A recent IM6 (Integrated Multimedia 6 ways) presentation by my colleague and friend, David Dunkley-Gymiah prompted me to think about where my fellow newspaper photo-j shooters are going with their transition to shooting video.

And how they may be missing a unique opportunity to be true to themselves, to their craft and to their viewers.

I’m a non-conformist, so what I’m about to touch on may very well break from tradition of shooting video for news related sites but I believe it needs to be addressed due to the unique position I and others are putting ourselves in – that of breaking the mold of convention in how news is shot, edited and distributed.

We ARE the new VJ’ism.

David, along with Robb Montgomery and Tarek Atia present a multi format report in audio only, audio/slideshow and video of how to inform, educate, and yes even entertain, with their insights into this new realm of visual content creation for news after presenting a workshop for news people in Cairo Egypt. Using a unique form of audio narrative while driving thorough the streets of Cairo, they expound upon how they see news content being reported.

Even with many of the still photo-j’s out there having acquired their college degree’s, with their typical cookie cutter position on how news is reported, there comes a point in time when finding ones creative path is paramount to establishing a style that is unique and, in many ways, stands out from the crowd- - and still provides personal satisfaction.

David has taken the shooting style of TV shows like 24 and movies like the Bourne Supremacy and is applying them to what he terms an “Aggressive & Dirty” style of shooting news and documentary video content – minimal equipment, no tripod, unobtrusive. He shoots with a SONY A1U camera. Due to the cameras small size, it’s a non-threatening acquisition tool that yields high quality HDV footage that he then edits on his 17” Macbook Pro and Final Cut Pro. This is the essence of what we as the new paradigm of video journalists should look to as a basis to forming our own unique vision – to develop our own unique signature to how we shoot and edit – to portray OUR unique vision of what we saw and being true to that vision. David is influenced by the cinema and his style of shooting and editing reflects that.

So why is it that many newspaper shooters moving to video feel as though they have to imitate the style of traditional TV shooters? Just because this has been the only way things have been done doesn’t necessarily mean it is the only way – or even the right way. We should be given the freedom to experiment – to possibly even fail in our vision, and not be penalized for it. Yet, we are taught at a very early age that failure is not an option. We have been taught that failure equates to being substandard. That is why many creatives fall into a rut, having fear being used as a form of manipulation – praying upon our insecurities as human beings – and even job security. It’s a morally objectionable teaching and I believe needs to be rethought.

What if this new paradigm crossed over to forward thinking department heads who see past the bottom line, of playing it safe – who see the value of trying to create compelling news stories in a new way, to attract the X & Y generation of viewers – to attract them to the style of video’s they have grown accustomed to viewing, but with higher levels of production values and content – what if by taking a chance, we actually stumble onto our own unique way of portraying content in a way that keeps those viewers engaged – thereby reaching that audience and the potential of having them spend with those advertisers whose ads are embedded in said video’s?

The detractors would have us believe that the current TV broadcast way of doing things is the only way. I strongly disagree.

I counter with why has TV viewership fallen to dismal rates if the way content is created is supposedly the right way?

We have a generation of young people who believe that TV programming like various reality based shows on MTV, VH-1, et al, equates to real life. They seek entertainment – and seek to engage in some fashion. What if we, as new thinking content creators provide entertainment AND education at the same time – that is what we as visual journalists should be striving for.

I believe Jeff Jarvis hit the nail on the head with his blog posting entitled “Objectivity/impartiality = cowardice, boredom, obsolescence”. As Jeff points out in his piece:

“Acting as if there were no agenda in journalism is itself a deception. Why does an editor decide to pursue and publicize a story about, say, public corruption? Because he thinks corruption is bad — otherwise, it wouldn’t be a story — and he wants to do something about it. He has an agenda. Of course, he has. To act as if he doesn’t is a lie of omission. “

The way news is presented not only gives us more choices than ever before, it provides a platform for those who want a fresh perspective on a topic that readers find important, and, as such, chooses to act upon a given news report – from that news source that aligns with their world view.

This new paradigm shift in media creates obsolescence in the reasoning behind any news organizations futile — and ultimately misleading — claims of their so called objectivity and impartiality. Balance can’t be found in a reporter or editor who thinks they are capable of shutting off their personal bias (and brain) to be impartial.

I believe balance comes from the story itself. Balance IS the product of the conversation. And as Jeff Jarvis concludes with this perspective:

“Impartiality/objectivity is not merely cowardly or boring. It is obsolete.“

Old school detractors will fight tooth and nail against this perspective, but they see the writing on the wall, and they will do whatever it takes to keep it from becoming a reality.

Rethink your role as a recorder of news, of life, and add your unique creative perspective to what you capture – you may find you delve into deeper levels of creativity that have been stifled due to fear of failure.