Field Reporting Tips for Broadcast Journalism Students

**Note: the following tips, advice and suggestions come from the writer's personal experience as a senior Broadcast Journalism major at the University of South Alabama. The following article and all contents contained here within are not necessarily reflective of said university. Field reporting. There may be no other term so exciting within the world of Broadcast Journalism education. All your long hours of class work, tests, quizzes and listening to lectures will finally pay off as you have the opportunity to take what you've learned out into the real world. For Broadcast Journalism students, the prospect of finding a local story to cover, people to interview, shooting, editing and printing to tape in enough time to meet a deadline can be both exciting and intimidating. Several concerns, worries and fears will undoubtedly go through your mind. What if I can't get all the shots and footage that I need? What if I damage my school's equipment? What if I freeze up while I'm on camera? While you certainly cannot control every element of your field reporting package, there are several things you can do while in the field to ensure a smooth, clean shoot and a final product that you can be proud to hand in to your professor.

1. Be Aware of and Sensitive to your Surroundings: Location

In broadcast field reporting, location is everything. There are several elements of your location that you should consider. Where are you shooting your story? Why? How much ambient sound is there and will it interfere with your audio levels? (i.e. large crowds of people, traffic, music, etc.). Does your location provide an interesting spot at which to shoot your reporter standup? Is the ground/surface on which you will be standing optimal for setting up your tripod? Is the ground level or uneven? All of these elements (and several which are unpredictable) will affect your shoot.

Not only should you remain aware of your surroundings, but sensitive to them as well. In some cases, you will certainly need to ask permission before shooting. Do not film on private property without first seeking the permission of the owner/resident. Be sensitive to any people in the area who may wish to not appear on camera. While you cannot accommodate everyone, you can do your best to interfere as little as possible. If someone turns down an interview, do not be pushy or rude. Remember that you are representing your school and the journalism industry as a whole.

2. Conserve your Camera's Battery Life

In most cases, you will not know how much footage and/or interview bytes you will need once you arrive on the scene. Even if you have an extra camera battery or two, it is usually best to conserve as much power as possible. If find yourself with nothing left to shoot but your interview and realize that you will be waiting a half hour or more to do so, turn the camera off. Do not let it sit on a "Pause" setting. Even if you are not recording, you are still eating up battery life.

3. Test your Handheld and/or Lapel Mic and Audio Levels before Interviewing

There may be nothing more awkward than framing your interviewee on camera, placing the mic in their face and asking your first question, only to then realize you have either not turned the microphone on or have failed to properly set and test the audio levels. Even for a student reporter, this can be an extremely embarrassing scenario. You are expected to be prepared before popping that first question.

When you arrive on the scene, plug your microphone's receiver into the camera and perform a quick test of the audio levels to ensure that the mic is properly picking up your voice. There should be no reason for which you have to tell an interviewee to wait while you adjust your equipment.

4. Always Shoot more B-roll Footage than you Need

As a general rule of thumb, it is always a good idea to film much more footage than you think you need for your story. For example, if you are shooting a football game, make it a priority to film the entire game. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can get a few shots here and there. When you return to the editing lab, you will want an ample supply of footage from which to compose your story. Several of your shots will be rendered useless for various reasons that you may not have realized while in the field, such as poor lighting, someone walking into the frame, uneven ground, etc.

Do not let the unpredictability of field reporting intimidate you. As a broadcast journalist, this can be one of the most exciting activities of your career. While you should certainly be prepared to encounter a host of technical difficulties and other obstacles, do not let this deter you from gaining vital experience as a field reporter. It is in the field that you learn to harness your skills and perfect your weaknesses. Get out there and enjoy your fieldwork!