Boston Globe reporter Emily Sweeney returned to Northeastern University on Friday to share her experiences with a new crop of aspiring journalists.
While the class focuses on the changing landscape of journalism, specifically in a multimedia world, Sweeney admitted that she was no longer the only journalist compiling video packages to go along with her stories. But she was certainly one of the first, back in 2005.
She spoke about certain stories “begging” for a video component. While on assignment for the Globe about the game Bingo, she decided to take her camera along with her to do some filming. She encountered a number of interesting “characters” during her visit. Many of the players were superstitious and their stories made for compelling video.
Her videos have become better in the years since she started, but that hasn’t necessarily meant she upgraded equipment. She says that she still mainly uses just her point-and-shoot camera. What has changed, Sweeney said, is that her editing and filming skills have improved. She strongly recommends buying a tripod or simply resting the camera on a stationary surface when shooting. This helps avoid a shaky hand which leads to a less than satisfactory video.
Sweeney encouraged the class that there are plenty of jobs for aspiring journalists but “they have to be able to do more than just write the story”. She has certainly done well for herself in the industry and it was refreshing to see an alumna who was still passionate about her job at the Globe and wanted to impart her knowledge on the next generation of journalists.
The World of Radio 