All you anti-VJ people: What exactly IS your stance on VJ's?

[The Thing on The Sticks]

If that's true, then how are the stations going to make their money? The news operations are supposed to be a money maker for the stations. Without the news and given the lack of local originated programming, all they are left with is prime time and syndication.

There aren't a lot of local breaks for local spots in prime time and with syndication, you can get those shows on just about any cable channel. So how will local stations make money if the news dies off?

Warren

I don't see a lot of locals sticking around actually. Most people are already getting their programing through cable or the net. Add to that the lack of original local programing, and the complete disinterest that most younger people have in local news. I see the local tv stations going through what has happened to local news papers.

Sure some will survive but probably half will not, its more a matter of time. Look at how much of what airs is off the wire to begin with, therefor probably much more available on msnbc.com or some similar site. Than consider the typical fluff, gore, and wtf, that many stations fill their b- or c blocks with. What I see eventually happening is a total conversion to web distribution with a few national type outlets that have local/regional stories but only being covered as a bureau type of setup maybe 1 or 2 per market. Or some combination of staff/freelance coverage when extra people are needed.

I have lived in a couple of places where I got multiple versions of the same channel and what I learned from that is that there was no reason to watch one over the other. Simply put same stuff different call letters, too many stations with nothing to differentiate except the news and therefor nothing to hook me in more than on occasion.

just my 2 cents on the subject.

 

[grinner]

All I can say is my ability to bid a turn-key project at a flat price up front then create a project turn-key as a one man band has been my saving grace in this recession/depression. I doubt many think things will go back to how they use to be once the economy starts getting better. I hope not, anyway. From small tv stations who need stringers to large coporate companies that need video, they are rapidly becoming use to one man band productins and the budget savings that are included with that. It's more than just budget... reality/documentary is a "look" now. A fad that is not going away soon. Then there are turn around times that are faaar and away quicker than the days of duscussion, big crews and painful post. This expense is not something that will be migrated back to. While it use to be more profitable to be a specialist, one's speciality being a jack of all trades is in demand more than ever today.

 

[justFRED.ca]

The demand for video has been growing dramatically, if not exponentially.

Otherwise, YouTube would be YouWhat?

There are more video cameras in the world now than ever before. There are more people making videos than ever before. Video is more ubiquitous than ever before.

At the same time, the 'traditional' media model is morphing in a way creates the same suspense as another birth scene from Aliens II - nobody knows if it'll be cute and cuddly, or drip acid and want to melt you.

Some of the video being produced today is amazing. Some is an embarrassment to the technology that allowed it to happen. But the river is getting deeper and it's getting wider.

Meantime, corporations are pretty much legally compelled to operate in the best interests of their shareholders: i.e., make a profit. If that appears to mean that everybody becomes a VJ, then everybody becomes a VJ.

Cheers,
George

 

[Dirge]

Yeah, but most is crap. I've had to train IN MARKET F***ING 4, how to light a live shot. Really?

2003 called. They want their tired-ass topics back.​

Okay, for the last time...if you want to lower your mini-truck the right way...lowered spindles in the front and blocks in the back. And keep the rake.

 

[Chicago Dog]

Okay, for the last time...if you want to lower your mini-truck the right way...lowered spindles in the front and blocks in the back. And keep the rake.

Vroooom!

 

[valkbilly]

PLEASE, shoot this dead horse !!

 

[McFly]

On this board I have been a staunch supporter of the VJ model because of my faith in photographers who know how to light, shoot and edit a story. I'm quite certain many of you could shoot an awesome piece with a 50 grand BetaSX camera or a 3k dollar camera from Panasonic (or Sony or Canon, etc).

That being said, I mostly enjoyed my time as a OMB/VJ. I thought I turned out some decent pieces. Not all the time but my work wasn't half bad and I think many would look at my packages and think I just didn't get any video of the reporter. When given the day to turn a piece and it was one stop shopping... it was great!

Those were the good days.

Where the VJ thing got old for me was going out on a story and then being told to pick up 2 to 4 extra things... or to hand my stuff off to someone else and start over with only a few hours left on my shift. Or to do a piece with numerous MOS' and sitting in front of the library entrance begging people to give their opinion on something. THAT'S when I missed having a reporter! Having to come back and write 2 vo/sots + a package and then a vo/sot from the package and then go edit it all...

Sheesh. Get blondie over here to write this stuff so I can edit, will'ya!

Those were the bad days.

And eventually the weekly ratio of good vs bad days went from 4:1 to 3:2 to 2:3 and so on...

Granted we all have days like that, but working solo made it a bit harder to deal with.

The VJ model isn't going away, just the same as having a sound person isn't going to come back.

 

[Nino]

My sound person doesn't have to come back, he never left

This is an interesting e-mail conversation with a new client about an upcoming job.


December 1, 2009 1:42:01 PM EST
Nino, can you please let me know what rate would be?* We don’t need an audio tech, they don’t use them here, but if you prefer to have one who can do that and also help run if necessary, let me know.

December 8, 2009 1:44:22 PM EST
Nino, can we have an audio tech actually. We had issues in san antonio and I think itd help to have an audio person there. Let me know. Thanks


Assignment Manager

Sound-tech, never leave home without him

 

[Ben Longden]

An interesting observation...

A lot of news networks here are using the two man team approach. A camera operator (as we call'em) and a journalist. No soundo....as we call'em...

The journo holds the mic out of shot and does the int while the camera operator does the dual job of camera and sound.

The national broadcaster up until early this year would send a three man team (camera, journo AND soundo) but alas that is rarely seen.... thanks to the GFC its a two man crew.

If things are really busy, then it becomes a OMB affair; the camera operator heads to the job, shoots it, doubles (triples??) up as a jurno and soundo.


Ben