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Issues

The Rise of the Independent Video Journalist

Reality doesn't live up to the hype
by Tim Rutherford

When to Say When
by Tim King
Contributing Writer

Shooters who Report vs.Reporters who Shoot
by Tim King
Contributing Writer

Satellite trucks go surfing

Leave 'attitude' at the door
Helping new photogs
by Tim King
Contributing Writer

Tapeless Television: not as easy as all that

Simple ways to improve your assignment desk

"Hey Cameraman"
by Tim Rutherford

You're a photojournalist. You're a videographer. You're an arteest! But reality hits when you're walking to the car with the camera on your shoulder and some guy wants to be "on TV"...what does he yell....."HEY CAMERAMAN!" .....Not "hey videographer"...or "hey photojournalist". It's "hey cameraman!" Let's face it...to the general public we are "cameramen". The question I get asked the most is not..."will this be a video essay?'...or "have you won many awards?" Nope. The question I hear is:..."How much does that thing weigh?"...or "I bet your shoulder gets sore huh?" I really enjoy shooting and editing a nice feature or a great spot news story. Most of us have won an award or three. And most of us put in a professional effort on all the stories we shoot.

But the fact is, as much as we would like to be seen as artists or journalists, much of the time we are merely laborers. Driving hundreds of miles through alleys and interstates, fighting the weather, lugging the gear from point A to point B, straining backs, shoulders, necks,wrists and eyeballs. Well this website is here for all the "cameramen" out there. Ladies included of course. The techs, the shooters, the cutters... who get it on in impossible time constraints and physically demanding situations. I'm going on 25 years in television and like most of you, I've learned how to be a survivor. Through labor difficulties, a revolving door of news directors, reporters and producers. Through bad ratings and good. Through newsroom tensions, screaming matches, and sad goodbyes.

This website is for you...the cameraman. Like they say..."without you, it's radio." Here... the cameraman will speak. We'll ask for cameramen to tell us their thoughts, ideas and stories. You want discussion on journalistic ethics...the NPPA is a great place.
But these days... ethics seem to sway in the wind... a nice set of rules that nobody can live up to. Reality pays my bills!

So join me as we get into real TV news. " Hey cameraman! Put me on TV!" Yeah...everybody wants to be on TV.