By Mike Gonzalez
1/29/14
Spokane, WA
I'm not one to post things very often but I have a subject I think most can relate to whether you're a reporter, anchor, photographer or producer. My goal is not to pick on anyone because I'm guilty at times of using VO as a crutch in the field. So what do you think? Is there a place for VO in breaking news?
My Experience
I'm an advocate of not going to VO when you arrive on the scene of breaking news. If you need to go to VO then is it really anything of imminent importance? Are we using VO as a crutch or are we just so used to using it that we feel it's something we must use to make us look like we're working?
I believe the power and advantage we still have in local tv news is the ability to be on the scene with live pictures. With advent of backpack cameras we can get closer to the action, more than ever before, without being tethered to a live truck. With that being said, I've run into a couple of situations where I told producers "let's not go to VO" because things unfolding right before our eyes. The first time was at a standoff where the SWAT team was brandishing weapons and barreling towards the house...I had to stop the VO on air.
The next time was Monday night. We had a breaking news situation where a fire call came out shortly before the 11 started. We arrived on scene with our back pack camera. Our editor was recording our live feed for the live shot. I immediately called the newsroom and said "NO VO" we need to show what's going on. But about one minute before the live shot I heard "VO is ready to go". I told our producer "let's show what's going on not go to VO. I'm closer than any other station." She agreed and I thought it turned out to be a good live shot.
1/29/14
Spokane, WA
I'm not one to post things very often but I have a subject I think most can relate to whether you're a reporter, anchor, photographer or producer. My goal is not to pick on anyone because I'm guilty at times of using VO as a crutch in the field. So what do you think? Is there a place for VO in breaking news?
My Experience
I'm an advocate of not going to VO when you arrive on the scene of breaking news. If you need to go to VO then is it really anything of imminent importance? Are we using VO as a crutch or are we just so used to using it that we feel it's something we must use to make us look like we're working?
I believe the power and advantage we still have in local tv news is the ability to be on the scene with live pictures. With advent of backpack cameras we can get closer to the action, more than ever before, without being tethered to a live truck. With that being said, I've run into a couple of situations where I told producers "let's not go to VO" because things unfolding right before our eyes. The first time was at a standoff where the SWAT team was brandishing weapons and barreling towards the house...I had to stop the VO on air.
The next time was Monday night. We had a breaking news situation where a fire call came out shortly before the 11 started. We arrived on scene with our back pack camera. Our editor was recording our live feed for the live shot. I immediately called the newsroom and said "NO VO" we need to show what's going on. But about one minute before the live shot I heard "VO is ready to go". I told our producer "let's show what's going on not go to VO. I'm closer than any other station." She agreed and I thought it turned out to be a good live shot.
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