I'm talking about the ones being pumped out by the U.S. community dailies to satisfy new quotas set by Corporate.
Let me first acknowledge that it's very early in the effort, one designed to capitalize on higher rates paid for pre-roll advertisements.
Still, notwithstanding that amazing New Rochelle-Mount Vernon high school basketball video, Gannett has a long, long way to go to make this video strategy work.
Let me first acknowledge that it's very early in the effort, one designed to capitalize on higher rates paid for pre-roll advertisements.
Still, notwithstanding that amazing New Rochelle-Mount Vernon high school basketball video, Gannett has a long, long way to go to make this video strategy work.
That video is amazing--and an example of "right place, right time." Most of my site's videos are talking-head stuff. When more experienced videographers are doing it, there's some b-roll and editing. We're even doing "newscasts" now, in which staffers talk about their coverage topics. My site has been there, done that in the first wave of video in 2005. The per-thousand-clicks price explains corporate's emphasis on increasing video VIEWS (yeah,there's a quota for that, too)--not just the number of videos on the site.
ReplyDeleteMy one thought on the new video training that is going on - Doing a really good video is time consuming. If you're spending a lot of time doing that, what part of the reporter's job gets shoved aside?
ReplyDeleteNone. They expect us to do it all.
DeleteThe point is that the videos reporters get at breaking news scenes, or related news events, are not those time-consuming polished vids but rather quick hits that can look pretty good with just a little training. A little practice with iMovie and even the least able reporter can turn out a decent video with b-roll and cuts. It doesn't have to be a James Cameron extravaganza to draw interest from readers, just look at the stuff that grabs a lot of attention on YouTube and other video sites.
DeleteThose of us still at Gannett aren't just going to slump over and dry up because the naysayers want us to. We're still professionals and we're still proud of what we do and how we do it. Yeah, we can still bitch about things, but in the end we have a job to do and we're going to use whatever tools we are given to do it as best as we can.
That game was televised in New York. Yahoo has a video from the professional broadcast where they slow it down with the shot clock to make sure the shot actually got off in time.
ReplyDeleteAlso, they don't have heads in the way and the motion-sickness back and forth during the game's final seconds.
Saw it. I think Westchester's iPhone video captures more of the raw excitement of the moment. It's kind of thrilling to watch. The other one is typical TV stuff.
DeleteFinger painting catches the raw excitement of painting more than any stodgy old Rembrandt.
DeleteHuh? It's that kind of clear thinking that turns good stories into nonsense.
DeleteTo each their own. I'd rather watch the video that isn't herky jerky, blurry and blocked by heads. I stopped watching the Westchester video midway through. I watched the professionally done video on Yahoo three times.
DeleteListen, I am not saying the Westchester video shouldn't exist or anything like that, but Jim held it up as an example of something good. Just pointing out that there is far superior video of the same event already out there.
I like how Jim tries to sound like an expert.
ReplyDeleteThis is the same Jim who bailed on this place to hide on an island. The same Jim who gives up on job loss numbers because he can't get them right. The same Jim who lost control of this place years ago.
Oh, please, 3:56. Don't gloss over a crappy video with unsteady, jerky sweeps and muffled audio by taking a cheap shot at Jim.
DeleteJim, get over it. Gannett has turned the corner and the naysayers cannot stand to see it.
ReplyDeleteI hope so. On the other hand, we've heard this before. For example, who said the following and when did they say it?
Delete"Without a doubt, Gannett today is a stronger company than it was at the beginning of 20__, and we are focused on continuing to create value for our shareholders in the year ahead."