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Lenslinger
05-13-2005, 10:47 PM
From the 'KRON Veejays' thread, Noozer drops this nugget:

"I talked with someone from KRON who says they encourage something called "clarity" news. The philosophy as it was explained to me is the less use of video, the better. It's basically telling the story with use of graphics, animations, etc.

The company also gives out awards to those who best execute this philosophy. No kidding."

Please Noozer, tell us you ARE kidding. If not find someone in the know who can fill us in on this revelation in broadcast journalism. Exactly which delusional consultant came up with the bright idea to take what makes television news unique (the immediacy of sound and video) out of the equation? What will this non-video approach lead to - The Graphics Channel?

I ask this only out of curiosity. Unlike many on this board, I am not averse to the one man band concept. How could I, when I've spent the better part of the past fifteen years shooting writing and editing daily news packages? I've been urging young photogs for years to diversify their skills, usually to the chagrin of veteran shooters who view any change in ENG methodology as outright heresy.

That's cool. I'm not looking to break up two person crews or make any old dogs learn new tricks. But neither do I but the argument that solo-journalists will be the death of us all. With KRON's embracing the backpack paradigm, other large-market stations will soon follow suit. In my very own market their are two very tiny females wielding downsized cameras and doing a damn fine job in the process. I don't for a minute beseech their efforts, but neither am I tripping over myself to join their ranks.

But this ain't about one-man-bands. I'm working on a longer piece on that subject that will hopefully appear on the main page in the near future. No, what almost made me drop my laptop was this notion of 'Clarity News'. If THIS catches on, we may all be doomed. Please, if anyone knows more about this seemingly ludicrous concept, educate us all. After all, knowledge IS power.

[ May 13, 2005, 09:49 PM: Message edited by: Lenslinger ]

Noozer
05-14-2005, 01:12 PM
Lenslinger, I wish I were. I heard this straight from a KRON newsroom employee. This person thought it was ridiculous too, at least that was the general tone when we were talking. Anyway, I didn't really dig further on the subject. I just got the general gist of the philosophy.

Perhaps there are KRON employees on here who might share a bit more.

What does make sense is the corrolation between clarity news and going OMB...no need for video. I'd like to think these actions are always going to be THE exception and not the rule.

NandoCam
05-14-2005, 01:34 PM
Sounds to me that the "Clarity News" concept, would fit with the current codecs for cell phone content....

Clutch City
05-14-2005, 01:44 PM
The philosophy as it was explained to me is the less use of video, the better. It's basically telling the story with use of graphics, animations, etc.We have that already.

It's called the internet.

Baltimore Shooter
05-14-2005, 02:14 PM
Originally posted by Clutch City:
quote: The philosophy as it was explained to me is the less use of video, the better. It's basically telling the story with use of graphics, animations, etc.We have that already.

It's called the internet. Exactly!

Warren

NewsMan
05-15-2005, 12:57 AM
Sweet.. I'll be in SF this weekend... will have to see! I'm excited!

tvjason1234
05-15-2005, 06:22 AM
KPIX has been doing this so-called "Clarity News" thing for a while now (at least a good 3-years). Ask any stringer in the bay area and they'll tell you that if they sell to PIX it's either because of sweeps or it's a blue moon. I always ask people when they ask me what channel I'm from, I'll ask what station they watch. NONE ever mention the station that is doing a "Clarity" show. Humans are visual creatures.

vdoguy
05-17-2005, 12:14 PM
Hey, I'd watch The Graphics Channel - that sounds pretty cool! But I wouldn't watch KRON (didn't that used to be a video game?) or KPIX under this "clarity news" concept. KGO's gotta be lovin' this!

By the way, I used to work for a KPIX show. Yet one more reason not to watch them.

Natural Born Stringer
05-17-2005, 03:09 PM
Sounds more like eye-missed-it news to me.... that's what they do out here when no video was shot of the incident. Cue the street map with the spiky explosion graphic please....