TV station tour « Videomaker Community Forums

Bill Dillon
Member

Has anyone reading this attended TV station tours? I'm more interested in the technical issues of videotaping and editing, not reporting a story or getting to the news. Any suggestions for the Baltimore area?

Thanks

Posted 7 months ago #
EarlC
Moderator

Bill, this might be helpful, or not. Back in the day in Southern California, when I was first getting commercially involved in video production, I was able to get a local cable television station tour as they were also supporting the local Public Access program. I'd indicated an interest in participating and a small group was given a tour of the technical aspects of the facility. Are there still any active Public Access operations at any of your Baltimore cable stations?

Posted 7 months ago #
vid-e-o-man
Member

Bill, as EarlC remarked about loooong time ago when cable tv was just starting, in order to get their license to have exclusive rights for a city, they would have to setup public access channels. They were eager to have just about anything video to fill the hours that the public channels were operating. They even had classes available to teach how to use equipment and put on your own show. I don't know if you will find that today but won't hurt to look into this. Today we still have public access channels for some of the cities in our metropolitan area. Contacting the individual cities might head you in the right direction. You might also try contacting the local PBS station or the local public college on campus stations in your area.

Posted 7 months ago #
doublehamm
Member

When I was working with a metro access station last year, they said they were required to have a public access station in every market even today.

Posted 7 months ago #
Kenkyusha
Member

Isn't Grassroots Media in the Bal'more area? Joining a local public access station was a very helpful experience and it is usually inexpensive (on the order of $25 per year).

Posted 7 months ago #
Bill Dillon
Member

@Earl-yes, they have local access. I don't want to contribute videos, I just want to see how those that shoot videos and edit videos for a living do it. I'm an entry level movie taker and editor but am fascinated how the pros do it.

Posted 7 months ago #
Jennifer O'Rourke
Staff

Hi, Bill... I worked in broadcasting for 20+ years at four different stations and we always welcomed tours. Check with your local affiliates and ask about tours, requirements, and if there's a chance to "hang out with a newscrew" for a day.

Usually the tour was based on just one shooter/editor allowing you to hang out with him or her for the day.

We had one-on-one single day visitors go out with me in the morning for a shoot, then we'd sit down and the guest would watch me edit the footage, and then I'd walk him through the next steps of getting it on the air. We'd then take off in the live van to do the 6:00 live shot that wrapped around the story we just finished - I'm sure it was a blast for the guest.

Contact the newsroom or assignment desk to get more info, I'm sure they'd be able to set something up for you.

Jennifer O'Rourke

Videomaker's Managing Editor

Managing Editor
jorourke@videomaker.com
VM Customer Support: 1-800-284-3226

Posted 7 months ago #
grinner
Member

Just apply at your local TV stations, Bill. They'll give ya a tour as they interview you.

http://grinnerhester.com

Posted 7 months ago #