How to Cover Controversy

I set out to Jefferson City around 3:30 for a four o'clock open house with the City Council for my story. It was about an ordinance the city is trying to pass that would require residents to pay a fee of about $15 for weekly trash and recycling pick up. I figured I would go to the meeting, get some bites with the City Council, and find a family I could interview later about their recycling habits. I was shocked to get there and observe so much opposition and controversy over the ordinance.
There were other journalists there but I know I was the youngest. Maybe people didn't understand that I was a journalist or what the profession of journalism is about, but I continuously got questions about my feelings about the ordinance. I became very self-conscious about my gestures, my "um-hmms" and nods, and even my facial expressions. It was the first time I consciously had to remember to stay neutral besides the times I covered the election back in November. I'm always aware not to eat food at an event or take free promotional products, but it was my first time covering something that people were so passionate about on different ends of the spectrum. It was a great learning experience and gave me a taste of what my world will always be like in a few years.
The biggest drawback in gathering this story was my lack of time. I brought the camera back almost 1 1/2 hours late, and still didn't get everything I needed. Being a one woman bandstand is making me a sharper journalist in terms of shooting exactly what I need and learning to edit in the process of gathering as well. I didn't get all the interviews I wanted and I would have shot more, but I am glad that I am learning how to juggle the many different things I have to do as a journalist. This class is about learning and growing. When I get back and feel that I've learned a great lesson, even when I don't get or do everything I would have liked to, I feel like it's time well spent.

Great Use of Graphics

I was on CNN.com last night searching for commentary and feedback about President Obama's first address to the nation. While I was looking, I ran across an interactive map that allowed you to look at the unemployment rates, foreclosure rates, and jobs by industry in states across the country (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/map.economy/index.html). By dragging your mouse to each spot on the map, the statistics for that state appeared. It was a fast way to learn some great information and truly see the economic trouble this country is in.
What I liked most about the map is that there were also individual stories for the statistics as well. It wasn't overwhelming like 5o different stories for the 50 different states, but just a few sprinkled in that humanized the map immensely. Not only did I have something with hard numbers that gave me perspective, but also a story from someone who could be my neighbor or the father of a fellow classmate. There was only a blurb that described his/her situation, and the viewer had the opportunity to click a link for more details or to just stick with the blurb and move on. I thought to myself, "This is the perfect example of interactive and useful journalism."
I think we as journalists get so nervous now with the turn of technology and the state of the market which is understandable. But just think, five years ago a graphic like this would have been unimaginable. It's scary to think what jobs will be left in the journalism field in a decade, but it's more exciting to think about the better stories we can tell with the newer technology and the more people we can touch with them. I'm one of those weary journalism students who worries if a job will even be available when I graduate, but I'm excited that technology is allowing me to tell my stories better. Learning how to use it is another story, but we'll worry about that another day.

Treading Tricky Waters with Political Cartoons

My grandmother and I talk almost every week, well at least we did until I started Broadcast 2.  Last night I was fortunate to have some free time to talk with her, and we talked about the recent problems that political cartoonists have been having with drawing President Obama due to his race.  Political cartoonists have always exaggerated the features of politicians in order to make fun of them or sometimes symbolize something greater in their policy making or political decisions.  Whatever the reason behind it, they are witty nuggets of gold within the papers that poke fun at our leaders in a more creative way than the words printed on the pages.  

My grandmother and I are talking about different things, and the cartoon comes up.  She believed it was completely innappropriate and that the cartoonist should have apologized immediately for being so tasteless and thoughtless.  I admitted that I had not seen the cartoon yet, but I trusted her word and agreed that indeed the cartoonist would have to be more careful next time in what he drew.  I googled it later and actually did not believe it was as offensive as she and many black activists (as shown in their demonstrations this morning) thought it to be.  One thing kept going through my head just as it has since the media gobbled him up way back when he first won Iowa.  How much will the media be able to criticize him?  He represents so many things to so many people: for African Americans he is the realization for Dr. King's dreams, for young people he is the new JFK, and for the millions of people that voted for him in November, he represents the great change many in this country expect from his new administration.  Regardless of your political affiliation, he clearly has a great deal sitting on his shoulders in terms of expectations. One of our main values or goals as journalists is to carefully monitor and criticize the government.  Not to be bullies or the mean dog on the block, but to make sure the most powerful entity in this country stays in line with what our Constitution allows them to do.   Regardless of race or popularity, journalists must be allowed to monitor and criticize President Obama and his administration.  Yes he's popular, and charismatic, and well-spoken, but it doesn't remove him from the same scrutiny that we would have over any other president or politician.  I understand that his race will make it more difficult than past presidents to criticize because there will be that question of racial intentions or critical journalism.   

I know the next few months will be challenging in criticizing Obama because of the very temperate attitudes of different groups in this country.  Our jobs as journalists are not to cater to the majority's opinion but to keep tabs on the government.  And political cartoonists will continue to make fun of politicans and presidents.  America, it's time to grow some tougher skin and let us do our jobs.

Interview Skills a Must

My most recent story is about the effect of Valentine's Day on local businesses in a down economy. Ideally I wanted to do the story before the holiday and had even begun taping and setting up interviews, but not thinking it all the way through, realized not many managers would be able to talk to me during their busiest time of the year. So I postponed the story and readjusted it to make it timely and newsworthy for my audience.
I had a couple interviews, and most of the time they are very easygoing. I always arrive early so I can have time to set my camera up, do my research before going, and appear very friendly and professional so that my subjects know I am dedicated to telling their story. For this last interview I could tell from the moment that I arrived that it would be short and to the point without much interaction past answering some questions and getting the bare minimum of information. This made me anxious because I always look forward to the interview the most when I am about to do a story. So I made small mistakes: I stumbled over words, I placed the subject not too far from a window on a sunny afternoon, my lighting was off on the camera, etc. As I silently kicked myself as soon as she quickly left the vicinity, my immediate next thought was how I could make it better for next time. The main point is that preparation is essential in every situation and that as a reporter you should be able to take control as much as possible.
Although her body language and tone were clear indications that she would rather be somewhere else, it is my responsibility to of course remember a subject's time is precious and should not be wasted, but also set a tone myself. I can hear Greely already, telling me her framing is off and the lighting is bad, but I learned so much more than that on that day. You have the responsibility to set a tone for your own story. Yes their time is precious, but so is yours. Yes you are a student journalist, but you're still a journalist. I can't wait to do my next one!

Never Do an Event By Yourself

This week's story covered an event called Step Afrika.  I was really looking forward to the great NATS and video I could get of people stepping and dancing at the show.  I arrived early and set up an interview with the artistic director to ensure that I would get people coming in as well as a great soundbite from someone in charge.  There were so many things running through my mind that it made it difficult for me to perfect my work.  What I mean is that I was worried about being in focus, keeping the shots steady and long enough to edit, as well as meeting people who I could talk to after the show and audience members would be great interviews.  During the actual show it wasn't too hard because I could focus on the stage or audience reactions, but following the show got more challenging.  Trying to set up the camera and get people to talk and not get run over was when I wished I had another person.  During one of my best interviews, my batteries went out and I didn't even know it.  It was disappointing to say the least once I got back to editing, but the experience definitely was a learning experience.  I know each experience out with the camera one-man-bandstanding-it is preparing me for my real journalism career and knowing how to think fast on my feet.  An important lesson I learned from losing the interview is that you should always check your equipment, even if it means taking a few more minutes of someone's time.  I'm always so focused on being a convenience to the people I talk with while I should be just as concerned with how everything turns out.  You might have a great soundbite of someone, but if you're video is crooked or doesn't look presentable, then that great quote is worthless.  So thinking on my feet and perfecting my work in the field are my goals for next week.

Unpredictable At Every Corner

This week has been more challenging because of my situation next week.  I am going on a trip to D.C. with the National Association of Black Journalists, which is very exciting but also very daunting.  Anyway I was planning on completing both stories this week but of course, nothing can be predicted in this business.  An interview was canceled and rescheduled for this morning, but unfortunately I couldn't get a camera for the time slot.  As the woman told me that she could not reschedule (understandably, she is a florist and it was about Valentine's Day), tears welled up in my eyes and my mind searched for any reason for any other option to salvage my hard leg work that it took to even get an interview with her.  But I'm proud to say those tears never shed because within ten minutes I thought of a different angle and worked another time out for her.  

How to Find That Angle

As I finish my first package for class, it suddenly has hit me how hard it is to find angles for a story.  I guess it's not so much hard to do after everything has been gathered, but it's being out in the field and actually gathering enough material to cover more than one angle.  Great ideas popped into my head for my first story in terms of another angle I could take, but alas, I am in the business of pictures and video.  When a story lacks it, you lack your story.  I spent hours in the field doing interviews, shooting B-roll, and of course perfecting (or as close at it will come right now) my stand-up, but I don't think I was thinking about the different ways I could tell my story.  I don't mean using different equipment or anything like that, but that different angle that gets the meat to the audience but in a different way each time. 

One of my favorite columnists' from back home has a brilliant way of finding angles.  Her name is Desiree Cooper, and she writes for the Detroit Free Press.  I actually had the opportunity to go with her on a story once, and I watched as she gathered her information and used it to construct a well-crafted story that wasn't all the interesting to start with.  She didn't make anything up or jazz up the facts, but she did present the information in a way that was heartwarming and entertaining to her readers.  Ms. Cooper has had years in the business and uses the pen and paper as her instrument, but I want to use my skills and tools to craft stories in a way that keeps attention and shows the best of journalism.

My favorite thing about using the Internet to get my daily doses of journalism are to view slideshows.  I think these are great ways by newspapers to get the audience to interact with their work, and a good use of the Internet.  Although they aren't quite the same, I especially like the short videos the Detroit Free Press has on its site that sometimes uses video and narration or still pictures with narration and natural soundbites.  College football recruitment recently passed and the Free Press did a short video on some guys from area high schools that were excited about having the opportunity to not only play football, but to go to college as well.  I have never been a sports fan, but seeing these young athletes just tell a piece of their story and hearing the words of praise from their families and coaches made me feel inspired as well.  I think this is an example of great journalism because it touches everyone, and isn't that the goal of journalists?  For someone who isn't really interested in sports, it makes the person feel proud of these young athletes.  Although I am using my video in a different way, I think the papers set great examples of journalism in their videos as well.  The story was to the point, well thought out, and had a very humanistic side.  I want to be able to bring the great conversations I have with people to a larger audience and make them special to everyone.