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CR Nation media tip(s)
By sage of monticello | October 30, 2007
I am not expert on political media. However, upon reviewing how the Maryland College Republicans employed YouTube, I have one generally applicable suggestion for future use by College Republicans everywhere.
Always be cognizant of the elements the professional media would include in a story. Keeping in mind how the professional media would prevent a story will increase the impact your media will have. There is a reason the pro-media does things the way it does.
Take for example the Maryland CR protests. The footage to good but it is lacking, and I couldn’t help but feel that as I was watching. What is missing is an interview of a member participating in the story explaining the rationale behind their participation. The professional media would have gotten an interview.
Along this same line of thinking - getting interviews from members on one side of the story - the professional media would have gotten not only the college student perspective on tape, but also the perspective of the 30 year old accountant, the 67 year old retiree, and the 45 year old dad with three kids. This tatic widens the appeal of the story and thus increases its impact - which is the goal of utilizing media right: influencing as wide an audience as possible with your message.
Another thing I think the professional media would have done that the Maryland CRs failed to do is to gather the perspective from the other side. This is key for College Republicans, because unlike the professional media we won’t play fair or pretend to play fair for our audience.
What the professional media would do would be to gather the other side of the story in much the same way that they gathered your side. That is to pick out a reasonably intelligent looking person to go on camera and speak as to their participation or perspective. If this is how I thought College Republicans should do it, I would not suggest it because it only detracts from our message.
Instead, what you do is try to find the dumbest looking fellow to go on camera. This completes the zero-sum effect you want on every story possible: to make the other side look as negative as possible while making your side look as positive as possible.
In the Maryland CRs case, the union workers would have been a prime target.
Remember back to the Max Blumenthal video documentary on the CRNC convention (see below video) when he went around asking students about Iraq. Remember how dumb we looked. This is what you want to capture, while in the same video capturing the brilliance of your side.
Let me know what y’ll think.
Topics: videos, cr tips, YouTube |
October 30th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
I couldn’t agree more!
October 30th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
The Maryland CRs did a great job in getting this video captured and in having the event in the first place! Congrats!
Two lessons for other CRs to take away:
1) ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a video camera at your events. Digital picture cameras are great, but video is priceless!
2) Try to get good lighting and audio. In order for anything to ever be put on TV or even be successful on YouTube, it needs to be visible and audible.
I know their event was at night and it’s dark, but the lighting needs to be better. Be prepared with some big flashlights or get a group to stand under a street light or something. This goes back to the central point of the original post that the media has certain standards that must be met to show footage. On top of good content, it has to be visible and audible to the audience.
Great job though Maryland CRs! Keep it up and I hope other groups follow your lead!
October 30th, 2007 at 11:41 pm
Great pointers. I was somewhat limited though, by the technology I had- an older digital camera with a video camera function, and not an actual video camera. So the picture quality is somewhat… wanting… but better than nothing.
We are working on another movie interviewing college students too- one that will be more polished.
October 31st, 2007 at 11:52 am
Okay Sage and Raw Hide (and anyone else out there):
What’s the best video camera one can buy? I’ve always wanted to shoot video (and had plenty of opportunity), but I have no idea which camera to buy!
My budget is around $400. I use an Apple Computer with basic iMovie editing.
Anyone know of a good camera and can use and then put the footage on my computer??
October 31st, 2007 at 11:53 am
*Sage and Punch Bowl
November 1st, 2007 at 10:48 am
Something is better than nothing and when so many state CR chapters seem defunct, any action should be applauded. There is always room for improvement, but I think suggestions that are prudent for shoe-string budgets should be the focus. Professional media organizations have millions invested in technology, reporters, etc… a dozen college kids with papers, finals, and $0 bank accounts don’t. Work smarter, not harder and more expensive. My two cents.