Tips for Shooting a Student Broadcast Reporter Package on Campus Sports

**Note: the following advice, tips and suggestions come from the writer's personal experience as a college-level senior Broadcast Journalism major with experience shooting campus sporting events. Football, basketball, soccer, tennis and swim team matches, cross country and track races and even golf competitions. They are some of the most exciting and heavily-attended sporting events on college and university campuses throughout the nation.

And for broadcast journalism students, they can be some of the more challenging and difficult stories to cover. Fast-paced action and screaming fans can cause both visual and audio complications. However, there are a few steps you can take once on location to overcome and avoid some of these common problems:

1. Set your up your Camera and Tripod in a Safe Location

While this tip applies to nearly every field reporting scenario, it is particularly important for students shooting in a crowded auditorium or outdoor stadium. Remember that people are unpredictable. It is not uncommon for sports fans to walk into reporters' cameras or trip over tripod legs. This can easily result in the destruction of expensive equipment, in this case, school equipment.

Before choosing the spot from which you will film a few actions shots of the game, be certain you will not encounter this problem. The last thing you want is for a fan to injure himself/herself because of your equipment or to have to pay for and replace damaged school equipment.

2. Leave the Camera's Shotgun Mic on, even with Loud Crowd Noise

Although you may be tempted to turn your camera's mic off, you should remember that the final, edited version of your package will need to retain a certain level of natural (NAT) sound behind your reporter voice over (VO) track. For this reason, even when shooting action occurring on the field, always leave your camera mic on for the background audio of screaming fans, etc. Once you probably adjust the audio levels while in the edit lab, this will add the needed sense of realism to your story. After all, a big sporting event just isn't the same without a loud crowd of cheering fans.

3. Look for Dramatic Action Shots that will Illustrate your Script

As with any other broadcast field story, you will want to seek out those shots (B-roll footage) which will serve to support and illustrate your voice over (VO) script (which you will write later, once in the edit lab). Fortunately, campus sporting events, particularly football, basketball and soccer games provide a wide range of on-the-field action sequences. Here are a few action shot suggestions:

• Live action passes, shots, blocks and fumbles. Capturing these unexpected moments on camera will require that you pay very close attention to every play of the game. While you certainly may shoot a few generic B-roll shots between plays (scoreboards, fans, coaches on the sidelines, etc.), you should be prepared to shoot every play the moment the ball is in motion. You cannot predict a game-winning touchdown pass or a hard hit that results in the injury of a key player. Be prepared, therefore, to film every action sequence of the game.

• Runners coming around the corner and crossing the finish line. Shooting student cross country and/or track races can be difficult. However, as with any other sports story, action sequences are equally important.

• Expressive Coaches. You'll find these in nearly every sport. Remember that the coach of the team is important. And any emotion-filled facial expressions and/or hand gestures that you are able to capture will aid in providing illustrative support to your script.

• Referee Hand Signals and Calls. Although these shots may seem like boring, generic B-roll footage, they can still provide a degree of action, particularly when a referee makes hand gestures to illustrate his/her call on a play. Capture of a few of these moments. They will come in handy during your editing phase.

4. Record a Few Interview Bytes with Fans in Attendance

Naturally, you will want to interview any players and coaches you are able to speak with. However, as a student journalist, one of your most important responsibilities is to include and report on the perspective of the student body. Student viewers watching your newscast will want to see interviewees with which they can identify, particularly if they were not at the game themselves.

With this in mind, be certain you interview a handful of student fans in attendance in a "popcorn style" arrangement. Ask them what they thought of the outcome of the game, if they plan on attending the next and if they believe your school's team will make it to the championship. These kinds of questions will provide the valuable student perspective you'll be looking for.

5. Anticipate Potential Severe Weather

Like any other outdoor story you cover, you should anticipate possible adverse weather conditions. Be certain you check the forecast prior to the game or match and, if need be, bring the necessary weather protection gear for yourself and your equipment.

6. Shoot Pre-Game Warm Up Drills when Possible

If you are able to do so, arrive at the sporting event, game or match early enough to capture the team's warm-up drills. These shots will give your story a nice, well-rounded feel as well as a support to your script. If you choose to interview a coach on his/her team's pre-grame warm up strategies, you will have a few shots to accompany this portion of your story.

7. Shoot the Event from Multiple Angles

When shooting a sporting event, game or match, it is important that you shoot the action from multiple angles. For example, if you are covering a campus football game, shoot from different places in the stands. Get a few end zone shots on both ends of the field. Also, get permission to shoot from the sidelines. This will allow you the opportunity to capture several "up close and personal" action shots. So if, as a student broadcast journalist, you find yourself tasked with covering campus sports this semester, bear in mind the aforementioned tips, advice and suggestions. Remember that the sports report is one of the most anticipated segments of any newscast. Your student newscast is no different. Strive to achieve quality in excellence in all of your sports related field packages.