Telling Stories with Video

JRNL 10Hofstra University

Prof. Vaccaro

Benefits of Audio Reporting

• Presence: A reporter can bring readers to the scene. Being there boosts credibility.

• Emotions: Tone of voice, expressions, pauses … all help to enhance a message.

• Atmosphere: Natural sound - almost always necessary if it applies. Just words and voice don’t cut it all the time. Bringing in that natural element is key.

How Digital News Organizations Use

Audio• Reporter Overview: Newspapers offer simple audio overviews

to accompany a story or gallery.

• Podcasts: Regular and consistent episodes on a topic of subject area. More later on this.

• Audio Slideshows: Self explanatory, but always helps to add a voice to photos and spice things up a bit.

• Breaking News: Depending upon your content system and site set up, you can add a quote voice over to report on news … with a mobile device, or just a regular computer mic (external or internal).

• Voice Over: Adding your voice to any video is audio journalism.

Video on Audio Journalism

• If we can figure out how to improve the sound quality in the class room, I’d like to watch a video with a multimedia producer from The New York Times discussing some basic audio reporting tips.

• To view the video, click this link.

Audio Reporting Tips

• 1. Make your script clear. What is the story? Tell it as clearly as you can.

• 2. Be yourself, use your own words and your own language.

• 3. Record your item in interesting places - you will be amazed what a difference background noise (or atmos) can make.

• 4. Keep the clips you are using short.

• 5. Try to get lots of different voices in your piece. You don't just want one person with a boring voice droning on and on.

• 6. Use man on the street - this means asking people in the street for their quick opinion on an issue.

• 7. Once you've mastered the basics, think about how you can experiment.

• 8. Use music.

• 9. Use sound effects.

• 10. Finally, think carefully about how are you going to finish your piece.

Tips to Using Recording Equipment

• Check that your recording machine works properly before taking it out.

• Use ear headphones while you are recording so you can hear immediately if there is a problem.

• Check that your interview has been recorded before parting from your guest.

• Take a note of your track numbers and what is on them. Knowing where your material is will save time when it comes to editing.

• Label all your tapes, soundcards or minidisks.

• Most machines have automatic recording levels. However, it is a good idea to keep an eye on them to make sure that they are not too low or too high. Moving the microphone a little bit nearer or further away from your guest can make a difference.

Tips for Recording Voice

• Slow down. Your natural speaking speed will be too fast for a listener to take in everything you are saying.Make every word matter.

• Read a script with confidence and say every word evenly. Don't trail off at the end of a sentence or swallow the ends of words.

• Pretend you are talking to one specific person. Avoid nervous giggling. It sounds really odd. Smile. This may sound odd, as no-one can see you, but it makes you sound more friendly.

• Re-record your opening line once you get to the end. By this time you should have relaxed and it may sound better the second time round.

• Remember that your voice is as good as anyone else's. Anyone who can speak slowly and clearly can present, no matter what your accent or pitch (high or low).

Recording Audio Interviews

• Choose location

• Gather natural sound

• Prepare interview subject

• Watch what you say

• Mark the best spots

Recording Voiceovers

• Write a script

• Warm Up

• Find Operative Words

• Write to video if it’s there

• Hit your spots

• Do it over if you have time

Podcast Basics• In essence, a podcast is a radio show on

the web. It does not have the restrictions of standard terrestrial radio.

• Tips for producing a good podcasto Get a real microphoneo Get close, but not too close (sound is key!)o Prepare, but don’t scripto Reduce background noiseo Come up with a format, be organizedo Stay consistent and find your audience

How to End a Story?• Significance: Write a line that says why this

story matters. Put the story in context.

• Circular: Write a line that refers back to the lead. It ís often effective to use some of the same words.

• Future: Write a line that says what happens or may happen next.

• Inverted pyramid: Reminder to never end with most important info. Start with that!

Let’s shift to video …

In-Class Videos• Using JournoTech.com, let’s watch some

instructional and informative clips

Things to Keep in Mind

• News videos must tell a story

• A news update or news desk broadcast is different from a news story/video

• In a couple of minutes your audience must learn the basics of the story and feel satisfied

• The opening and closing of a video are important, just like with writing

Advantages of Using Video

• Keeps it fresh, clean and adds depth

• Compliments text and photos

• Can tell the story by itself

• Adds multimedia element

• Can use content for future stories

The Debate: Quality v. Quantity

• Quality

o Time consuming

o Thorough

o Groundbreaking

o Investigative

o Perfection over time

• Quantity

o Flush site with content

o More news is better

o 24/7 - NOW!

o Perfection on its own

o Mix it up

Video Tip Sheet• Use different methods for different stories

• Use voiceovers, on-camera techniques, different angles, etc.

• Vary and mix your shots

• Get more than enough material

Building a Five Shot Sequence

• Close up on the hands

• Close up on the face

• Wide shot

• Over the shoulder shot

• Creative shot

• Mix these up and you have a varied, constructive news piece

Adding Voice to Video• Voiceovers

o Control the piece with your tempoo Easy to make a piece with simple software

• Learn effective video interviewingo Make interviewee feel comfortableo Plan ahead and accordinglyo Feel comfortable with your setting and equipmento Don’t ask longwinded questions

Get Creative with Video

-Some of the same principles apply as with photos like we’ve discussed in the past.

-Climb up on something: a chair, the hood of a car or the bleachers in the stadium.

-Get down on your knees or even flat on your belly to give us another perspective.

-Think about using the foreground as a frame for the action.

Shooting Good Video• Focus, Zoom, Exposure

• Be selective in shooting, but get many clips

• Avoid panning and zooming

• Be silent when you shoot

• Framing/Composing: Follow rule of thirds

• Get good audio - use external mic if possible!

Lessons in Digital Story Telling

• Define story in first 20 seconds - hook ‘em!

• Make sure you have intro/middle/close

• Don’t let viewer have chance to be bored

• Focus on one central idea and stick to it

• Remember, characters make stories - the better they are, the better the story

Producing Video for Web

• Start small, aim high

• Remember the storage capacity for your sites CMS

• Don’t be afraid to shoot enough footage for multiple files

• Understand your platform and requirements for your editors … i.e. Patch intro/close/lower thirds, 200mb etc.

Thinking Hyper-local with Video

• Quick Q&As

• Short sit-down video sessions

• Daily updates on local stories

• Providing a full media package with small clips

• Everything on a local site can have a small video at the very least

• Problems: Man power, budget and time

The Editing Game• I don’t have time to learn FinalCut Pro, what now?

o Don’t worry - there are simple editing programs that exist. iMovie is for MAC and very simple. Microsoft has a similar program in Movie Maker.

Progam Basics• The most simple how-to guide on iMovie is

provided by Apple. Click here to view.

• Window’s Movie Maker is also easy to use and they provide a good how-to guide. Click here to view.

Assignment No. 3• Use Flipcam, Smart Phone, Handy Cam

• Interview 3 people about their opinions of a topic in the news that we settle on in class

• Using the video you shot and saved, edit together a report and submit on your blog

• Submit video to YouTube and put that link onto your blog site with “click here” method

• Must include a voice over

• Must include name, hometown of subjects interviewed

• Blog site must include 100 words about the video/interviews, as well as headline; “Assignment No. 3: Video interviews”

• You need to Tweet the link and use @ChrisVaccaro and #HUJrnl10 with the post

Next Class• NEXT CLASS: Wednesday, April 10 … No

class next week (spring break) and the following week (conversion day)

• DUE Assignment 3

• Lecture on Chapter 9 (Data Journalism and Infographics)