Field Reporting Priorities:

1. Sound: the explicit meaning of a story is communicated through language, so speech must be clear and understandable. Natural sound from the environment adds context and realism but unless the sound is the story, it should not dominate or interfere with narration. Visual news stories benefit from a momentary image animated by sound such as crowd noise, machinery, footsteps in water, or sounds from nature. Pay attention to ambient sound such as room noise that can cause poor audio quality.

2. Light: subjects must be adequately illuminated for good visibility. Avoid backlighting that will causes a silhouette and make the subject featureless.

3. Visual narratives must be planned carefully to follow the rules of composition, orient the viewer, and illustrate the story. Limit the time allowed for a �talking head� and always gather images to visually represent a speaker�s story. A reporter should control an Interview. Ask informed questions. Interviewees should not directly address the camera.

4. Pacing: Tell the story: a narrative must have a rhythm, or pace that conveys events that develop over time. In visual storytelling, images also tell the story and should be varied. Unlike a stage play that maintains a consistent point-of-view, video changes the visual perspective with long shots, medium shots, close-ups, and angles that enhance the narrative. If location sound, light, or other visual components do not allow camera images to effectively communicate the story, find an alternative approach or the story cannot be produced as video.

BASIC PRINCIPLES FOR AUDIO/VISUAL NARRATIVE

• COMPOSITION/RULE OF THIRDS: eyes on upper third, faces off center (unless the shot clearly calls for direct address), head room, lead room in direction of character�s attention, and meaningful background context.
• 180 DEGREE RULE provides visual orientation for the audience as a story develops through multiple images.
• LIGHTING (things to do/things to avoid): key lighting, shadows, backlighting
• Narration: third person voice-over, stand-up performance, visual exposition
• SOUND: natural sound, narration, sound effects, background music/ background music; (music with vocals informs narrative or mood); Natural sound; interior room or exterior sound; Dialogue/interview; direct address/speaking to interviewer.
• PACING: developing narrative through time, shot style (long shot, medium shot, close-up shot), backgrounds, and the duration of shots, create a rhythm or cadence for story development. Plan shots for editing that provide long shots, medium shots, close-ups with enough duration to control pacing. Unless it�s being done purposefully for effect, avoid the jump cut that gives an abrupt change from one scene to another.

Evaluation Rubric for Video Production Assignments:

Video assignments must develop a clear narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. Evaluation of video productions includes the script and technical excellence based on demonstrating understanding of the following technical terms:

• COMPOSITION/RULE OF THIRDS: eyes on upper third, faces off center, head-room, lead-room in the direction of character�s attention. This includes steady camera shots, and limited, strategic use of zoom, tilt, and pan when absolutely necessary. Avoid excessive movement and angles unless they inform the narrative. For news reports, do not use zoom, tilt, or pan.
• 180 DEGREE RULE: shots must maintain the audience�s point-of-view. That POV cannot be reversed without causing confusion.
• LIGHTING: visibility of subject. Avoid backlighting, unnecessary darkness or shadows, and avoid excess light. Change locations if necessary.
• Narration: third person voice-over, on-camera narrator. AVOID OFF-CAMERA SPEAKERS and ambient noise unless they contribute to the narrative context. Change locations if necessary.
• SOUND: maintain control of sound appropriate to communicate the narrative: natural sound, narration, sound effects, music; with vocals/ background music; Natural sound; interior room or exterior sound; Dialogue/interview; direct address/speaking to interviewer. AVOID EXCESSIVE NOISE. Do not plan to fix audio in the editing process. Establish a balanced mix between voices and background music, and natural sound. Change locations if necessary.
• PACING: developing narrative through time, shot style and duration, creates a rhythm or cadence for story development. Plan shots for editing in order to control pacing. PACE SHOULD BE CONSISTENT WITH THE CONTENT OF THE NARRATIVE.
• Editing and transitions appropriate for the narrative; Avoid transitions that attract attention for no reason related to the narrative and purpose of the production.

For COM 4110 Field Reporting Assignments: Do not confuse advertising and public relations with reporting news.  If you are reporting about an event or an issue, your report cannot be used to promote a product or service.  If you wish to report about someone who is in business, it must be a human-interest story, not a story that promotes a product or service If you submit advertising or PR when assigned a news story, the assignment may be rejected.

• Do not use special effects, Ken Burns Effect, or unnecessary transitions; cuts and dissolves are all that are necessary.
• Include 3 seconds lead-in that visually flows into the actual beginning of the spoken report and 3 seconds after the report ends.
• Apply the rules of composition to interviews and reporters and include titles to identify speakers in the lower third of the frame. Close-ups are preferred.

Team up and work with other people from the class on every shoot.  If it is your project, you may need someone to operate the camera.  Choose locations with good sound control if you are recording speech.  Check all the shots for light and composition following the rule of thirds.  Alter your angles and get long shots, medium shots, and close ups so you can vary the images when you are editing.

Journal Assignment for Video Production Assignments

Write a short essay explaining errors in your performance, production, or editing choices that did not conform to the basic principles of narrative video stated above. Explain how you could do the job better under the same circumstances. In a professional format and style, compose about 1 page (250 words) with at least two citations (not from class notes, but including this handout and any other sources) using correct APA citation style. Refer to Writing Across The Curriculum evaluation criteria posted as Written Assignment Grading Criteria on http://www.wright.edu/~elliot.gaines.