Journalism 2.0 - Knight Citizen News Network

Chapter 9: Shooting Video for News and Feature Stories
Chapter 9:
Shooting Video for News
and Feature Stories
Quickly learn how to shoot video for a story in a way that looks professional
and doesn’t require hours of editing to produce a clip.
Introduction
The quality of video journalism by newspapers has dramatically improved in the
past few years. Yes, you read that right. Newspapers are producing some of the
best video journalism in the U.S. and around the world. Instead of being broadcast
on television, however, most of these video stories are published on the Web.
The advent of (relatively) cheap digital video cameras and free video-editing software
has leveled the playing field just as the Internet did with text publishing.
Instead of a $35,000 camera, an expensive editing station, a two-person crew and
years of training, one person can produce high-quality Web video with a $500
camera and a laptop or desktop computer.
As a result, some TV news companies are breaking up traditional news teams and
creating VJs — video journalists. Also known as “backpack journalists,” they work
solo and serve as both reporter and videographer on assignment.
The lower entry barriers also have influenced secondary education. Around the
U.S., thousands of high school and junior high students are receiving formal
training in shooting and editing video at school. Those that go on to journalism
school will graduate with a broader array of skills than most of the journalists
working today.
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Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive