Back in January of this year I wrote a review of Gnooze, a quirky news site featuring the wonderful Marta Costello.
I remember thinking “she’s really on to something” back then. In a typical late-night surfing session, I decided to check in on Marta. See what she was up to. I wondered what she made of the elections.
I found this incredible report. Watch it. To the end. The final few scenes really are gripping stuff.
I’ll ask you all a simple question: Have you seen a better piece of reporting from any of the major news organisations at the RNC?
I ask you now. When Marta was out there, reporting from the middle of that protest, where were all the major networks? Where were the journalists earning hefty amounts of money to tell us what is going on in the world?
I’ll tell you where. They were in lovely mini-studios, enjoying fine food and great drinks. Patting themselves on the backs for a job well done.
To steal a popular webby sorta phrase: Journalism FAIL.
Honestly, I’m gobsmacked by what gnooze has done. If newspapers around the world were serious about a) good journalism and b) involving REAL young people in their product, they’d be snapping up the likes of Marta Costello in a heartbeat.
Indeed, once upon a time, they did. But Marta left. She could do a better job herself, she insisted, and so went forth and created gnooze.
Scarily, I think she’s proved herself right.
Something to think about, eh?
This is what newspaper video should be all about. Why it isn’t is a mystery to me.
I’ll be posting more about gnooze soon — I believe it holds the key to the ‘how do we monitize all this?’ question that is gaining increasingly important momentum around the web.
Strong story.
What makes it work?
A few things:
Getting dirty ie huddling into the story, something photo jos do time and time again, and it may seem odd, but the stanza of video journalism, “getting down and dirty” is closer to photojoing than news broadcasting.
Staying with the story – Many broadcasters will be working to a deadline show so will only be able to parachute in and out. A good VJ team would stay with the story, they do; a good VJ swarm team would “swarm and tag” the story from many quarters.
Being fearless and discreet, where possible – smaller cameras give you greater cover.
Intending to go off the beaten track of the news agenda – though you prob wouldn’t know the majors weren’t covering this till you got down there or enquired from the organiser.
Broadcasters WILL miss stories. VJims strongest asset is a combination of covering “Non news agenda” but also how the film is produced ie the exposition.
One aspect of the shoot is what we call “open wide”. It requires a fearless quality, good picture/location judgment and a steady hand from the shooter because the action’s unfolding before your very eyes. Then the construct kicks in. e.g. some of the VJs I work with would have been trying to track the flight of the gas canisters. It’s the “verb” – the action thing that has a profound effect. Requires good whip pan tracking.
Also the presenter here conveys a good sense of what’s going on. She’s not afraid to brave it; something forcs ( foreign correspondents) , and yes some domestic reporters do more often in troubled spots.
Interestingly and lets not take away from the fact it’s strong “theatre”, but Dave you said it yourself ” The final few scenes really are gripping stuff”. But how do you get to those scenes, the chronological way or strongest pics ( agency approach)
The options for the team was a slow build up in which case the cue could have hinted at later. Or to reveal a slice of what happens and then build backwards to reveal the dénouement .
I’ll go have a look at their site, because having done this, there’s some great follow ups to get.
Great stuff
david
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