People like to complain that YouTube is full of lightweight videos and fluffy content. Everybody realizes that the potential for fantastic journalism exists in web video, but nobody knows exactly how to do it.
Last week, one of the best writers at New York Times (C. J. Chivers) got trapped in an firefight in Afghanistan, and shot some video (click here to watch) of the chaotic scene. This picture was snapped by Tyler Hicks during that dangerous patrol.
Along with web producer Adam B. Ellick, he crafted an innovative piece with and plenty of editing style and hardboiled narration--it makes television news look boring. The video also anchors a solid news piece about the current state of affairs in Afghanistan.
Click on the video linked to the piece, and learn video storytelling from the best:
"This intense firefight, across poppy fields and against a fast-moving group of insurgents, began a 38-minute withdrawal under fire from a village out of the Afghan government’s control, like many here in the overwhelmingly Pashtun provinces of central, southern and eastern Afghanistan."
Great post, great example, Jason!
Posted by: PanAsianBiz | April 10, 2007 1:40 PM | Permalink to Comment