coming up this weekend, and everything in between.

Did anybody at the station know you shot the videos?

Yes they always know when I’m sending video… I call right away. Or, they know in advance if I’m shooting a package.



Any reactions by them?

At first, people were surprised that the station manager was shooting stories but they’re getting used to it. I think it sets a good example and sends a strong message about my priorities and the station’s priorities. We work hard for our communities and news doesn’t take the day off.

One reporter/producer/photographer said “If she’ll do stories — and do them on her days off, I think we can all afford to go the extra step”.

When the stories air — like this one related to a major traffic tie-up — we tell viewers that the video was shot by a News 4 employee.

That’s because you can tell it’s not the same HD quality as our regular newsgathering cameras, and that gives us the opportunity to ask viewers to send us their video or photos.

News has always been my passion, and quite honestly, this has given me the chance to go back to my first love: telling stories. There’s something very meaningful about it and it’s fun.

Bob Note: Article appeared here last year, but it’s still timely and relevant.

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 Multimedia Journalism | 18 Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: Can You Start a Story with a Stand-Up?

June 23rd, 2010

Yes.

On-camera storytelling is far better than meaningless video. You know, the ”wallpaper video” that bores everyone. And if you have to choose, for example, between multiple angles of a building and a stand-up with important information, go with the stand-up. Here’s an example.

Ideally, you can begin with a strong soundbite or compelling video. But at AR&D, we recognize the real world isn’t idea, so the important information you share can engage and inform. You can be your best video.

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Benefit from the planet’s largest on-demand 24/7 library of learning videos for multimedia journalists and managers. Look at Recent Posts on the right.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: Selling a Visually Weak Story

May 10th, 2010

One of the most frequent complaints from multimedia journalists and promotion producers is “How do you engage viewers when your visuals are dull?” The solution comes in the planning and the role the reporter plays, as you see in this example.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 2 Comments »
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 »
Multimedia Minutes: Keeping Score — Enterprise Journalism

May 5th, 2010

You keep score in sports and know who the home run leaders are. Recognize the leaders in the newsroom in enterprise reporting.

Here’s a simple model. The real one would have actual names. Sales departments at several TV stations have taken this approach to recognize the top billers. After all, you can’t manage it unless you can measure it. If your batting average is low, ask managers to share best practices with you. Also, look through Recent Posts to your right for learning videos about enterprise reporting.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 2 Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: Point of View Isn’t Always Pretty

May 4th, 2010

Point of view photography plunges the viewer into the experience.   This example is from Darren Brown, News9.com Web Journalist:

I visit the blog OFTEN. Great stuff on there. I covered a story the other day I think might help demonstrate the “you never know” category. Here’s the skinny.


NFL Draft Day is a big deal around here. OU and OSU always have guys going early. But this year was even bigger–3 of the first 4 guys were from OU. Those guys were all in NYC, but there were some family draft parties around town. I was sent to cover Gerald McCoy’s.  Since there was so much family and friends, they decided to have it a church nearby.

Here’s the rub.

The church didn’t have cable. Now that might not be a problem on Sunday mornings, or on Sunday nights, or on any other day…but when you’re having a DRAFT PARTY…IT’S A HUGE PROBLEM.

The draft was supposed to start at 6:30PM. We all knew Sam Bradford was going first, but weren’t sure if McCoy was going 2nd or 3rd. So I figured I needed to be there when it started.

I pulled up to the church at around 6:13, and walked inside expecting folks to be waiting patiently (or impatiently.)  What I found was chaos. People were running around yelling, and there were laptops and cables everywhere.

They couldn’t get ESPN. Someone had brought a satellite dish and they were fiddling with it, but it wasn’t working and neither was the laptop signal ESPN was streaming live.

Now it’s 6:20PM. McCoy’s aunt, who was my contact for the party, was freaking out. “I’m not gonna miss this,” she was screaming.

“Let’s go to my house!” yells some guy. “It’s just a couple minutes away!” And then more chaos.

Folks ran outside, piled into cars, and took off. I rolled on it, and rolled on the drive to the guy’s house, where their boy got drafted number three overall by the Tampa Bay Bucs.

After that, it was back to the church for more celebrating, a self-shot standup, and food…of which there wasn’t much left.

I’ll admit that the shooting in this pkg is not my best, ESPECIALLY the stuff at the front. But I think it captures the chaos of the moment, and I can live with that.

Sometimes you gotta go with what works even if it ain’t pretty.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | 18 Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: Why Throw a Brick at a TV Set?

May 2nd, 2010

A viewer threatened to smash her TV set if anchors and reporters continued to ask softball questions of officials when she wanted tough questions — especially those related to wasting tax money. Many viewers share her opinion.

This represents an opportunity to serve those viewers. One station with a “asking tough question” brand of journalism is WRGB-TV/Albany. We collaborated with news director Lisa Jackson on creating this promo, which grabbed viewers’ attention in a convincing way when we tested it in focus groups.

Posted in broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training | No Comments »
Multimedia Minutes: Valuable Learning Tool

April 28th, 2010

Here’s a valuable way to celebrate progress, keep momentum going, and raise the bar: Viewing examples of memorable moments every week. A news director or news manager ensures the best examples are dubbed off, viewed, and discussed. In the case of this viewer advocacy station, the examples show the tough questions for the week:

Yes, proof of branding will be much easier if you take this weekly approach.

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