To cover sensitive stories,one should avoid usual equipments such as tripods and lighting instruments.So that,subjects can forget about camera’s presence.To shoot in the environment friendly situation,subjects can express themselves naturally.We should always remember that journalists are not crusaders,we are mere informers.Whether is is hard news or soft news,tell the story visually.Local crime-investigative shows follow the same pattern.In 30 minute show,they drag a single story-sometimes,viewers feel irritated-bored.If we have enough footages-cutaways,various angle shots ( according to vetern news videographer Angela Grant, always try to get at least four shots of every single thing we want to shoot.),we can create impact in mere 180 seconds or 240 seconds.We can easily put 3-4 stories in 30 minutes format.We should be cautious to cover a sensitive story-someone who has just lost his or her loved one or a accused person or one who has been an eyewitness to a tragedy.
The question that a senior Journalist ask for himself is how do I do it and still retain my journalistic ethics.Don’t ever shoot anybody without his or her permission-I agree with others that this strategy doesn’t apply to most other situations,but I myself apply this strategy where emotions are running high and the person whose visuals we want to take,is an ordinary person not a public figure.
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