video killed the newspaper star

Mark Lewis

No amount of technical skill can improve the shoddy work of a lazy broadcast reporter. It’s a story first and foremost. It’s not too dissimilar from print. At its best, it tells the story in a concise, complete and engaging way. The difference is that visuals tell the story. Compared to the work of the camera, the reporter is a distraction or a tour guide. That gives me hope. Not all journalists are destined for greatness in print.

I enjoyed Lindsey’s criticism of the readings. It’s true, I think, that the format should be variable to some degree. Still, the basic elements would always be the same – an intro, an outro and what lies between the two. It’s up to the journalist at the scene to make the story sing. It seems counter-intuitive that a journalist would put off writing until returning to the studio with footage. Planning prevents pressure.