Video content and production, including video journalism techniques

This two day course works with the course on learning about social media, as much of the content on sites is visual. Video is a powerful way of getting your messages across. It is now economic and easy to produce: from a smartphone too (think of Vine).

As a pioneer in videojournalism, I have taught courses to all audiences from university students to teenagers, school students, to PR managers and community groups.

EVERYONE enjoys this course as it stimulates creative thinking and is fun to see the results.

I can teach courses that:

• Provide an understanding of storytelling and scripting of short videos
• Learn filming and editing techniques:interviewing,framing shots, recording sound, lighting
• Provide training in delivery methods: including for PR and news teams getting clearance and uploading the finished video onto social media and other websites
• Ensure a quality and high standard product
• Help devise a strategy for working with IT, buying equipment for in-house, appointing a new Media Manager /team; or sourcing outside providers.
• A handbook is issued to every participant with detailed information on the whole process

 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can anyone become a Videojournalist or VJ?

It is true when training that some people have an “eye” for a shot and a “nose” for a good story. They are the ones to lead and produce content in a team and to help others.

How does producing video differ from general Press Office, PR or marketing work?

Instead of selling-in prepared material or press releases, or coming up with ideas for print or campaigns, you have to be good at combining words and pictures for a video- and then film and edit it! To be a storyteller.

The images can lead on a video report, but the facts of the story and its content still dictate what those pictures are. So you can have the same case studies (as per your sell-ins), but for the video pictures you have to introduce them and then place, frame and film them in a relevant way, linking their story through the report and adding voices like experts and a number of elements.

What skills do you need to be a VJ or practising videojournalism?

• an ability to engage with people
• an inquiring mind so as to ask pertinent questions
• a visual awareness, to combine pictures with words
• an ability for storytelling
• a value system and objective view of the order of things, plus a sense of moral, ethical and legal issues that might affect recording video

What do I have to prepare before producing a video?

• A commentary that tells the story
• Interviewees for sound-bites
• Vox pops( short comments from people usually on the street about the topic)
• Pictures relevant to the story- and the locations
• An opening and a closing or end shot
• Graphics showing statistics or a locating map or a quote
• Extra footage like existing news or corporate footage
• Still shots- where relevant
• A piece to camera
• Music- where relevant

Are there legal or ethical issues to consider?

People agree to being filmed with no thought to the possible repercussions.

You want to give their names and show their faces on the screen because it strengthens the value of your report; yet you have to be concerned about the consequences of their identities becoming known.

Always take along a consent form

Always get permissions ahead of your filming, especially from shopping malls or complexes where the Manager and security need to know. Filming on private property is trespassing. In London some parks like St James’ filming is banned. Filming in the road as opposed to on a pavement can constitute an obstruction.

**THIS COURSE IS GOOD AS PART OF A COMPANY’S STAFF DAY OR DAY OUT!
Producing videos for playback on company themes for prizes and peer review.