b. Documentary filming is a vital component in the overall assignment of keeping
the commander informed. The sightandsound report of daily happenings is measured by a
narrow strip of celluloid or tape that mirrors the events which affect the lives of all
who are part of this modern world of shrinking distances.
c. Every assignment is a challenge. The cameraman is a documentor armed with a
delicate precision instrument. He must be thoroughly schooled in techniques of motion
picture photography.
d. The ability to film motion picture or television footage of technical excellence
is not the sole criterion of a documentation cameraman. True, they must have the
previously mentioned qualifications, but coupled with this, they must be resourceful and
capable of thinking clearly and quickly.
e. One of the biggest problems new cameramen have is filming under stress. That
is, when the action will occur only once and there is no time to get a repeat shot, or
when there is a time limit to get the film completed.
3.
Elements of news documentation.
a. It is not simple to formulate a definition of news. A formal definition might
be "until now, unpublished reports of those activities of mankind calculated to interest,
inform, and/or entertain the public." Such a definition might satisfy Webster, but to
really understand what makes news requires a knowledge of which activities interest
people. Just what is it that interests the public?
b. Let's look into the mind of a news editor. When an editor evaluates material
for newsworthiness, what do they look for? Some of the elements of news which the news
editor considers are immediacy, proximity, consequence, prominence, oddity, conflict,
sex, emotion, and progress. Let's consider these elements one at a time.
(1) Immediacy, or timeliness, relates to news being news. People are interested
in current events. An editor may change the content of the news for an important event
that occurred in the last hour, but tomorrow the same film may not even be considered
because it is already "old stuff."
(2) Proximity relates to events that happen close to home. People want to know
what goes on around them. If a soldier at Fort Carson receives a commendation for saving
another soldiers life, it might appear on Colorado Springs' television at 6 PM, possibly
on Denver television at 10 PM, but probably not at all on Los Angeles television.
(3) Consequence appears when newsworthy events affect human relationships or
present a change in the status quo. News that affects many persons, even in a small way,
is usually widely read.
(4) Prominence simply refers to the greatness or importance of the subject.
Editors will run, as news, insignificant events if they happen to someone of consequence,
such as the president.
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