Part of the Team

Until the all-purpose video-journalist becomes the norm, news-gathering in television will continue to be the work of at least two people–the camera operator and you the reporter. For most practitioners the idea of specialist support is an attractive one, as the involvement of a separate camera operator allows the reporter to concentrate entirely on editorial matters.

Yet it is a curiosity of television journalism that it concentrates such power in the hands of a non-journalist: whatever motives are ascribed to and criticisms made of reporters, strangely little attention is paid to camera people, who make editorial decisions every time they point the lens towards one scene in preference to another. This is in complete contrast to radio or print journalism, where the technicians have a wholly non-editorial role and where their assistance does not come into the reckoning until the reporter’s work is finished.

So it is arguable whether a television report can ever be any better than the camera will allow. Certainly the role is a crucial one and the early stages of your career can in large measure be made or marred by the temperament and ability of those assigned to operate the camera: you can learn a lot about your own job from the way your camera-toting colleagues go about theirs.

Discuss content

Try to strike up a good relationship right from the start. Get into the habit of discussing the proposed shape and content of your item before you begin work and, particularly when you are inexperienced, be guided by the advice and ideas of others. Be trusting. Although as a young reporter you may be extremely apprehensive about the ‘technical side’, you will rarely be let down: professional pride ensures professional camera-people recognise that if the reporter fails, so do they. Nevertheless, however green you are, you may always be expected to take the lead on location, so the relationship can be a difficult one. At times it may be necessary to insist on following through your own ideas against what may seem to be better judgement. If and when you are proved wrong be big enough to admit it.

Sensitivities

It is equally important not to overlook the professional sensitivities of others. For example, never attempt to ‘play the director’. It is time-consuming and can seem pretentious, as television journalism does not go in for feature-film technique. Wait to be invited to look through the viewfinder when a shot is being composed. If it happens it is a privilege not to be taken for granted.

Finally, remember that the camera operator’s responsibility for pictorial content includes an awareness of the need to shoot pictures with deadlines and the editing process in mind, so in hard news situations do not expect other than sharp, unfussy camera-work.

The importance of camera-people

The television reporter is part of a team, so make full use of the experience of others working with you. Camera-people who take a pride in their work are happy to pass on their expertise to young reporters, and will do their best to ensure a successful end-product. But they don’t respect arrogance or over-confidence.