Let's Talk

As the Video Producer for Annenberg Television News, communication with the MJs is essential. I am the link between our lead producer's ideas in the rundown and the content that is going to fill each of these time slots. Without our MJs, we wouldn't have a newscast to produce.

In the morning, I have to immediately send my first MJs out on the field to report on stories and time for communication is limited. I make sure to sit down with each MJ before they leave for filming and discuss with them what the story is about, what angle we are taking on it, who they should interview, and what types of B-roll they should capture.

Since most of the MJs are new to their jobs, it is so important that they know to call back to the news room and talk with me about what footage they have gotten before returning so we can make sure we have gotten the information we need for the story.

Every producer has a different approach to organization and time management, but I have found that keeping track of where my MJs are and when I assigned them their task is essential to keeping them on track throughout their four hour shift. By doing this, I am able to keep communication open with them, check up on them frequently, and flow through stories in a timely fashion.

This week I began setting goals and deadlines for each task to be completed, having the MJs find me and tell me as soon as they finished their assigned tasks so they could be immediately signed onto another. This proved to be extremely helpful because if they didn't complete the task on time I was able to check up on them and either help them get through it or encourage them to work a little faster.

By communicating with my Multimedia Journalists continuously throughout the day, checking up on them and helping them to work diligently on their assigned tasks, I am able to effectively communicate with the other producers and staff members at ATVN and ultimately produce a better newscast.

Communication is key.