A video journalist makes videos that convey the news or other factual stories to an audience. Typically, this type of journalist does all or most aspects of the task independently, which may include research, editing, and reporting. Video journalists sometimes work for news programs, but it is also common for these professionals to work independently or as freelancers. Given the portability of cameras and the ease with which a person can distribute video online, being a video journalist is often seen as a viable alternative to more traditional forms of journalism.
Video journalism is a type of journalism that uses video and audio content to convey information about the news. It is important to realize that video, in this case, includes footage taken on film and cameras, and still images can be included. Usually, a video journalist must compose these elements into a final video that includes features like titles and voiceovers. Therefore, being a video journalist requires excellent editing skills in order to meet current production standards.
A video journalist may work alone doing a number of different tasks in order to complete a single video. Often, the journalist first selects an important story and does research on that story in order to determine what information should be included in the video. The journalist may then record footage of the event or take video accounts of the event. Once footage has been acquired, it must then be edited and finished in a professional manner. Often, editing requires not only choosing which shots to use, but also making the recorded footage look more professional and making sure all transitions are smooth.
There are many rules concerning both video footage and journalism, and a video journalist must take pains to follow all these rules. For example, a person may need people who are recorded to sign a release form depending on where the footage was shot and how it was used. Rules concerning ethics of reporting must also be followed, and keeping track of the veracity of a story is essential. This often requires filing paperwork and maintaining records.
Freelance video journalists often spend a large amount of time looking for work rather than actually working. While it is possible for a journalist to run her own site or participate in a free site, most journalists do try to occasionally sell a story. Pitching ideas can be extremely time consuming and frustrating, so some people choose to balance their time between working on projects that have not been sold and selling potential projects to interested companies.