Audio for the Web
Digital Journalism Workshop
Saturday, February 21, 2009

When to go with audio
What are the advantages of audio over
video, text and photo?
What are situations when audio would
be appropriate and useful?
Saturday, February 21, 2009

When to go with audio
Not a lot of visuals
Interesting interviews
Can broaden up your text story
full-length interviews and comments
links to full audio in the text story
Saturday, February 21, 2009

When to go with audio
Can take it with you and listen in a gym
or in a car
Can do something else while listening
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Introducing audio
Your audience should know what the
audio is about and why it can be
interesting
short paragraph describing audio
maybe photo (if relevant)
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Shooting video for the
Web
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Video structure
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Video structure
Films
scenes
shots
static moving
Saturday, February 21, 2009

extreme close-up
Saturday, February 21, 2009

static shots
long
medium
close-up
extreme close-up
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Shots
Bust shot
Two-shot (or three-shot)
Over-the-shoulder shot
Saturday, February 21, 2009

What is closure?
our minds fill in information that we
cannot actually see on-screen
Saturday, February 21, 2009

moving
tilt pan
zoom
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Planning is a key (what shots will you
need?)
Let’s brainstorm a story on
sustainability in Ithaca
Use a tripod (even when moving
around)
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
You need four shots for everything you want/need to
record
wide shot (10 sec)
medium shot (10 sec)
two close-ups (face and hands)(5-10 sec)
medium and close-ups work well with interviews
You will have enough footage to work with and it is easier
to edit
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Mind the Light!
Avoid shooting against the sources of
light
Beware of shadows
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Remember the rules of photo
composition
The Rule of Thirds
Patterns
Natural frame
Leading lines
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Change your point of view (it always
works)
put your camera on the ground
put your camera up
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Subject perspective shots
follow the feet of a mailman
try to go beyond eye-level
(practice and experiment)
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Tips for Great Video
Experiment with shifting focus
from background to foreground
need to have a tripod
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Opening your video
Avoid starting your video with a talking
head
use visuals to introduce a story
One way to start is to use a series of
quick sound bites
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Opening your video
Open with your strongest shot
Define your story within first 15-20
seconds
Or don’t define your story
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Opening your video
You can open with a black screen and
sounds
Change your shots to keep viewers
interested
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Video Interview
Ask your source to look at you instead of
looking at camera (leave enough nose room)
Avoid making comments and sounds during an
interview
Beware of distracting sounds (AC, car, washing
machine)
Don’t be afraid to ask the same question several
times
Saturday, February 21, 2009

Video Interview
Use a clip on mic
Take some shots of the person walking
around the office, sitting, talking to
someone, etc.
Saturday, February 21, 2009