Michael Rosenblum’s blog has instigated several attacks on peoples character for having taken an “Outside The Box” perspective by adopting the Solo Video Journalist Paradigm as Rosenblum defines it.

I’m by no means an authority on the topic - but I have done a fair bit of research to determine I am going to take the journey down this new path of Solo VJ’ism.

Needless to say, the comments being discussed on Rosenblum’s blog have surely struck a nerve with the forum members over at b-roll. So much so that PF Bentley, a well known photo journalist who formerly worked as a TIME magazine photographer, and is now a documentary film maker, has posted a concise response to those who voice their animosity towards Rosenblum and others who hold to the Solo VJ Paradigm.  And the responses given are typical of the GOB TV news people.

And yet, these professionals,  say they bear no animosity towards the Solo VJ paradigm, and claim Rosenblum has instigated the hostility he now receives from those who work in the profession currently.

I see a total opposite.

The veil of secrecy of how video production is accomplished has been pulled back and shown it for what it truly is. If the light of truth is shown where there was previously darkness, there will be conflict.

Something aspiring Solo Video Journalists like myself can create content without all the expense and formal education that the current crop of so called “Professional” ENG’s types say we need to have in order to practice what they do.

It doesn’t matter how you learned, it matters what you learned and how you applied it.

We as Solo VJ’s are by no means an end all for content creation that tells a compelling story. We are a mechanism in the overall content creation scheme of things. We can do much of what is done by 2-3 person news and feature crews by ourselves (At least I know I can).

When a talented and well trained Solo VJ can conceive, produce, shoot, edit, narrate, even score music to a project - and deliver the package in a short time frame - we are MORE valuable to our clients than the multi person crew is. We bring to the table those added skills - we are the complete production pipeline.

Are we the top of the food chain of video production? I don’t believe so, but then again, what constitutes being at the top anyways??? It’s all a matter of perception (or in many cases - ego).

Remember that there are those who are not as well trained and/or experienced as others who are working as Independent Video Journalists. To them I say, get the training and experience needed to do this profession  - and do it well. I have worked as a visual content creation since the late 80’s. I compose music, shoot and edit, conceive story ideas, have been a writer, a commercial still shooter, developed compact lighting kits for use in the field which I utilized professionally on a daily basis, and much more.  I may not be employed full time at a TV station or other high profile media outlet - but that doesn’t negate me or anyone else aspiring to become something better in this new profession.

It is imperative as Solo Video Journalists to have a well rounded experience in various aspects of multimedia content creation - otherwise, the GOB’s are mostly right. The quality of the content Solo VJ’s produce will be lower. If we are to survive, and move up the food chain, we need to take the bull by the horns and push outside of our comfort zone of expertise. We need to give ourselves permission to try new things, experiment, to even make mistakes, and learn from them. The GOB’s see that as a sign of weakness - of being inferior.

I say it’s a worthwhile character trait of learning new and exciting experiences to enrich our skills and ourselves - and it will make us better at what we do as Solo VJ’s.