Ethics for Videojournalists

What are some of the ethical issues facing videojournalists? How do they compare to ethical considerations confronted by print reporters and photojournalists?

As technology advances, there are an infinite number of ways that reality can be altered. Take the conundrums that still photographers encounter when capturing a single moment, and multiply that by 30 frames per second!

We're looking for specific examples of dilemmas that videojournalists have encountered while shooting and editing stories.

If a subject requests a "re-take" in order to give a more coherent response to your interview question, do you comply? Under what circumstances? Do you let the audience know?

In what situations is it OK to edit out of chronological sequence?

To what extent should you "direct" the action, or create more cinematically or dramatically appealing situations?

Is it ever acceptable to re-create a moment or situation or verbal exchange that your camera missed? If so, when?

Please share with us your experiences and questions -- hypothetical and real -- whether producing or watching video stories.

Does your organization have a separate set of ethics guidelines for videojournalism? Whose job is it to enforce them? Are they available to the public? (Can you email us a copy?)

We're starting a conversation about videojournalism ethics at the KobreGuide Facebook Group (click the "Discussions" tab), so please join us.

Michael Moore: 'Save Our CEOs' Teaser

Controversial documentarian Michael Moore may have come up with the first interactive movie trailer.

At big-city theaters this week, the teaser for his new as-yet-untitled film (below), about the U.S. economic meltdown, satirically invited the audience to donate money for victims of the economic crisis -- "needy banks and corporations."

Whereupon ushers marched down the aisles wearing t-shirts and carrying collection cans marked "Save Our CEOs."

Details here, here, and here.



Transcript:

Hi, I’m Michael Moore. Instead of using this time to tell you about my new movie, I’d like to take a moment and ask you to join me in helping our fellow Americans. The downturn in the economy has hurt many people -- people who have had no choice but to go on government assistance. Yet our welfare agencies can only do so much. That’s why I’m asking you to reach into your pockets right now and lend a hand.

Ushers will be coming down the aisles to collect your donations for Citibank, Bank of America, AIG, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, and a host of other needy banks and corporations. Won’t you please give generously? Now, I know what you’re thinking: “I already gave at the bailout.” And I know you did. But even if you’ve given in the past, give some more. It’ll make you feel... good.

This is a guy who knows a thing or two about marketing. Videojournalists, take note!

Can't wait to see the movie... in October.

78 Cameras and Something's On

There are still some things that one-man-band mojo backpack videojournalists can't quite cover the same way as the big guys:

For the Super Bowl this Sunday, NBC says it will use 52 high-definition cameras; 93 microphones; 24 digital replay sources; 20 hand-held cameras; five robotic cameras, including two attached to the goal posts; and one cable camera suspended above the field.

BUT! That doesn't preclude the opportunity for less well-armed videojournalists to cover other, often more interesting, Super Bowl-themed video stories taking place off the field, and even around the nation. Join us at KobreGuide as we keep our eyes open for those online gems, and please let us know what you find, by submitting them here. (And, yeh, we're tuning in for Bruce, too.)

5 Jobs for the Price of 1

Wonder what a videojournalist does? Here's an actual job description from a current help-wanted posting for a Texas media outlet:

Responsibilities include: Strong reporting skills and solid news writing. Skilled digital news photographer and familiarity with non-linear editing.

Requirements: Prior experience in a television news environment. DVC-Pro and professional non-linear editing equipment operation knowledge and experience preferred. Required to work weekends, holidays, and evenings as necessary. Be able to work under deadline pressures. Must be able to lift and/or carry and manage news photography and lighting equipment.

In short, you've got to be able to do the work of five people: report, write, shoot, edit -- and shlep. And never stop.

Welcome to 2009!

Waltzing with Animation

Ari Folman, writer and director of the celebrated new animated documentary "Waltz With Bashir," discusses his filmmaking process, from interviewing subjects to creating the unique animation for the film, with the New York Times.

Appropriately the Times created an instructive video animation of the interview (2:42). It shows what Folman tells: "You can't Google 'animated documentary' and find a manual of how to do it at home, so we had to invent everything from scratch."

It's an inventive demonstration, and as we previously wondered in our blog entry on Animated Documentaries, how soon will videojournalists start adding animation techniques to their toolkits?