Editorial

Despite shrinking staffs and budgets, small circulation newspapers and media groups still need to produce story telling images and video to lead news in print and online. Photos “sell” stories in print. Thumbnails anchor stories on media websites and social media. Galleries and video draw clicks, the replacement to print circulation for online advertising.

Few small newsrooms can employ a dedicated photojournalist. While reporters are expert wordsmiths, they tend not to be visual. Imaging is an afterthought, an additional task for an approaching deadline and presents the dual conflict of “seeing” strong images while out on an assignment and worrying about if they made the correct settings to a camera.

“It’s not the camera, its who’s behind it” is our mantra. Strong images can be made with any device – smartphone, point & shoot, DSLR – when the user practices simple composition techniques, is patient and knows what the camera of choice can and can not do.

Mobile Journalism
This workshop concentrates on an approach to making strong images using a smartphone for both stills and video.

Getting Out of Automatic
This workshop covers use of DSLR cameras and how to “set up” the camera for a variety of common reporting situations.

Gearing Up
There comes a point where the equipment on hand will no longer get the reporting job done. This seminar reviews current equipment and peripherals in the market with an eye on a stretched newsroom budget.