Frank McBride
Well-known member
On the original question of:
Do you:
a. give info to desk to pass on to a writer and have an anchor vo your live pix
b. slap on a lav and discribe the scene yourself, yes your voice will be on air
At my station the answer would almost always be a. The photog phoner or clipping on the lav is reserved for extreme situations like disasters. We have enough to concentrate on trying to get the best pictures and sound. Plus, we simply aren't trained/experienced as well as anchors and reporters in what to say and, more importantly, what NOT to say.
For example, the gas main situation you described: Unless this has the potential to affect a large number of people or set off other fires or explosions, the "breaking news" part is limited to a flame shooting up into the air. Good video, but it doesn't require someone at the scene to describe it. Your video says it all. Pass what facts you can gather on to the producer and let the anchors talk over the "dramatic pictures".
If you were voicing the shot, once you get past the initial facts, you probably will just start describing what you are showing and maybe even jumping to conclusions like saying nobody appears to be injured when for all you know there is somebody trapped in that backhoe.
We gather and pass on information correctly every day, but when you are following action, adjusting camera settings and trying to stay safe in a dangerous situation, trying to act as reporter at the same time could distract you enough that mistakes are made. (More than usual
)
That being said, I have done them in the past, and I found it very hard to put sentences together because I was doing so much at once. I would start answering an anchor's question without knowing what I was going to say.
As an aside, I once did a phoner during flooding, describing the rising waters. The anchor said, "It must be difficult driving out there. I hope you're in a high-profile vehicle." My reply (to my horror) was, "Oh, it has the Channel 6 logos on it. It's well marked." No distractions. Just my feeble brain.
FMc
Do you:
a. give info to desk to pass on to a writer and have an anchor vo your live pix
b. slap on a lav and discribe the scene yourself, yes your voice will be on air
At my station the answer would almost always be a. The photog phoner or clipping on the lav is reserved for extreme situations like disasters. We have enough to concentrate on trying to get the best pictures and sound. Plus, we simply aren't trained/experienced as well as anchors and reporters in what to say and, more importantly, what NOT to say.
For example, the gas main situation you described: Unless this has the potential to affect a large number of people or set off other fires or explosions, the "breaking news" part is limited to a flame shooting up into the air. Good video, but it doesn't require someone at the scene to describe it. Your video says it all. Pass what facts you can gather on to the producer and let the anchors talk over the "dramatic pictures".
If you were voicing the shot, once you get past the initial facts, you probably will just start describing what you are showing and maybe even jumping to conclusions like saying nobody appears to be injured when for all you know there is somebody trapped in that backhoe.
We gather and pass on information correctly every day, but when you are following action, adjusting camera settings and trying to stay safe in a dangerous situation, trying to act as reporter at the same time could distract you enough that mistakes are made. (More than usual
)That being said, I have done them in the past, and I found it very hard to put sentences together because I was doing so much at once. I would start answering an anchor's question without knowing what I was going to say.
As an aside, I once did a phoner during flooding, describing the rising waters. The anchor said, "It must be difficult driving out there. I hope you're in a high-profile vehicle." My reply (to my horror) was, "Oh, it has the Channel 6 logos on it. It's well marked." No distractions. Just my feeble brain.
FMc
