What Videojournalism achieves when done right, is the ability to understand a story, or be predictive enough to follow where the stories going.

Yet at the same time, edit, and construct on the go. So you're n ot just using those core skills, but peripherals.

What's the sound like? Where can I find the opening establisher shot. Who did you say was going to be here in a few minutes, as you eaves drop into a conversation.

In Television there are rules, in videojournalism, you'll find out how to break them.

What emerges can either be dramatic or turn belly up, but one thing, you'll have no one to blame when it goes wrong and your self to praise when it goes right.

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Digi-Cinema, the Outernet

 

"You're not allowed to film.
"Why not".
"Because I said so", his finger now on the trigger of a MP sub-machine gun.

The risk was worth taking - to carry on filming, but not before a tense stand off and the decision to lend support to one of the field reporters.

"Here give me the camera", I barked.

"That NCO will not let us film.

Finally he relented, we shook hands. "Ok no faces", he said. "That's a deal", I acknowledged.

The location, somewhere in Denmark; the situation, an evacuation procedure with Spanish Special Forces; the scenario, a Nato excercise; the point, videojournalism isn't everyone's bag.

The first thing you need as a videojournalist is the knack thinking on your feet. The second thing, a respect of risks - most times you'll be working on your own.

The art of videojournalism can be easily taught ie. composition, narrative, shooting to edit etc.

What's more challenging are your personal traits e.g. zeal, confidence, humility.

Because there's nothing intrinsically difficult about videojournalism. It's a one-stop-shop for film making, a product of its time.

Everyone does it to some degree, whether on holiday filming those beach poses or as a citizen journalism capturing that local accident