Staging

Lauren Matteson

I agree with most everything that has been said by students on the site. I also agree with Dave Wertheimer on his idea of staging. One of the challenges of journalism is getting natural behaviors from the subjects. Cameras make everyone act differently, especially those who are not used to being watched, followed, or filmed. I think this is where it is important to establish a trusting relationship with those you use for stories. Transparency is key. Also, if they know you are a professional journalist doing your job correctly, they will relax and behave more naturally.

The truth is our job, and once one person is asked to stage something for a package or story, they will no longer trust the news venue the journalist works for. It is a scary choice that could easily turn into a habit. Once a reporter stages something once, and the piece turns out better than expected because it was planned, it will be that much easier to choose to stage again next time.

Staging is black and white, and can be avoided with just a little extra care and discipline.