Intro to Video Journalism
Video journalism has changed a lot in recent years. The arrival of DSLR cameras that also shoot video meant that a dozen years ago, it was suddenly affordable to shoot and edit a 1080p HD video as a “one-man-band” and the quality of the resulting product would blow editors away. Legacy print publications like the New York Times and Wall Street Journal saw the way the wind was blowing and expanded into video, for the reach and for the prestige.
These days, with the ubiquity of 4K and beyond cameras and other advances in technology, video journalism has become a bit of an arms race—it’s become more expensive to stay competitive. There are still plenty of outlets that will hire you if you’re shooting on a DSLR, but more and more are looking for a higher-end cinema camera. Many outlets are also looking for someone who can deliver extra bells and whistles like drone footage. But there are rental options like KitSplit that have popped up to help you work at that high level without having to go deep into credit card debt. And video tends to pay better than print or still photography, so it has that going for it as well.
The advent of the streaming era has also given rise to a golden age of documentaries. There is a lot of prestige and money in documentary films and docuseries these days, from docs that rely on a lot of archival material and interviews to those shot in verité style.
Syllabus
Advanced Video Journalism Syllabus
Please note that the schedule on this syllabus will be ever-evolving, with dates subject to change based on availability of guests, etc. so please refer to this site for up-to-date due dates and scheduling. I will be posting class agendas each time we meet with updated and detailed info on assignments, due dates, etc.
Introductions
Here’s me.
Now your turn: Tell us your name and whether you’re a journalism major. What are you hoping to get out of this class? What sort of video storytelling interests you? Is there a piece of video journalism or a documentary that has stayed with you? What’s your dream job?
For next class…
Set up a Vimeo account with photo and bio if you don’t already have one.
Please bring your memory card because we will be doing a hands-on workshop with the cameras, and you’ll be signing yours out for the semester.