Video for Local Journalism
How do videos help a one-person or small newsroom tell and enhance compelling stories?

by Jean Baptiste Alary

Introduction & disclaimers

This is part 2 of a series on using video in newsrooms.
Part 1 focused on mapping the four pillars of video (video production, management, monetisation and data) and the eco-system of solutions across each of them.
  • The presentation aims to foster a conversation about the challenges your news operation faces when experimenting with video in your reporting.
  • Some topics may be redundant if you practice MoJo (a term coined a while ago, in 2005!)
  • I have no involvement or sponsorships with any of the solutions I mention to help you build a video operation besides my company, Dailymotion.
  • I use Perplexity and Gamma to outline presentations, but I edit content and check all my sources, like LINA members 🔍
  • Feel free to point out gaps, inaccuracies, and contribute suggestions for improvement to this toolkit ☺️
Asking yourself questions before you jump
Vision
What is the story we want to tell through video?
Mission
How is this story serving your audience?
Relevance
Why is video relevant to news reporting, or to a product or service your newsroom provides to your local community?
Strategy
How does video help your newsroom grow (audience, trust in the brand, revenue, social impact…)
Impact of videos in local journalism

1

Increased audience engagement
Videos typically generate 12 times more shares than text and images combined. Video gets personal too, with people sharing video links with family & friends on socials, including messaging apps.

2

Enhanced trust through storytelling
Visual elements can convey emotions and details that text alone may not capture.

3

Reach younger demographics
91% of 16-24 year-olds in Australia watch online videos weekly.

4

Rising video consumption
In Australia, the average person watches over 25 hours of online video per month.
LINA members — who's experimenting?
Hills to Hawkesbury
A news video roundup of the week between 4 and 9 minutes
Manly Observer
Updates to local services such as the ferry.
Newsport
Newsport uses beachcams to livestream weather!
Western Weekender
Western Weekender uses TikTok to deliver quick-bite stories and updates
Aus Property Journal
APJ used to have vodcasts in its multimedia section but moved to podcasts.
IndyNR Cattle
No videos present but cattle reports and sales could benefit from on-demand video or live!
Women's Agenda
WA has an app called Keynotes with masterclass series by top female entrepreneurs and leaders
The Post
The Post is creating vertical content for young South Australians with support from the SA government.
The New Daily
Some more ideas?
  • Sports competitions for South Burnett? Lots of newsrooms cover local sports, which is a bustling space for video and live content.
  • Live and social events, like council watch / social photos from Murray Bridge
  • Promo videos from businesses for the things-to-do sections (Murray Bridge, Manly Observer, Western Weekender…)

LINA members have a unique card to play: you can tell stories through video that people will relate to even if they are not coming to your site for video; they will be more likely to watch with attention, because they will know someone, or a topic, that’s featured in the video.
Pre-production — planning phase
Research and Story Development
  • Identify stories with strong visual elements or emotional impact.
  • Conduct background research, including fact-checking and identifying key stakeholders.
  • Develop a narrative structure: beginning (hook), middle (context), and end (call to action).
  • Create a storyboard or shot list to guide your filming process.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
  • Obtain written consent from interviewees and subjects appearing in videos.
Equipment & Technical Requirements
Essential gear for mobile journalism:
  • Smartphone with a good camera, or DSLRs (i.e. Sony)
Editing software options:
Live broadcast software:
  • Use an encoder that's open source and app-based (OBS) or cloud based (Restream)
Production — capturing the story

1

Shooting Techniques
  • Rule of thirds: place key subjects at intersection points of a 3x3 grid.
  • Use a variety of shots: wide (establish location), medium (show context), and close-up (highlight details or emotions).
  • Keep your shots steady with a stabiliser.
  • Use natural light when possible, and position subjects facing light sources.

2

Interview Skills for Video
  • Choose a quiet location with a good but not distracting background.
  • Position the interviewee slightly off-center, looking towards the empty space.
  • Capture "noddy" shots and cutaways (i.e. B-rolls) to use in editing.
  • Encourage natural conversation with eye contact and non-verbal cues.

3

Audio Recording
  • Use an external microphone whenever possible for clearer audio.
  • In noisy environments, use a directional microphone to focus on your subject.
  • Monitor audio levels to avoid distortion or low volume.
Post-production — editing your content
Video Editing Basics
  1. Organise your footage before you edit, creating folders for scenes or topics.
  1. Start with a rough cut, assembling the main narrative.
  1. Trim clips to remove unnecessary content and maintain pacing.
  1. Use J-cuts and L-cuts to create smooth transitions between scenes.
Storytelling Through Editing
  1. Begin with a strong hook to capture attention in the first 5-10 seconds.
  1. Use pacing to direct emotions: faster cuts for excitement, slower for emphasis.
  1. Incorporate natural sound if you can to enhance the sense of place.
  1. Choose music (under CC) that complements the tone of your story.
Graphics and Text
  1. Keep lower thirds simple: white or light text on a dark, semi-transparent background.
  1. Use consistent fonts and colour schemes that match your newsroom brand.
  1. Animate graphics subtly to avoid distracting from the main content.
  1. Ensure all text remains on screen long enough to be read comfortably.
What budget(s) are we talking about?

You can go cheap — start shooting videos on your phone, with a simple vlogger kit for interviews and quick scene shots, edit on a free video editing software, and store content on an existing personal google drive space. You can train online, but it's not free since you have to put in time.
For one year of operation, a budget for a newsroom focused on video might look like this:
  • Equipments (camera, lens, mic, gear…): $5,000 - $8,000
  • Software and subscriptions (cloud storage, audio and video editing…): $480 - $840
  • Additional costs (training, equipment insurance): $1,500 - $3,000
Total estimated budget (excluding salary): $7,000 - $11,840 AUD for the first year
Of course, this does not include paying freelancers or hiring someone with videography / multimedia content creation background.

One way to cover the upfront expenses for a video program is to apply for grants, some are specific to multimedia content creation, often with a specific angle.

www.vic.gov.au

Multicultural Media Grants program

Grants of up to $25,000 are available to multicultural media outlets to increase resourcing and build capacity.

Distribution and audience engagement
Platform-Specific Optimization
  • YouTube: Create compelling thumbnails and titles, use end screens and cards.
  • Facebook: Upload videos natively, use square or vertical formats for better mobile viewing.
  • Instagram: Use IG reels for content up to 90 seconds, Stories for behind-the-scenes footage of up to 60 seconds.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for Video
- Create and upload SRT files for closed captions.
- Tag videos with relevant keywords and categories.
- Generate a video sitemap for your website to improve Google Video search visibility.
Audience Interaction and Feedback
- End videos with a clear call to action: comment, share, or visit your website.
- Respond promptly to comments and questions.
- Experiment with polls or questions in your videos to encourage audience participation.
- Create follow-up content based on audience suggestions or frequently asked questions.
Monetization and analytics
Monetization Strategies
Advertising and Sponsorships:
  • LINA members can seek local business sponsorships for specific video series.
  • Consider branded content collaborations, maintaining editorial independence.
  • You can try to explore pre-roll, mid-roll, and post-roll ad placements, but I wouldn't count on this source too much.
Subscription and Membership Models:
  • Provide early access to video reporting.
  • Create member-only live video Q&A sessions with journalists or local figures.
Analytics and Performance Tracking
Key Metrics to Monitor:
  • Views and unique viewers
  • Watch time and audience retention
  • Engagement rates (likes, comments, shares)
  • Traffic sources (direct, search, social media)
  • Device types and viewing times
Using Data to Inform Future Content:
  • Identify topics and video styles that resonate with your audience.
  • Check drop-off points to improve your content.
  • Use your demo data to tailor content to your audience's interests.
  • Experiment with posting times.
Time management and workflows
1
Efficient Video Production
  • Use templates for recurring video elements (intros, outros, lower thirds).
  • Batch similar tasks: record multiple videos in one session, edit another day.
  • Use mobile editing apps.
  • Set realistic goals: i.e. one video per week.
2
Collaboration and Team Workflows
  • Clearly define roles: who shoots, edits, and publishes.
  • Use project management (1, 2, or 3) tools to track video projects.
  • You can also experiment video project management with AI tools like NotebookLM
  • Use a cloud storage for file sharing and collaboration.
  • Get trained regularly to improve your video skills.
3
Future Trends
  • Invest in equipment for live streaming.
  • Explore interactive video.
  • Look for new platforms and consumption trends among your audience.
Conclusion — Experiment adding video in your reporting mix

1

Enhanced storytelling and engagement
Adding video in your reporting practice can enrich your storytelling and build audience engagement.

2

Start small, build your skills from there
Gradually build your skills and equipment instead of committing to a big upfront investment; test and trial what video formats, lengths, topics and platforms work for your newsroom!

3

Authenticity and relevance
Authenticity and relevance to your local community is the most important factor driving watch time.

4

Future-proofing journalism
Embracing video gives LINA members an opportunity to strengthen the trust of their audiences through a new medium so these audiences keep supporting good journalism.
Resources for starting a video operation
Linkedin Learning — Video Journalism: Storytelling Techniques
A great video course if you have Linkedin Premium, going through all aspects of pre, production and post editing.

LinkedIn

Welcome - Premiere Pro Video Tutorial | LinkedIn Learning, formerly Lynda.com

Join Jeff Sengstack for an in-depth discussion in this video, Welcome, part of Video Journalism: Storytelling Techniques.

The Digital Revenue Playbook for local newsrooms
An excellent, all-encompassing guide on generating revenue when you are a local news operation. There is an entire section about programmatic advertising and specifically using outstream video solutions like Teads to fill your inventory. Some good bits on the purpose of editorial video too.

revenueplaybook.news

The Digital Revenue Playbook for Local News Publishers

This playbook explores digital revenue solutions for local new publishers from advertising to membership and beyond.

You may also want to check IAB (Interactive Advertising Bureau) video specs if you'd like to set ad campaigns on your video content.

IAB Australia

Video Advertising Standards & Specifications

The IAB Australia Standards & Guidelines Council have recently worked to consolidate all of the latest digital advertising standards and […]

Newsroom-friendly advice when creating video
This piece is packed with real, good advice for local newsrooms when thinking their video strategy. A must-read!

Journalism.co.uk

Eight pointers for news outlets on effective online video strategy

Advice on the best approaches to content, publishing and bringing in revenue with online video for local, niche, national and international news outlets

Media Surveys and Digital News Report
A website with content consumption insights across media in Australia.

UniCanberra

Digital News Report: Australia

Digital News Report: Australia 2024AI AND SHORT VIDEO ARE CHANGING THE WAY AUSTRALIANS THINK ABOUT NEWSAI AND SHORT VIDEO ARE CHANGING THE WAY AUSTRALIANS THINK ABOUT NEWSThe emergence of generat

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Television and Media Surveys

The 2023 Television and Media Survey provides information on the screen and media content engagement practices, habits, and expectations of Australians. The 2023 survey maintains core questions from previous survey iterations and adds a range of new questions to address the changing media environment. For the first time, the survey includes answers from Australian children, and also covers how Australians view and use Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies.

Video Statistics
If you are in need of convincing whether video is here to stay. It can also channel your attention to a particular platform or type of videos.

www.dash.app

Video marketing statistics for your 2024 campaigns

81% of marketers say video has directly influenced sales. Check out more video marketing statistics to help you create the best video campaigns in 2023.

Some thoughts on online video strategies
An old piece that is still relevant, looking at a few examples of newsrooms doing video their own way. Some bits apply to local newsrooms too.

International Journalists' Network

Online video strategies that work for newsrooms | International Journalists' Network

Building a capacity for video news online remains an exercise in faith. Despite the fact that videos aren’t directly producing revenue, they still have an important role to play in a news organization’s business strategy because they now act as the “point of entry” for many readers and viewers. For now, experts advise publishers to work out how to do video well and think about revenue later. Avoid doing video for video's sake

Are we witnessing a new pivot to video with AI?
Some interesting data points as to why people watch videos in 2024. A renewed outlook from the 2016 Facebook "pivot to video" fad.

Nieman Lab

Is the news industry ready for another pivot to video?

Aggregate data from 47 countries shows all the growth in platform news use coming from video or video-led networks.

onlineoffline.co

Is Text-to-Video the next BIG thing?

026. Meditations on future of AI: video

The Rebooting

The messy middle of video

Publishers see big opportunities, yet often fail to capture them

webdew

How AI Video Editing will revolutionize the industry in 2024 & beyond - Webdew

Discover how AI video editing is transforming the industry in 2024 and beyond. Explore the benefits, trends, and future of video editing in this blog post.

Tips for producing vertical video
The Rural Press Club of Victoria has some good contents behind its membership (39AUD for a year) to train yourself on the latest content creation trends, like vertical videos.

Rural Press Club of Victoria

Vertical videos: Tips and tricks - Rural Press Club of Victoria

Andie Noonan shares her tips on preparing a news story for a vertical video.

INMA

AFP’s short videos teach audiences how to fact-check like a journalist

Since October 2022, AFP journalists have been posting videos about how they debunk false information they find online and show the proof and tools they used in the process.

Digiday

How publishers like ESPN are assessing their TikTok videos’ performance

Views may provide the most obvious and eye-catching stat for publishers and creators on platforms like TikTok.

Some video filming fundamentals
A collection of advice to get better at video storytelling, but also at reading quotes for video production, if you go down that path versus filming yourself.

International Journalists' Network

The fundamentals of recording video for news | International Journalists' Network

The fundamentals of shooting video for news can be divided into five categories: monitoring audio

BBC Teach

Top tips for filming on a smartphone

Advice for Young Reporters filming and editing videos on a smartphone.

01:00

ANGRYchair

How to Read a Video Production Quote - ANGRYchair

If you’re new to video production, comparing quotes can be a daunting process. At times it can even feel like you’re reading a foreign language.

You can also get trained on some softwares in Sydney and Melbourne through the AFTRS courses

Australian Film Television and Radio School

Premiere Pro Workshop | AFTRS Short Course

This introductory editing course covers Premiere Pro basics and is designed for beginners, with no previous experience or knowledge required.

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