How to Properly Set up an Interview

How to Properly set-up an Interview

Being in the broadcast journalism business doing interviews area a very common thing. Interviews are the most useful ways to relay information out to the public and setting them up correctly can being more appealing and overall easy to relay the info. Here are the steps to correctly and properly setting up an interview.

1. Find someone to interview 

     - Obviously you would need someone. You would need someone who can relate to the package topic and deliver correct info.

2. Find an appropriate backdrop to set-up the interview.

     - Finding a relative backdrop isn't a huge deal but wouldn't be bad to have. Find somewhere that has even lighting doesn't have a lot of activity. Notice: The shot is in front a white wall and basketball player picture. Having nothing to do with the actually story.

3. Lighting

     - Lighting is a major key to having a great shot. Lighting can be tricky with finding the "gray area" of lighting. If too much light is shown the shot will be too bright and the interviewee is in heaven or is ghost white. If the lighting is not enough the person will be fading to darkness and the overall shot will be darker and hard to see.  Notice: The front of her face as well as the left side of shot is darker than the background. Even it out.

4. Sitting the person

     -  When sitting the interviewee down make sure you are eye level with the person. Whether you are standing or sitting. Keep the camera as close to eye level with the person as well. Another key part to sitting to person for the shot is having the person look across the camera shot.  Notice: How she is looking straight up. She should be looking to the left side of the shot and straight eye level with the interviewer. 

5. It's complete

     - The shot is complete. Press the record button and ask good questions that require more than one word answers. 

Senior Year Final Blog

News Package 

For one part of our video final was to make a short news package about any topic. I made a package about what it is like for someone to have a birthday on christmas and how it has effected their day. I interviewed my mom Leesa Gabel and friend Steven Parker who both were both on the 25th. They mentioned how much more the holidays have an effect on them and how much they love them. 

I did my interview with Leesa in my living room (Because she loves christmas our living room is very festive) and Steven at a church with a Christmas tree behind him. Everything was shot on my Canon Rebel T5. I Interviewed, filmed B-roll, and wrote voice over all in one evening and voiced the package and put the pieces together that next morning.

Article Review

CNN Article - Mexico Firework Explosion

The CNN article is a quick news update about the recent Mexican firework factory explosion where near 30 dead and 80 injured. A something caught fire in the factory and ended up looking like a firework show finale all going off at once.

The article itself done to look pleading to the eyes and easy to read. The heading is large and bold and catches the reader's eyes. The the news package video is the first thing to appear on the article with a shorter paragraph giving a quick recap of the news package. Three paragraphs are spread throughout the article with images of the factory put on the left and right throughout the article. It then ends with a twitter post by the Mexican Red Cross which is inter-actable (Meaning I could follow and like the tweet).

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/americas/mexico-fireworks-explosion/index.html

Project Review

CNN Article - Mexico Firework Explosion News Package

A short 50 second breaking news update about the Mexican firework factory explosion. The news anchor talks over a clip of the explosion updating about the what as happened at the factory. She matches up the voice over with the footage on screen talking about the "people on the right of the screen as the camera pans" and how the viewer can hear the fireworks go off during the footage. She lays out any and all details about the event and quick goes through it all.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/20/americas/mexico-fireworks-explosion/index.html

 

JR Year Summary

Throughout this year in e-Comm I have learned more in the ways of Convergence Journalism and how televised news works. I have strengthen my skills in filming, recording voice-overs, writing scripts, anchoring, how to properly put a news package together, and working with deadlines.

The beginning of the year was a little rough on learning how to do all these skills due the fact that I was just pushed into this class and half expected to know how to do this. Has the year progressed I strengthen my skills with the help of others (Val mostly).

I want to go to KU for Convergence Journalism and hopefully find a job in the field later in my life. Along with that the class has taught me how to work better with others and easily talk to people and convey messages to them. These skills can be used throughout life and help me get better jobs.

I like to think my greatest strength is filming B-roll and anchoring. I always try to get more b-roll then I would need and to keep it as interesting as possible and keep it still as possible as well. My b-roll has gotten a bit more diverse in the shots I  get with maybe a close up of the hands or feet. I think I’m doing good with anchoring (I’ve only done it twice so i don’t quite have a system set yet). I try to dress as nice a possible but it’s hard to get any nicer with the plaid jacket. I have gotten better between my two times. I was much more relaxed and comfortable than before.   

As I had said earlier I plan on going to KU for what I’m doing here and work on the KU New station and hopefully land a job with a local station or maybe even a major national station. Either is fine with me. My sister is showing a little interest in e-Comm so I’m showing her a little sneak peek of how ONW Now works and get her hooked on it.

There are a good amount of things we could change but the biggest one is maybe having more than one show a week. What’s on the shows is up to the group but having more than one show a week will help everyone get more work done and the school pay more attention to the show.

Overall I enjoyed the class and can’t wait for next year.