Why reporters should carry small video-capable cameras

Posted on January 28, 2007 by

I left a comment on Angela Grant’s post about reporter-shot video, but I think it’s important enough that I duplicate the main point here.

Angela, you write, “To shoot a good video, you have to have multiple angles of your subject or action. …”

And this reveals, I think, a complete missperception on your part of what reporter-shot video is. Most of the time it IS NOT story video. It is one angle, one shot, that gets very little editing.

I think there will be times for the better trained and capable reporters to shoot story video. And I think that can be done credibly with inexpensive equipment.

However, the point of having a light and easy camera for reporters isn’t to shoot story video. It is to make sure they always have a camera with them and that they use it often.

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  • http://angelagrant.blogspot.com/ angela grant

    I’ll jump on that duplication donkey. :-P

    Howard, I’ve re-written your comment below with a few minor edits that bring it more in line with my actual thinking.

    “And this reveals, I think, a FUNDAMENTAL DISAGREEMENT on your part of what reporter-shot video SHOULD BE.”

    Now, I do agree with you it’s a good idea to allow all reporters to carry the cheap cameras in case a Rodney King or 9-11 incident happens. For those events, any shot and any angle is highly valuable.

    But to shoot a 30-second clip of a source talking (saying what you can read in the story), that’s just boring and worthless. Instead of encouraging that, I think it would be better to go with another part of your comment (which I agree with):

    “I think there will be times for the better trained and capable reporters to shoot story video.”

    And I hope those capable reporters will at least get a camera with the ability to use a nice external mic.

  • http://www.howardowens.com/ Howard Owens

    Almost all stories would benefit from attached video.

    An external mic isn’t always necessary.

  • http://quirkyalone.blogspot.com quirkyalone

    But to shoot a 30-second clip of a source talking (saying what you can read in the story), that’s just boring and worthless.

    Overgeneralization. Sometimes I find it interesting.

  • http://www.myurbanreport.com Amani Channel

    I find these thoughts and comments to be on the money generally. As a grad student, and former reporter experimenting with video blogging, and new media, I’m finding that the small camcorder I use does a great job of capturing the moment. It depends more on the video production quality… Using a mic for audio, a tripod, and watching the shot framing. I’m also editing everything myself… A so-jo, or one-man-band as it were. I don’t think the big media outlets are ready for the shift, but it’s happening.