This extract is part of a report by David Maas for the International Journalists’ Network. Link to read the report: Video reporting during the pandemic: Experts share their insights.We gathered insights from four expert multimedia journalists, including Bill Shepherd, a mobile and video journalism trainer at Billshepherdmedia.com, and a production editor at The Guardian and The Observer; Léo Hamelin, a senior producer at Blue Chalk Media and adjunct professor at Columbia University’s Journalism School; Nacho Corbella, creative director at Ripple Effect Images; and Nuno Vargas, a design, innovation and product strategist. The COVID-19 pandemic has shaped a new normal in journalism today. Reporters around the world have adapted to cover the global health crisis from all different angles, and often from the confines of their homes. When out in the field, journalists are taking extra measures to ensure their well-being, and that of their interview subjects. As this new reality sets in for the rest of 2020 (at least), what does this mean for video journalism, in particular? How should newsrooms adjust their video strategies? What creative approaches and tools can video journalists adopt to produce compelling content?
As this new reality sets in for the rest of 2020 (at least), what does this mean for video journalism, in particular? How should newsrooms adjust their video strategies? What creative approaches and tools can video journalists adopt to produce compelling content?
IJNet: How should newsrooms adjust their video strategies during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?
Shepherd: There is an old saying, “the best camera is the one you always have with you.” Most of our colleagues carry their smartphone all the time, which allows them to do three things: record audio, shoot a video interview, or even shoot a diary piece to camera. They can even edit their video on their smartphone using one of the many mobile editing apps, like Adobe Rush.
Adobe Rush is my preferred editing app – it allows me to easily edit cut-away shots, add text captions, logos and banners and upload to Adobe Premiere Pro, which is my preferred desktop video application. Moreover, FiLMiC Pro is a wonderful app for both Android and iOS. This allows me to shoot video with more control rather than simply using the built-in camera app, because I can then monitor the audio whilst recording, which I cannot do with the built-in camera app. This app also allows me to manually set a focus point and a separate aperture point too, so great for shooting in lowlight.
I also use Ferrite Recording Studio, which is another great iOS audio app that was created with journalists in mind. It allows me to record and edit sound so it’s great for audio recording and it might also be a good choice for journalists recording sound for podcasts if they haven’t got their own sound recorder.
What is one creative thing newsrooms could consider doing with video today, during COVID-19?
Shepherd: It starts at the very top, the editor. It’s important that editors are reaching out and staying in touch with everyone within the newsroom. The ideal video strategy solution would be to hold a weekly or biweekly video conference call where staff can simply log on from home and listen to the conference. It’s important for editors to be inclusive, so that includes everyone who works within the newsroom — not just the senior editors, but the reporters, picture editors, photographers, video producers, subeditors, researchers and even the administrators and technical and support staff, too.
It’s going to need a massive team effort to get through the COVID-19 pandemic so try to always be inclusive because everyone’s job role is essential to the future of the organization.