I’ll start by this: I’m no multimedia expert. But I know what I find most interesting. John Hassell posted a couple of well-constructed videos created by the Star-Ledger to highlight the power of storytelling through technology. (img by Torchondo.)
The second video John posted caught me, here’s the desription:
shot in one take with minimal narration by photographer Tony Kurdzuk for context, through the crowded confines of the notorious Chamber of Commerce train trip from Trenton to Washington, an annual tradition for New Jersey’s political class
Take a watch!
At first watch, you might say, ‘hey, this reporter is just walking through the train. Where’s the direction? Where’s the story?” But you’ll also likely make it always the way through the video and be captivated (at least I was).I think many online news videos make the mistake of being too confined to a topic with too much narration or too directionless.
Kurdzuk does a great job of balancing both ends of the spectrum by giving the audience an actual look as to what goes on during this train ride and the claustrophobic feeling of walking through the train’s corridors.If your reporters can find this happy medium, your sure to push out a number of gems like this. I noticed a similar video that the Detroit Free Press created to document protesters in Detroit on the day the mayor addressed his text message sex scandal.
What do you think? Should news orgs not always strive for polish, but go for the natural storytelling? I’d vote for it.
p.s. – If you want real multimedia advice, read news videographer, multimedia shooter, shooting by numbers and visual editors. (apologies for leaving anyone out – let me know if you’re a multimedia blogger and I’ll add you)
p.p.s. Me +8 despise blip.tv, me +91 heart YouTube – promotion matters (no offense john)
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Part of the mission of news is to take the audience where they may not be able to go and see things they are not able to see.
Mission accomplished.
Exactly what I’m thinking! Thanks Cyndy – p.s. for those not familiar, Cyndy writes a blog about video journalism! http://cyndygreen.wordpress.com/