News Videographer

Videojournalism job at Boston Globe

Angela Grant — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 15:30:22 +0000

This posting comes to me via the NewspaperVideo Yahoo group:

Hi folks:

Feel free to pass this along.

Seeking a creative self-starter with a passion for producing rich and compelling video stories on deadline. Applicant should have exceptionally strong visual skills with a unique vision that compliments powerful storytelling and editing skills. Working well as a team member is essential. This is primarily a fast-paced, daily news video position, but there are opportunities for producing more in-depth pieces. Applicant should be a strong and creative writer, have exceptional interview skills and be proficient in all technical aspects of video journalism, including: lighting, sound, shooting in a studio and in the field. Proficiency and speed in editing are required; Final Cut Pro experience is preferred. Three to five years of experience as a video journalist required.

To apply:

https://performancemanager4.successfactors.com/career?company=nytimesco&career_job_req_id=883&career_ns=job_listing

Thanks,
Thea Breit

Hello there! It takes time and energy to produce News Videographer. If you can, there are simple ways to support this site. If you're already purchasing through B&H Photo Video or Amazon.com, access the sites via these links to give me a small percentage.

Mobile devices may allow longer-form video

Angela Grant — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:28:03 +0000

Photo by Veronica Belmont on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlysound/)

Business Insider is reporting that people who watch online videos on mobile devices like the iPad tend to watch much longer videos than folks who are watching on computers. Do you think online journalists can use this development to create longer-form videos? People watching online video on their computers will watch just under two minutes of video.

MeFeedia analyzed the habits of 125,000 unique mobile visitors to its site since July 1 and found on average, iPad users are sticking with videos for 5 minutes, Symbian users are sticking around for 4.1 minutes, Android users are lasting 3 minutes, and iPhone users last 2.4 minutes.

Shocking video success at the WSJ

Angela Grant — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 20:39:29 +0000

Photo by "cafemama" on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/cafemama/)

The Wall Street Journal is finding a lot of success with its online news videos. Shocking success. The audience has grown to 10 million streams per month, and video ads are bringing in revenues of about $200,000 per month. A few thousand people view the paper’s twice daily live webcast, and another 10,000 or so people watch them on demand after the live show. The Journal can afford to keep a video team of 23 journalists.

Says deputy managing editor Alan Murray:

“We’ve doubled our video viewership in the last nine months, and I’d like to see us double it again in the next year or two.”

The report says that the newspaper’s video studio is in an over-sized utility closet and consists of “basically a high table, some lights, and a few cameras off the main newsroom—because four people in the booth creates an uncomfortable crowd.”

I’m really shocked and impressed that the Journal is doing so well with its online video. I’m happy to hear that a newspaper has found so much success. I really question this line at the end of this post, though. I don’t see a way it can be true at the majority of newspapers.

As information converges on a digital platform, news organizations are starting to see that video is replacing photography as the attention-getting feature that differentiates their take on the news.

Cross your fingers the judge sees reason

Angela Grant — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 16:00:49 +0000

If you haven’t heard of this open government/free speech case in Texas yet, this may be a good time to start paying attention. Some public officials in a small south Texas town are challenging the state’s open meetings act, which mandates that public officials must conduct public business in, well–public. The officials who brought the lawsuit were caught red handed breaking the law when a quorum of the city council sent emails around that appeared to vote on and approve a construction company for a large city contract. The open meetings act states that such public business must be conducted in public, with a properly noted agenda released ahead of time.

The officials say the open meetings law impedes on their first amendment rights to freedom of speech. A handful of other officials around Texas, and four cities, have joined in the lawsuit. The reason this is important to you is because many other states have open government laws similar to the Texas law. If the law in my state is struck down on the basis of free speech, it opens other states to similar challenges. This is not good for democratic government. I like this quote in the story:

“The First Amendment protects citizens against government oppression — not government against citizen oversight,” Texas Solicitor General James Ho wrote in legal briefs. “Openness in government is a First Amendment virtue, not a First Amendment violation.”

Check out video editing service that won Knight grant

Angela Grant — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:22:41 +0000

Read about the 12 winners of the 2010 Knight News Challenge. This company producing a video-editing service sounds awesome.

Stroome

The winner: USC Annenberg’s Nonny de la Peña and Tom Grasty

The amount: $200,000

The pitch: “To simplify the production of news video, Stroome will create a virtual video-editing studio. There, correspondents, editors and producers will be able to upload and share content, edit and remix with friends and colleagues — all without using expensive satellite truck technology. The site will launch as eyewitness video — often captured by mobile phones or webcams — is becoming a key component of news coverage, generating demand for supporting tools.”

Video shows BP security barring media from oil spill cleanup

Angela Grant — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 04:09:21 +0000

This link comes from the Society of Environmental Journalists, pointing to a TV news story that shows hired BP security guards attempting to forcefully bar journalists from reporting on the oil spill cleanup efforts. This further proves the company wants to hide the true extent of the damage from the American public. I tip my hat to the sheriff’s deputy who called the bluff of the security guards and allowed the journalists to freely walk on the public beach. Also, Kudos to the news anchor who refused to take “no” for an answer, standing up for the Constitution’s protections on freedom of the press.

How to frame video interviews

Angela Grant — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:56:03 +0000

Bill Mecca has a great tutorial that will show you how to use the rule of thirds to frame your interviews. The rule of thirds is a basic composition guideline that’s also important when you’re shooting b-roll.

Pairing up is good, but not necessary all the time

Angela Grant — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 21:06:23 +0000

Adam Westbrook asks the question last week about whether online videojournalism would be better if the photographer paired up with a reporter instead of doing the entire piece solo.

Perhaps a print journalist with some but not much experience in video, they are good at the researching, the phone bashing, the setting up and asking the tough questions. That leaves the video journalist to focus on the shooting & editing and together they work to craft an engaging visual narrative.

Photo by RogueSun Media on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/shuttercat7/)

Most of the time, I’ve done my own background research and pre-interviews before I arrive with my camera. I really consider myself to be a good journalist first, and I think about the media type or format second. Most of the time, I’d say it’s overkill to have a second reporter working with me. To suggest I need one is frankly offensive, since I enjoy doing that work myself and I think I’m good at it.

However, there have been many times when a reporter is writing a print story and I’m producing a video that complements and enhances it. The reporters can be a huge help when you use them as sources for background research! So in that way, I think collaboration is extremely helpful.

Consequences of drilling moratorium on oil workers

Angela Grant — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 15:22:45 +0000

The New York Times today published a video about oil workers who fear what will happen to their livelihoods because of the six-month drilling moratorium. There’s always another side to the story.

Consequences of the drilling moratorium on oil workers, by The New York Times

Story of Gulf Coast family who may lose livelihood

Angela Grant — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 14:52:08 +0000

OnEarth magazine published this video about a family whose shrimping business may be threatened by the Gulf Coast oil spill. It’s a well reported story that uses engaging central characters to personalize an important issue that will affect thousands and thousands of people. Well done storytelling. Very nice pictures, too.