Teach Citizens' Journalism with YouTube Reporters' Center

by Clay Burell · 2009-07-01 07:04:00 UTC
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Older teachers often feel up against a wall when told to teach 21st century skills, and it's hard not to sympathize. When they were students, the classroom was a book, paper and pencil world, so it's no surprise that they resist the new media. They have little to no experience with it, academically.

YouTube is here to help, with the new YouTube Reporters' Center channel. Its blurb:

Ever captured a natural disaster or a crime on your cell-phone camera? Filmed a political rally or protest, and then interviewed the participants afterward? Produced a story about a local issue in your community? If you've done any of these things or aspire to, then you're part of the enormous community of citizen reporters on YouTube, and this channel is for you.

The YouTube Reporters' Center is a new resource to help you learn more about how to report the news. It features some of the nation's top journalists and news organizations sharing instructional videos with tips and advice for better reporting.

I've browsed a few, and here are four keepers -- and one stinker:

1. How to shoot two kinds of interviews

Reuters.com editor Adam Pasick describes how to shoot two different kind of video interviews, including lighting, framing and sound.

2.Katie Couric on how to conduct a good interview

Katie Couric chats with producer Tony Maciulis about what makes a good interview. This video is part of the YouTube Reporters' Center.

3. NPR's Scott Simon: How to Tell a Story

I really like his admonition to be conversational, instead of polysyllabically constipated. No need to throw out "osculate," I tell my students, when "kiss" is the much better word. Simon also discusses openers, purpose, organization, and sentence structure for audio -- an entirely different beast in comparison to print.

4. How to Catch the Latest News on YouTube

This is handy. I didn't know about these tricks.

There are many more good tutorials at Reporters' Center -- and a few eggs.

5. Lord a' Mercy, I don't recommend this one

WaPo White House correspondent Dana Milbank, for example, infamous for his recent hissy fit over Obama calling on HuffPo Iran reporter Nico Pitney during last week's press conference (and for allegedly calling Pitney a "dick" for outing his "journalism lite" propensities -- Obama swimsuit questions, Bush "Mission Accomplished" swooning -- on CNN), offers up a tutorial on "Comedy and News." Watch Milbank's attempt to be funny in the video below -- phew! -- and you'll see why I find his posing as a comedy expert to be, in itself, the highest comedy:

Bob Dobbs

Somebody needs to school Milbank in one of the main commandments of the Church of the Subgenius: "If you're not funny, don't try to be."

J.R. "Bob" Dobbs icon by gordasm

Clay Burell
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