RTV 440

1. RTV 440 Storytelling, Chaps. 10-12

2. Note previous chapters • Interviewing • Talking with strangers • Who should be interviewed? • Gathering what? • Length of interview • POV • Audio / Sound • Directional patterns, miking techniques, mic types, noise, filters • Editing audio

3. Previous chapters • Composing shots • Camera as a tool • Editing techniques • All technical issues • Here, more about aesthetics

4. Storytelling: What is involved? • Characters • Action • Location • Context • Emotions and connection • Words and pictures • How does Civic Journalism relate?

5. How do you get to know your community? • Curiosity issues • Viewer involvement • Etiquette • Spot news guidelines • A philosophy of news • Community-oriented journalism--civilization is a stream with banks means what? Is this Civic Journalism? (‘community oriented’) • How to report the non-visual story

6. “Write Like a Storyteller” • Well-known NBC News Correspondent that wrote this chapter: John Larson • The chapter begins by telling us to transmit the experience, giving the viewers a sense that they are there. • To be a good storyteller, be a good tour guide, like the ones at a museum, historical district or national park. • People are curious, but they can bcome bored easily • Conflict, reaction, smell, taste, touch, feel, involvement, connection

7. ‘Wow’ • WWWWWH, so what • Things that excite you • Things that engage the audience • Finding a ‘moment’ • Expect the unexpected (fleeting video) • Emotions, appeals, culture, relationship

8. Continued... • The most daunting challenge in writing a story for broadcast is writing: the first sentence. • Full story: lead, main points, close -- all connect, with rhythm • The 'three great horses' listed in this chapter as storytelling tools: • Surprise, quest, character. • Quest is a lot like plot, but simpler and more specific.

9. Continued... • The author of this chapter says that at Dateline, they call ‘surprises’ reveals. • The key to writing surprises is that all surprises require a set-up. • How do you tell a good joke? • Who is your best writing teacher?

10. Writing Tips • Physician Heal thyself • Rip it Off School of Journalism • ‘honor the work of others’ • Think Heroes (Mother Teresa, MLK) • Strong Stories are the work of strong storytellers • Challenge yourself • NPPA Photojournalism workshop 3/15-20

11. NPPA Tips • Find a way to care about your story and storytelling in the news. If you don't care, no one will. • Have a plan.. If you go out shooting wildly, someone will get hurt--YOU. • Reporting is like being lectured; storytelling is like recess. Do storytelling.

12. NPPA Tips cont. • Don't try to cram 100 pounds into a 10-pound bag; find your story focus & stick to it. • Nat sots grab 'em and keep 'em--nothing tells a story better than three seconds of meaningful natural sound. • Throughout the story, build your report around sequences.

13. NPPA Tips cont. • Stop writing occasionally and let two or three seconds of compelling action occur without voice over. • Your close should be so strong that nothing else can top it. • Build in surprises. The secret to doing it well is the set-up. • Tell your story through people. Very few shots should be without people in them.

14. NPPA Tips cont. • Prove your focus with video and sound • 'A trailer has burned down' is not a story focus, because it fails to meet the 'so what’ test. “The trailer burned because the walls are full of flammable insulation that is dangerous for others” describes the larger issue and makes the story compelling.

15. NPPA Tips cont. • Action and reaction are critical components in the visual storytelling process. The reaction makes it memorable. Show reaction in every story. • Recheck NPPA Tip #1—Find a way to care.

16. How to Improve? • Recognize work of others compared to yourself -- watch and critique the work of professionals -- learn what is good and what is not • Seek gradual improvement • Dan Rather: doing routine things extraordinarily well time after time • Sports analogy: skills plus discipline • KAKE’s Larry Hatteberg: ‘You don’t learn unless you fail.’

17. Evaluations and Excuses • Excellence vs. perfection • Broad knowledge, understanding of people • “The graveyard's full of folks that didn't have time to die” • Have a story -- focus • Drop the excuses (two edit stations) • Know the community (Civic Journalism) • Community Oriented vs. Civic

18. Other tips • Curiosity • See Beyond the Obvious • Show Viewer what he/she missed • Involve the camera • SEQUENCES! • Don’t try to show all of New Zealand • See ‘levels of viewer involvement’ • You’re communicating with people

19. Spot News • What you know / what you don’t know • Shoot by instinct • Avoid ‘sticks’ (handheld shots, steady) • Anticipate / fleeting video • Shoot sequences • Tell the story through people • Considerate of authorities at scene • Considerate of people involved • Play it safe • Be ready for emotional situations (gory...) ###