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As a budding journalist, one quote I consistently hear from my professors is: “Show, don’t tell.”

Simply saying that someone is selfless means next to nothing from a journalistic standpoint. Giving a quote from an outside source depicting their charity work, or describing how someone spends their days taking care of abused and neglected puppies — that contributes to a valid story. I have personally found it somewhat difficult deciphering opinion from fact and “telling” versus “showing.” However, there is one clear alternative.

What about when you can literally “SHOW?”

As humans, we are visual creatures. (Or is that just what they say about men?!) The availability and prevalence of smartphones has made it possible for even the most entry-level journalist to capture and share visual stories that often tell more of a story than our descriptions ever could.

This might be one reason that print journalism is facing a rough period while broadcast journalism is still thriving (despite the fact that online forums still offer a plethora of videos and pictures). Readers and viewers today want to be entertained; they want to feel connected to the story. And often there is no better way to create this feeling of intimacy than through videos of your subjects.

Briggs broaches this subject and suggests that video is the newest, most versatile form of journalism. It sets the stage for a much more personal story than print itself can offer. What is more interesting, he suggests that professional-quality videos are no longer necessary. In fact, sometimes viewers prefer to watch cruder videos of live events! Just like with any news story, the trick is to be in the right place at the right time and present the right angle.

Briggs does recommend using a variety of shots in these stories, however. The most common and popular sequence is the BBC five-shot sequence, which is actually incredibly simple considering all of the shots are static (meaning no movement of the camera). If you have steady hands, and a story to tell, you are Good. To. Go.

Visual storytelling is more of an art than a science. Experiment, be open to feedback and suggestions, and continue to post. Or write. Or “show.”

The world of news is changing. Are your video skills up to the task?

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