KUSA hires a VJ

[Buck]

Er, "backpack journalist", my bad. Here we go again. I got a kick out of this quote: "She's a good storyteller, a dynamic personality." Uh, what about her photography skills? Obviously that doesn't matter anymore. I wonder how the hardcore NPPA photogs there are taking this?

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_3529295

KUSA's backpack journalists signal shift in TV news

By Dick Kreck
Denver Post Staff Columnist

Dear Boss:
Please don't read this. It could give you ideas.

Backpack journalists, also known as solo journalists or "sojos," are creeping into the television-news business.


KUSA-Channel 9 this week hired Heidi McGuire as a general-assignment reporter/photographer, putting two jobs in one body and, of course, eliminating a second job.

Patti Dennis, news director for 9News, says the trend, which began in the mid-1990s, is more of a step back. "It's actually coming full circle. Many of us started out that way."

In Dennis' scheme of things, combining a reporter's job and a photographer's job enabled her to hire a weather producer. "I had two openings. I'm adding to the staff without adding employees."


Not everyone is so enamored. Multimedia journalism has been the focus of a heated debate at the Annenberg School of Journalism at the University of Southern California.

"I resist the notion of backpack journalists because I believe it is being foisted on us by publishers who don't feel that 20 percent profit is good enough," wrote multimedia consultant Martha Stone in an online debate. "While some multimedia journalists can handle a variety of tasks efficiently and professionally, most will only deliver mediocre journalism."

Technology, bringing print, electronic and online together, is driving the change, responds Jane Stevens, who teaches journalism at the University of California. "In a few years, backpack journalists ... will not only be the rule, they'll rule."

The bottom line other than the bottom line, says Dennis, is versatility. "The business is changing where you have to develop more than one skill." Dennis thinks McGuire is up to the task. "It has to be the right person. She's a good storyteller, a dynamic personality."

[Shooter in the Ville]

Say it isn't so!

[Dink]

Gee, Chicago Dog actually said it isn't so on the other VJ thread. This isn't happening, right?

[FTOJRLST]

I got to know Heidi McGuire while she was working here in Greensboro and I put her on my blog last June, showing you the pictures of Heidi while she was out and about as a BackPack Journalist, shooting her own video and doing her own reports.



She is a solid shooter and I saw some nice work produced by her while she was running around the Piedmont Triad of North Carolina.



She is making the jump from WFMY in Greensboro to take a job at one of the best Photography driven shops there is, KUSA in Denver, both of which are owned by Gannett.

She has apparently mastered the task of shooting, interviewing, writing and reporting the news without any help from a camera toting cohort.

According to The Denver Post Heidi will be doing the same solo work at KUSA.

The Photography Staff at KUSA has brought home the NPPA Station of the Year Award in 1984, 1986, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1997, 1998 and 2000.

I always thought Heidi did a great job here in Greensboro running the streets wielding her own weapon of Mass Production, but I never would have figured that she'd continue doing it, especially in that market at that station!

But it kind of makes sense. Part of what makes Denver and KUSA such a strong Photographry driven Market is the fact that Photojournalists there have always been willing and able to produce their own work, whether producing photo essays or using their station's professional voices to read their stories.

I wish Heidi the best of luck in her new endeavor!

[shootercub]

Heidi is a great shooter, editor, producer, storyteller. She will be missed.

Best of luck in Denver!

[Shooter in the Ville]

I have nothing against "backpack journalists" or "VJ's"....i just dont want to have to start writing my own stories. Thats just not one of my strong points.

[WestCoast]

I've never known KUSA to do anything half-assed. They wouldn't hire some kid fresh out of college just to save a buck. If they hired Heidi it's because she's a good photographer and storyteller.

This is how I believe the VJ/OMB will eventually become a part of the newsroom. A few VJ's, a few traditional crews. Not entire newsroom conversions like at KRON or WKRN.

[Chicago Dog]

Originally Posted by Dink

Gee, Chicago Dog actually said it isn't so on the other VJ thread. This isn't happening, right?

Wow -- look out! Someone is hired as a VJ! Gosh, you got me there.

(cough)



Listen, my main gripe is not with the OMB/VJs themselves. If someone can do it, more power to 'em. I'd much rather be part of a team, myself. I don't plan on making a living producing local news features, and local news features is not what gets you into top markets. Knowing your way around hard news stories and having the speed and ability to cover spot-news is what gets you places.

My main problem is with Rosenblum, who is making the claim that -- with three weeks' training -- anyone can do this job. He has an incredible lack of respect for what we do in the field. That's what pisses me off. Want absolute proof that this is simply not so? Go look around the incredibly drab assortment of crappy videos in Google Video.

There you go. Case closed. Unfortunately, we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

[Son-of-Spam]

Not to hi-jack the thread but i've also heard that the WB station in Boston has hired someone as a VJ to "test it out"...

[Dink]

Originally Posted by Chicago Dog

My main problem is with Rosenblum, who is making the claim that -- with three weeks' training -- anyone can do this job. He has an incredible lack of respect for what we do in the field. That's what pisses me off. Want absolute proof that this is simply not so? Go look around the incredibly drab assortment of crappy videos in Google Video.

There you go. Case closed. Unfortunately, we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

You seem to want to disagree even when we're in agreement. I have EXACTLY the same problem with Rosenblum. He's a hack, a quack, a snake oil salesman. I think he'd sell his own grandmother.

But this KUSA thing is how it starts. They aren't the only ones doing it. Right now, this company is using somebody who apparently has some skill. But other managers at other stations will only remember the lines about how the ND was able to fill two positions with one person. "KUSA is making the VJ thing work," they'll say, "So why don't we do it also?"

We don't disagree that this is generally a bad idea. We don't disagree that the product will ultimately suffer because of VJ implementations. The only real place we disagree, I think, is that you seem to believe that the failure of WKRN and KORN will convince managers that VJs don't work, while I take what I think is a more realistic view that managers will still keep trying to make it work, in order to save money, until they find the right mix. You think it's improbable; I think it's inevitable.

I'm actually posting from inside a college classroom now. I'm already training for my next career, so I won't be stuck in this one when somebody hands me a handicam and tells me I need to be a VJ.

[nozoom4u]

I think it's just the way stations are starting to think. I work, at what I consider to be one of the best photographer shops in the country, and the topic comes up quite frequently. I don't believe having only vj's works. But, say you have four or five traditional crews and a whole bunch of vj's with specific beats, then you have the best of both worlds. This is where I believe we're going.
Unless stations do away with standups and live shots, we're going to have to keep some "teams" around. But, having more people focused on what they are doing, means more exclusives, breaking more stories, and finding better stories than just press releases sent to the assignment desk.
I love working on my own, at least if it sucks, I did it, not my reporter. Turning spot news everyday by myself however is a different story. In order to rock these stories you need a communicator and someone working the scene. I try, but I'm also trying to make my video and nats rock. It's real easy to miss stuff if you're trying to create a connection with your subjects.
I think win the major companies start thinking this way it's on, and they have, so hold on boys.

[eb]

Take a look at these RTNDA Sessions this year:

Videojournalism in the Newsroom [TV News Track, Reporter/Producer Track]
Seminar plus hands-on instruction. Get a better understanding of the VJ revolution that is sweeping newsrooms in Europe and now in the U.S. BBC, Dutch TV, Belgian TV, ARD in Germany, Swedish TV and Swiss TV all have converted or are in the process of converting to the VJ-driven newsroom. Now, Young Broadcasting has committed to make the change at its two largest stations. More are certainly going to follow. What does this mean for the future of broadcast news? A look at the product as well as a chance to touch the toys.
Producer and Moderator: Stacey Woelfel, news director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO. Panelists: Chris Lee, former news director, KRON-TV, San Francisco; Michael Rosenblum, founder of VJ Movement, Rosenblum Associates, New York; Steve Sabato, news director, WKRN-TV, Nashville.



The Art of the One-Man-Band [Student Track]
This interactive workshop gives you a hands-on opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade to making the one-man-band work. You’ll get real-world situations and practice how to problem-solve in the field. See tricks to shooting your own standups, getting great shots instead of generic ones, and getting great audio with or without wireless mics. Moderator: Mark Kraham, news director, WHAG-TV, Hagerstown, MD. Panelists: Sue Kwon, reporter, KPIX-TV, San Francisco; Steve Sabato, news director, KWRN-TV, Nashville. Producers: Mark Kraham and Stacey Woelfel

Citizen Journalism: Embracing the New Power of Your Audience
From cell phone video to personal blogs, everyone’s becoming a reporter. And they all have suggestions on how we should run our newsrooms. Learn how to embrace the citizen journalist movement and integrate their perspectives into our newscasts and websites. Plus, hear the results of exclusive new research Discuss and debate the future of journalism with a distinguished panel of visionaries who will tell you what you need to know so you won’t be left behind.
Panelists: Neil Budde, general manager, Yahoo! News, Santa Monica, CA; Adrian Van Klaveren, controller of production/deputy director of news, BBC News, London. Producers: Lane Beauchamp and Kathy Walker

[eb]

I still have a problem with Rosenblum calling himself...or being promoted as the "Founder of the VJ Movement." Get real.

"Video Journalists" have been around since videotape has been around.

A VJ is ONE person who shoots, produces, edits, writes, and/or reports. The only thing new...is the new technology. Rosenblum is not the inventor, nor the "founder" of this form of journalism. There were VJs for decades before the small digital cameras and laptops were invented. Good ones. It is dishonest...for any "journalist" or journalism association to call M.R. the "founder." We all know photographers who have reported on camera...or written stories....quality stories....long before Michael picked up a small digital camera. Heck, I used a small Hi-8 camera 11 years ago ...and shot, edited, wrote, and produced a series with it. The only thing different....was the small camera.

The only thing new....is now REPORTERS are being allowed to shoot..because TECHNOLOGY allows it (small easy cams, and laptop easy editing). It appears...that since "reporters" can shoot and edit...they think THAT is revolutionary. How vain is that? It's all about the reporter. Forget the facts, or the rich history of our profession. Don't let the facts get in the way.

The fact is photojournalists have been VJs (shooting, writing, editing, producing) for decades. The fact is Michael Rosenblum did not invent digital video cameras or laptops. That is a technological revolution. And he was not the founder of the video journalist concept.

Apparantly...that does not matter to the "new" VJ movement leaders/promoters...who want to ignore the true past history of TV News photojournalism...and re-write history.

The only thing "new" is the technology! And the low price of it.

A staff can have reporters, photographers, editors, and VJs. They do different types of stories, and should be used in different situations.

But when Michael Rosenblum is being called, the "Founder"....it bugs me. Just because a "non-photographer" or "reporter" was given a small camera....doesn't mean the past rich history of video journalism should be forgotten. But don't let the facts get in the way of a good yarn.

[Chicago Dog]

Originally Posted by Dink

You seem to want to disagree even when we're in agreement.

No, because:

Originally Posted by Dink

The only real place we disagree, I think, is that you seem to believe that the failure of WKRN and KORN will convince managers that VJs don't work, while I take what I think is a more realistic view that managers will still keep trying to make it work, in order to save money, until they find the right mix. You think it's improbable; I think it's inevitable.

THANK YOU. It took you that many posts to understand? Yikes.

Originally Posted by Dink

I'm actually posting from inside a college classroom now. I'm already training for my next career, so I won't be stuck in this one when somebody hands me a handicam and tells me I need to be a VJ.

Good luck with the college classes, and I honestly mean that. Someone so frightened by two failed OMB/VJ stations and one OMB/VJ hire at KUSA among a sea of OMB/VJs that have been around for years doesn't belong in the news business.

You say it's inevitable. I say move on.

[Baltimore Shooter]

From the article:
"In Dennis' scheme of things, combining a reporter's job and a photographer's job enabled her to hire a weather producer. "

A weather producer???? They had to hire a weather producer instead of an another photog or a reporter????? Why the hell does a weatherman NEED a producer? WTF?

Warren

[McFly]

Hey Warren, why don't you act like a REAL journalist and go ask the person making the decision. Then you could get an answer rather than bitch and moan about it on here.

Be sure to tell them you have a BETAcam before you ask. That way they'll know you're a REAL professional.

[Baltimore Shooter]

Wow McFly. Next time try making a comment that's actually useful. Go ahead, try. It's not that difficult.

Warren

[Dink]

Originally Posted by Baltimore Shooter

A weather producer???? They had to hire a weather producer instead of an another photog or a reporter????? Why the hell does a weatherman NEED a producer? WTF?

Weather is the single biggest reason viewers in ANY market watch local news. THE biggest reason. Thus, a popular weatherman at a number one station in a large market will often have a lot of pull. If he says, "You know, I could really use a weather producer," then, by god, he gets a weather producer. Why? Because keeping him happy means keeping the viewers happy. And keeping the viewers happy means keeping the advertisers happy.

Thus, a weather producer can very easily equal revenue in the minds of management, whereas a photog won't.

[AlexLucas]

As everyone knows my history here, I hope she has the best of luck with it. If they lay off of her, it will be okay. If they go after her, expect her to turn hard pieces today like I got at WKRN, I will say that we all need to pray for her happiness.

If she is good, and a natural storyteller, then it should work out... marginally. If she is being hounded to death by horrible management, then well, she'll end up like yours truly. Maybe KUSA will respect her. Maybe KUSA might see she fills more of a profile/feature position. If that happens, she might be fine. However, if KUSA sees it as a profit line issue? May God have mercy on her soul. I hope she isn't abused, talked down to with phrases like "what the hell do you mean you can't have it done by four?" or slapped around silly playing hardball with live double crews like I was. The lower the expectations, the better she will do. If they see her as an experimental force multiplier, then they will breat their little toy.

I was good at what I did. I was a good photog. I was even better as a VJ. Worked harder than I ever had when I was a VJ.
I personally believe it is ridiculous. The newsroom will draw her back in on the first day. The newsroom might consider her a solo second crew on a major story, on the very first day. That is where hell lies, ladies and gentlemen. The devil of expectation will rise its ugly head, and if it occurs at the same speed as the nightsiders, then good luck.

I wish her the best.
However, I work at a station right now that has a POY, was the shop of the year two ago, and have four or five guys that can shoot nat pkgs that if let free to go alone for a week, would guarantee they would be the POY. The rest of the guys shoot such intense quality, that if they were applied to VJ, you would be blown away. I dare to say that I bet she's good, but I bet she isn't that good. She can't be as good as some of the guys I know.

I really don't have any idea what the hell is going on with management. And really, to be perfectly honest, I think that the whole management game in television is in what I call full "generational office rot." A full generation of managers now have never picked up a camera, never cut a piece of tape, and are so horribly out of touch that they just think that any configuration works. It can be, in essence, scary as hell when you think about it.

I hope KUSA sees this as an experiment. If they want to throw her into the deep end of the pool, they can. They just can't do it three times a day.

A VJ should never hear this. "okay, I need you to cover these two VOSOTS, and then you're going over here for your 4pm pkg."

[AlexLucas]

Take a look at these RTNDA Sessions this year:

Videojournalism in the Newsroom [TV News Track, Reporter/Producer Track]
Seminar plus hands-on instruction. Get a better understanding of the VJ revolution that is sweeping newsrooms in Europe and now in the U.S. BBC, Dutch TV, Belgian TV, ARD in Germany, Swedish TV and Swiss TV all have converted or are in the process of converting to the VJ-driven newsroom. Now, Young Broadcasting has committed to make the change at its two largest stations. More are certainly going to follow. What does this mean for the future of broadcast news? A look at the product as well as a chance to touch the toys.
Producer and Moderator: Stacey Woelfel, news director, KOMU-TV, Columbia, MO. Panelists: Chris Lee, former news director, KRON-TV, San Francisco; Michael Rosenblum, founder of VJ Movement, Rosenblum Associates, New York; Steve Sabato, news director, WKRN-TV, Nashville.

Alright, I am now offering up my services, if anyone wants to put a fund together, I'll fly to that meeting, stand up, and ask these simple questions:

"Hi, Mr. Rosenblum, Mr. Sabato, long time. No see. I was wondering if you could, in essence, explain to me in tiny detail how your work in the Video Journalism world has contributed to you not not only winning, but absolutely beating down to submission the 'NPPA Shop of the Year' competitor, or the two other good 'classic' competitors in the market? How high, and how quickly have your numbers soared compared with one year ago? How about two years ago?
What kind of intense 'citizen journalism' audience participation has brought you deep, meaningful exclusives that no other station can even claim to get close to?
How has single-day, one-interview profile pieces done in portraying the complex, deep data and insight necessary in following the corruption scandals, political intrigue, and complicated bribery schemes that has rocked Nashville's headlines in the last six months?
And finally, exactly how many VJs in comparison to double crews do you have on the streets right now? What percentage of people with over ten years of field experience have you removed from active VJ rosters for being unfit as VJs?"

Seriously. I would ask them that.