Most freelancers I know have a print background and little to no training using video to tell stories, myself included. But as the media business goes online, video is showing up on more news and magazine Websites. It seems like a good idea to at least learn the basics of using video to report stories, so you can offer the additional material in pitches, or accept assignments that include it.
Here’s an option for getting that training. The Poynter Institute and News University are running a Webinar called Reporting With Video: Basics for Print Journalists on Thursday, Sept. 25, 2 to 3 p.m. Eastern time. The Webinar costs $24.95.
The instructor is Regina McCombs, a Poynter faculty member. Before joining Poynter, McCombs worked as a multimedia producer at StarTribune.com in Minneapolis, and news photographer and field producer at KARE-TV in Minneapolis.
The one-hour Webinar will cover video storytelling basics, including basic techniques, how to structure a video story, editing principles and how to add sound. The Webinar will include live audio and slideshow presentation in which participants can post questions and respond to poll questions posed by the host.
To participate, you need a broadband Internet connection, Flash plug-in, version 8.0 or higher, firewall that allows port 1935 or 443, monitor with 1024 or higher resolution, speakers, Windows XP or Vista or Mac OS.
For more information or questions, contact Poynter at webinars@newsu.org.