Follow ten golden rules

Shooting a news coverage or a story like wear headphones, hold every shot for 10 seconds, do not move the camera when shooting, stay quiet when shooting, get close

Pic Courtesy:Petr Kratochvil

to the subject when interviewing them for audio, always remember 80:20 ratio (80 percent should be b-roll or footage and 20 percent should be interviews), sequence your video with a variety of detail, tight, medium, wide shots as well as cut away shots, don’t walk around your subject when interviewing them.

According to Angela Grant, a veteran multi media journalist, When you interview people who have lost a loved one, tell them that you want to ask them questions about the person and create a sort of memorial to them. People usually like that idea. It’s an honor because you’re saying their loved one is valuable, his or her loss was tragic, and the person is worth remembering.If they say no the first time, you may ask again and just make sure that you explain what you are trying to do. If they say no a second time, you will say okay, I’m sorry for your loss. Then leave them alone. Try to get another family member to talk.

Right to woman

The truth has at last prevailed. The local media of Calcutta clearly divided over the alleged rape of a 37 year old woman. The woman went on Star Ananda, the clearly number one in news, to allege that she was raped at gunpoint inside a moving car on the night of February 5.

Pic Courtesy: Star Ananda

She named three persons. Initially,the police found several discrepancies. Pro government media raised doubts and even dubbed the allegation as false. The chief minister of Bengal and supremo of ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) said it is a conspiracy against her government. The insensible comments of Mamata Banarjee was unwanted. Ministers of her cabinet also made statements like the woman was associated with escort services or the woman separated from her husband for a long time.What was she doing there so late at night.Such behaviour is completely unacceptable. Social stigma play a major role.
Star Ananda has done a commendable job by bringing the plight of the woman to the world’s attention. We should remember that a woman has the right to live her own life. Single woman face the social stigma says a recent study by University of Missouri.Calcutta police arrested two youths, Sumit Bajaj (21) and Nishad Khan alias Ruman Khan alias Tussi (25).According to the police, they had impersonated the men named by the victim in her complaint.

Watch critically, listen carefully

Will Suman Dey make a credible anchor? The answer is yes.The star anchor and channel head of Star Ananda, a solid number one (news) in Calcutta, shows he is updated with the news. It was the balance in authority, personality, and warmth that cinched his commentary for audience.His tone is light and conversational. Experts believe anchors do not rely on journalistic experience alone. Anchors have to sound convincing on air. After all, audience believe them. Audience really appreciated about the anchor is the warmth, the openness in his voice.It was the way Suman included his viewers in his statements that hooked them into his show.When interviewing someone, he would reference past issues related to the topic and ask about them. During heated discussions, he ask rapid follow-up questions. Here, I want to quote Anderson Cooper, anchor of the CNN weeknight news program and Media Person of the Year 2005, I’m not trying to be something that I’m not. I’m just trying to be myself and talk about what I know, and admit what I don’t know. I think honesty is the most important. It’s important to be passionate about news, and to figure out ways to take viewers on that trip that you take… People care about any story that’s well told and interesting. A good news anchor is someone who lives and breathes news. I think that passion comes across on the screen.
In fact, Suman has a different way of connecting to the audience. it seems that he believes in journalism mantra watch critically, listen carefully.

A big no no..

While using social networking sites, we should remember certain points like

Avoid explicit messages to women.

Don’t post links to pornography/adult websites or pictures

Don’t send explicit messages or post pictures or videos of a person in a compromising position/private moments with out permission

Don’t comments woman ‘hot’ and ‘sexy’. Use other sober words.

Sue people who use the terms like f**…….

Beware of fake accounts or objectionable comments.

People who often harass women through explicit messages don’t know the law.

Monopoly!

Pic Courtesy: chelseagirl

TV channels or newspapers in Calcutta who are not exactly market leaders in news try to follow pro-government editorial policy to shore up their revenues. Entrepreneurs close to Mamata Banarjee control the local media business. Their strategy may not pay off, but they have the same goal; keep them in good humor. After all,media outlets (smaller ones) depend on government advertisements for their survival.

The previous Left Front government also controlled or favored some TV channels and newspapers. TMC has perfected the art of controlling the media business.
Ruling TMC of Bengal has also openly patronized local media in Calcutta. Mamata Banarjee, the supremo of the TMC and the chief minister of Bengal has encouraged local entrepreneurs or industrial houses like Sharda group to buy or take over news channels or newspapers.Their latest venture (read take over) is Tara Newz.