Hows to Shoot News Video

It was a dramatic moment the night rescue workers pulled two teens through the final few yards of raging water to safety. An incredulous Chuck Dennis shut down his Zenith VM 7070 camera, took one last look at the rain-swollen creek and thought of the incredible event that had unfolded before his eyes.

His efforts had paid off. As he had anticipated, no other camera person had arrived on the scene to document the incident. The rescue happened too quickly for any of the three local television stations to respond. As the amateur videographer raced to the local broadcast affiliate, he moved little bit closer to his goal of becoming a professional news videographer.

As an anchor, reporter and photographer for that station, I've watched Dennis transform himself into a valuable asset to our station and I have no doubt he will achieve his goal. Although I was skeptical of his abilities at first, my perception of him soon changed from that of a pesky wannabe cameraperson to an excellent spot news videographer with an instinct for being in the right place at the right time. (In my experience, most good video-journalists begin their careers with this dubious stigma, until their work proves otherwise.) You may not have the same goal, but let me show you how Dennis broke into the professional news business and you'll probably learn some helpful tips about working quickly and unobtrusively on any video project.

Over the course of the past year, Dennis, a 41-year-old electrician by trade, has provided us with tape of dozens of news events, including fires, accidents and most recently, an officer-involved shooting. At first, he offered his video skills for free. He is now getting 25 dollars per story. Not bad for a station in a medium-sized market, one that can't really afford to pay exorbitant sums of money, even for the most dramatic video.

Probably because of the exciting prospect of being a part of television, as well as the age-old tradition of the barter system, most people end up giving us exclusive video for free. Although we can pay some money for especially important pictures, an offer to give amateurs an on-air credit tends to satisfy them (see sidebar).

The three TV stations in our area don't have the resources to always be on the scene of a breaking event. Sometimes an incident might take us 20 or 30 minutes to reach. If we can't spare a camera crew, or are committed to another story, a moderately newsworthy event might not get covered, unless someone like Dennis is there to help.

There are hundreds of other small- and medium-size TV stations across the country that can't afford an army of reporters and videographers that can bolt out in helicopters and satellite-equipped trucks to cover every accident, fire or crime. These stations are ideal for amateur videographers seeking to take their hobby to a higher level, or to become professionals.

Dennis uses a Zenith full-size VHS camera with a two-speed 8:1 zoom lens, two-hour batteries and a standard Aztec light. But the tool that really gives him the edge is his scanner.

Because he lives in an outlying area, he can pick up emergency radio traffic that reporters in our area can't receive. As a former firefighter, he's well versed in the codes and incident commands. He often responds to fires dressed in the proper firefighting attire, with camera gear in tow. "No video is worth getting hurt for. You should be dressed appropriately and be prepared, whether on a fire or in a delivery room," says Dennis.

Not only is it unsafe to cover a fire without protective clothing, it may cost you an opportunity to shoot. I've seen authorities turn away reporters and photographers from fire scenes because they were dressed in street clothes instead of fire-protective nomex pants, jackets and boots. The bright orange or yellow outfits are cheap and easy to come by. Ask a firefighter you know, or contact a fire safety supply company.

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