Keeping Up Online

For every article written online, chances are there is an accompanying video. Time and time again we are told that to be a journalist, you need to be able to cross-platform including being able to produce and create videos. In chapter eight, Briggs gives a numbers of great tips and tools to help even the most novice of movie-makers and shakers a great way to start.

With a little Google search, I found this great site that breaks down a lot of the basics in short parts, great for a beginner.

“The tools have changed, but the game remains the same: visual journalism about telling compelling stories that connect an audience with subjects, people and issues. One of the most powerful types of visual journalism, video storytelling, iss surprisingly easy to learn,” wrote Briggs.

My own experience

For an assignment, I had to create a video using whatever device I had and then edit using whatever editing software I had. It was one of those things where I legitimately had no idea what I was doing or how to go about doing it. So I took my three separate videos and hoped for the best. So I emailed them to myself and after fiddling around with iMovie for a while, I finally figured a few things out. In about 15 minutes, I had learned how to crop, rearrange, add a voiceover, add a background song amongst other things just by toying around with iMovie.

I’m not trying to brag or anything but look at the masterpiece I created. I was robbed of the Best Documentary award from Oscars, still bitter about it.

How to do it on your own

I don’t want to get too fancy and overwhelm over you, but have you ever heard of YouTube? Yes? Great. YouTube is basically a jackpot of how-to videos. Simply search, “How to _____” and you will get so many results you won’t even know where to start. You can read and read  but watching someone show you how to do it, where you can follow along really allows you to get hands on experience while stil learning in the comfort of your Ikea desk chair.

Let the content tell the story

“The best way to build a solid video story is to think about it the same way you would think about writing. How will the video tell the story?”

Briggs gives the example of the young baseball player who had only one leg in the beginning of the chapter. Video of him was presented without much comment or context, no fancy editing or voiceovers. He let the video tell the story on its own and it worked. I’ve learned from much of this chapter that no matter how much you do, if the content doesn’t tell a good story, it won’t make a difference. It takes just as little time to click on play than it does to click on the little “x.” Which I’ve done many times.

Equipment

Last but not least, you need the proper equipment to record video. I recorded my little video on my phone but if you plan on creating more than a one minute video about Valentine’s Day you might want something a little snazzier. Just for the record, I do have an actual camcorder at home.

PCWorld has a great write up on what kind of camera you need and you can determine what’s best for you.

Now this, from cnet, has a plethora of reviews, prices, images, pros and cons for every camera you can imagine. They have breakdowns of the best cameras for certain features, cameras are broken down from price, brand, type, features and so much more. And best of all, they even have a comcorder finder to help find a camera that’s best for you if that first link didn’t work.

Now that you’ve