Now that Gustav is out of the way, News Directors around the country can fully expect a new batch of re-edited resume tapes featuring reporters who either:
-got wet during a standup
-got blown around during a standup
-both
After hurricane Katrina, it seemed that every reporter had a hurricane story. Those who covered it included the "You-shouldn't-go-out-in-this-dangerous-weather-unless-you're-a brave-reporter-like-me" stories while those who weren't on the scene had the "Katrina-refugees-have-arrived-in-our-market-and-here-is-some-file-tape-to-show-you-what-they-went-through-in-case-you've-been-living-under-a-rock" packages.
And you know what? They all looked the same. Every single one. One wet reporter looks like another wet reporter. The b-roll is the same. The file tape is the same.
And the story is the same.
Covering hurricanes is no fun. I've done my share. But seriously, when it comes to resume tapes, there's not much point sending a story that every other reporter has done.
In all my years I've seen one really good hurricane package that a friend of mine did on the evacuation of exotic animals from a zoo. Other than that, these pieces don't show off your reporting skills. Everyone has the storm surge video. Everyone has the sound bite of someone flooded out. Home Depot plywood sales video. Boarding up windows video.
Yes, it takes long hours and stamina to cover a hurricane, and hats off to the photogs and trucks ops who kill themselves doing it. The coverage is important, as it keeps the public informed. But if you're a reporter, unless you have something truly unique that no one else has, leave it off the resume tape.
1 comment:
Grape--
I would like to second your post on hurricane stories on resume tapes.
A similar phenomena occurred during the dark ages of the early 1990s. During the build up to the First Gulf War, nearly every tape I received had a story about some small town National Guard or reserve unit packing up and leaving town, usually with a parade, waving flags, bands, patriotic music, crying babies, etc.
They were super stories, full of emotion. The problem was the story was RIGHT THERE. You had to be a total moron not to be able to produce a good piece. Plus, they all looked alike. (How many times can you listen to "When Johnny comes marching home" before you start throwing tapes around your office?) There was nothing in the stories to separate the good from the mediocre reporters. Even a weak reporter could turn a good story when all the elements ran up and jumped into his or her lap.
Keep up the good work.
Mike Sullivan
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