Writing for a visual medium

First of all, this week's readings reinforced my belief that videography is the hardest journalistic skill to learn, as
it entails the most significant sense that has a huge impact on the viewer's perception: visuality. To learn how the different shots function together in a sequence is simply the beginning; a reaction shot, a cutaway, a transition shot, a false reverse and other features follow through once we get our hands on the camera.

Interestingly, these skills we try to learn and master have sometimes come to overshadow what the goal of our assignment is. We often unknowingly shift our focus to the medium and techniques, instead of holding on to the core task of reporting and telling stories to the viewers the way they can understand it right away. The learned ability of video shooting and editing should help journalists tell the stories in a more effective fashion, not to sway the viewer's attention to the flashy styles of camera angle or movement.

I do like what Al Tompkins, a Poynter's broadcast group leader, said in response to a comment about the power journalists have in their hands. He reminded the workshop participants that "You can't allow technical expertise to remove you away from people. ... I urged you to improve your storytelling without compromising everything else. Connect your eye, your heart and body to journalism."

For me, this is indeed the first notion everyone should have in mind before looking through a viewfinder of video cameras.