Comments on: If I had a hammer… http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/ online journalism, newspaper video and digital media Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:45:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Andy http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-342 Andy Mon, 04 Jun 2007 09:04:20 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-342 Hi Angela We can do both. My point was to makes sure that we always bear in mind that we want to do both and don't let the economics of supply and demand get in the way. Hi Angela

We can do both. My point was to makes sure that we always bear in mind that we want to do both and don’t let the economics of supply and demand get in the way.

]]> By: Angela Grant http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-341 Angela Grant Mon, 04 Jun 2007 03:51:31 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-341 I certainly would hate it if I had to forego producing hard-hitting documentary types of pieces to instead produce a whole bunch of senseless video snippets. Then I would argue against it. But why can't we do both? Have some people who work on the deep projects, some who produce mainly dailies in addition to other responsibilities (like writing), some who may occasionally do both? It seems like news orgs have enough people to do all of that. I certainly would hate it if I had to forego producing hard-hitting documentary types of pieces to instead produce a whole bunch of senseless video snippets. Then I would argue against it. But why can’t we do both? Have some people who work on the deep projects, some who produce mainly dailies in addition to other responsibilities (like writing), some who may occasionally do both? It seems like news orgs have enough people to do all of that.

]]> By: Andy http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-340 Andy Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:20:39 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-340 Hi Angela I suppose that when I generalise I inevitably end up having to add a lot of caveats to what I write. In some respects comments help me do that and yours is spot on and I cant disagree with any of what you say. In the context of the comments I was making about Rosenblums approach I think we can all recognise that a lot of effort being made to dismantle the huge machine that is video news (and here Im not just talking about Rosenblums purge style but also the cold hard econmics that have seen many big news orgs ditch their TV investments). Talk of producing a "ton o videos" just makes me hope that we don't fond ourselves mimicking the rolling video days of old. I don't think we will in any major way but it doesnt hurt to say it. Hi Angela

I suppose that when I generalise I inevitably end up having to add a lot of caveats to what I write. In some respects comments help me do that and yours is spot on and I cant disagree with any of what you say.

In the context of the comments I was making about Rosenblums approach I think we can all recognise that a lot of effort being made to dismantle the huge machine that is video news (and here Im not just talking about Rosenblums purge style but also the cold hard econmics that have seen many big news orgs ditch their TV investments). Talk of producing a "ton o videos" just makes me hope that we don’t fond ourselves mimicking the rolling video days of old.

I don’t think we will in any major way but it doesnt hurt to say it.

]]> By: If I had a nail-gun.... http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-339 If I had a nail-gun.... Fri, 01 Jun 2007 18:36:53 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-339 [...] Two problems - first, his blog post was a lot better than fine, but secondly and more importantly the time stamp on his blog post was earlier than the time stamp on mine. [...] [...] Two problems - first, his blog post was a lot better than fine, but secondly and more importantly the time stamp on his blog post was earlier than the time stamp on mine. [...]

]]> By: Angela Grant http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-338 Angela Grant Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:48:53 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-338 I subscribe to Rosenblum's blog, but I find it really hard to read his talking-in-circles style of writing. I have too many other things to read to try to puzzle out that mess of metaphor and philosophy. I'm not advocating cutting anyone out of the loop of video production. I would NEVER want another editor to touch the stuff that I shoot. I know that some reporters/photographers who take up cameras will have the same feeling. My all means, let them edit! However, not every video must be an award-winning documentary piece. Most will just be short deadline videos that just serve the purpose of complementing a story. The reporters who shoot them will be really busy and won't always be able to fit video editing into their hectic schedules. A video editor will keep things running smoothly and allow news orgs to produce a ton of videos. I subscribe to Rosenblum’s blog, but I find it really hard to read his talking-in-circles style of writing. I have too many other things to read to try to puzzle out that mess of metaphor and philosophy.

I’m not advocating cutting anyone out of the loop of video production. I would NEVER want another editor to touch the stuff that I shoot. I know that some reporters/photographers who take up cameras will have the same feeling. My all means, let them edit!

However, not every video must be an award-winning documentary piece. Most will just be short deadline videos that just serve the purpose of complementing a story. The reporters who shoot them will be really busy and won’t always be able to fit video editing into their hectic schedules. A video editor will keep things running smoothly and allow news orgs to produce a ton of videos.

]]> By: Andy http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-337 Andy Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:26:11 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-337 Hi Peter. I agree. The division of labour is a valid reason to go the team approach and you're right a cohesive team is they key. I think most newspaper outfits are working (by necessity) in a good balance but I do worry that some of the bigger outfits will find themselves getting so far in the production line that it resembles TV practice and then there is a whole world of mistakes to make there. Hi Peter.

I agree. The division of labour is a valid reason to go the team approach and you’re right a cohesive team is they key. I think most newspaper outfits are working (by necessity) in a good balance but I do worry that some of the bigger outfits will find themselves getting so far in the production line that it resembles TV practice and then there is a whole world of mistakes to make there.

]]> By: Peter Ralph http://www.andydickinson.net/2007/06/01/if-i-had-a-hammer/comment-page-1/#comment-336 Peter Ralph Fri, 01 Jun 2007 16:21:04 +0000 http://andydickinson.com/?p=276#comment-336 Interesting post - there are certainly advantages to "division of labor" it is after all what the productivity and wealth of all the large economies are built on. But there are also efficiencies and other advantages in having one person take a from concept through completion 1. Just like a photographer a videographer has a feel for the money shots - he doesnt need to review the whole tape. 2. All the responsibility for the finished piece lies with one person. 3. The "voice" of the piece is often stronger with a 1 man show. Obviously cohesive team and good communication can overcome all these problems. Interesting post - there are certainly advantages to "division of labor" it is after all what the productivity and wealth of all the large economies are built on.

But there are also efficiencies and other advantages in having one person take a from concept through completion

1. Just like a photographer a videographer has a feel for the money shots - he doesnt need to review the whole tape.

2. All the responsibility for the finished piece lies with one person.

3. The "voice" of the piece is often stronger with a 1 man show.

Obviously cohesive team and good communication can overcome all these problems.

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