Comments on: Broadcast journalism ethics need to change

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 01:07:05 +0000

‘What will it take for all journalists to treat their subjects with respect instead of just “doing the job to get it done”?’

It takes for journalists to understand that if you put people first, you will get a better story, then if you put the story first.

By: Say no to staging « Advancing the Story

Say no to staging « Advancing the Story — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:17:37 +0000

[...] them to repeat what they’ve done so you can get it on camera. As Tracy Boyer puts it at Innovative Interactivity: Allowing videographers to stage scenes, situations and/or actions is NOT journalism. We are here [...]

By: The ethics of direction in video by andydickinson.net

The ethics of direction in video by andydickinson.net — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:15:41 +0000

[...] Boyer has an interesting post about the ethics of staging and directing contributors when shooting video. She sets out her stall in the intro Allowing videographers to stage scenes, situations and/or [...]

By: Unethical to pose shots, tell people what to say | News Videographer

Unethical to pose shots, tell people what to say | News Videographer — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:03:04 +0000

[...] Not that the readers of this blog need the reminder, but with something so important, I think it’s good to hear it over and over. Tracy Boyer of Innovative Interactivity has a great rant against faulty video journalism ethics. [...]

By: Tracy Boyer

Tracy Boyer — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 23:13:29 +0000

@Kathy: That is so disappointing to hear that your subjects ask what they should do, almost expecting to role-play for the camera. I wonder if the harm already done can ever undo itself …

@Adam: That is a great point, Adam. Nowadays trainees might be so focused on learning the software and technology that they may overlook the importance of learning the “basic” journalism skills. This is a big responsibility for J-Schools and in-house training for news organizations. I’d be interested to hear how these training sessions balance teaching technology and ethics …

By: Adam Westbrook

Adam Westbrook — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:43:51 +0000

The technology changes, but the ethics (as well as all the original skills of journalism ,like asking the right questions and writing etc) remain the same.
I’m a multimedia trained journo too, but I was lucky in my training had a real focus on these original skills.
I hope that’s the case for all trainees, as the drive for technically skilled VJs continues

By: Kathy Moore

Kathy Moore — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 17:19:43 +0000

Very well said.
I wear all three hats these days. In my current position I am a print photographer for a newspaper, video journalist for a broadcast station and multimedia journalist for our online site. My ethics don’t change when I switch modes. We are all visual journalists, and there should not be a difference in our ethics.

I will admit I have missed shots in the past – who hasn’t? We are all human. But I walk away from the scene determined to pay closer attention at the next story.

It sickens me to see a scene recreated, and makes my job even harder when I have to explain over and over again to subjects when they ask what I would like them to do because the crew who had been there before me had instructed them on all matters. Too often I have to explain to them why I would rather spend a little time with them to hear and see their true story.

The viewer, reader, user doesn’t understand the difference in our ethics. To them we are all “media”, and even one bad apple hurts all of our credibility.

By: Tracy Boyer

Tracy Boyer — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 23:36:48 +0000

Great input, Peg. Directors and editors play a major role in creating these tight deadlines that make it impossible for producers to spend time with their subjects. Unfortunately for them, the more time producers spend with their subject, the more he/she will open up to them and the better the story will become. I guess it’s just a delicate balance!

By: Peg Achterman

Peg Achterman — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 20:51:58 +0000

I am in total agreement that missing the money shot is no excuse to set things up, BUT…that said….you were able to stay for an hour to interview the subject. The TV-types had to get out of there and on to the next thing because their turn-around time is getting tighter and tighter. Having an hour on an interview is very very rare in local TV anymore. Again – not an excuse, but some of the blame lies in the run & gun attitude of producers, news directors and assignment editors.