Embedded With the Candidates, NBC News Videoblogging the Campaign

by vergenewmedia on June 25, 2007 · 22 comments

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video blogging tools of the trade

So is this your idea of fun? Are you a political junkie? Are you good at multi-tasking? Do you work well with liltte or no sleep? If the answer to ALL of these questions is “yes”, I suggest you look into a once-in-a-lifetime (or once every four years at least) journalism opportunity.

NBC News, along with partner The National Journal, recently announced plans to embed video journalists in the campaigns of Presidential candidates. NBC News chief Steve Capus describes the benefits of this intimate access.

There is nothing like being there, up close and personal, when it comes to covering a presidential election, and this allows us to be there in a very big way. Our team of reporters on the road with the candidates will be in a unique position to report all aspects of this dynamic story for every single one of our platforms

- Steve Capus, President, NBC News

Candidates for these coveted positions should expect to sleep very little, work very hard, and keep up with a very demanding production schedule in terms of posting video, audio, photographs and text. Additionally these embeds will be expected to be the editorial eyes and ears of NBC News, providing extensive and accurate coverage of the campaign and the candidates. Make no mistake… this is VERY difficult work. I know, becuause i recently provided this type of coverage for the NBC Nightly News blog as we circumnavigated the globe covering the Secretary of Defense. It is grueling, punishing work, and I know from experience that Presidential campaigns are particularly draining.

Having said that, there is a unique opportunity for some great online storytelling here. While some have suggested that I have the specific qualifications to take on such an assignment, I suspect that they’re not as interested in someone who gets overtime for this job. ;-) If they’re smart, they will look at forward-thinking photographers not just, eager poli-sci majors who can find the on off switch on a DV camera. Technology is only as good as the artisans and storytellers it empowers.

Interestingly NBC News and the National Journal are entering a field already already alive with online journalists, bloggers, and vloggers, either positioned to give them a run for their money or, if nothing else, provide useful technical and editorial perspective.

When I first heard of these openings, I first thought of friend and colleague Amani Channel, not because I think he could do the job, but because he IS doing the job. Check him out!


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Former ABC producer and Atlanta blogger Grayson Daughters has been covering Georgia politics on her blog, bringing her delightfully unique personality and rapier sharp wit to her video blogging efforts.



A-list blogger Jeff Jarvis of Buzzmachine is, is building a small political media empire, launching his Prezvid site having seen the revolutionary implications of a “YouTube” campgaign.

Video blogging pioneer Steve Garfield has been pushing the envelope of empowering video technology for years. Most recently, he’s been using bleeding edge live video tools to broadcast live video from his Nokia N95 from far-flung reaches of the globe using platforms such as Ustream, Kyte, Operator11, BlogTV, and Comvu. Hmmm, the press bus will never be the same again. I don’t have details of what technology NBC is empowering these emeds with, but I’m sure he’d be more than happy to share his vast knowledge.


Click To Play

Ultimately the technology is just a tool. It’s the stories, and the people who tell them that make the difference. What these video journalists will offer is access.

Having this team of reporters on the trail with the candidates and their top staff day in and day out will provide our audience of political junkies with the inside stories and interesting tidbits that they otherwise would not get.

- John Fox Sullivan, Publisher and Chief Executive, National Journal Group

It’s important to note that these embedded video journalists will be just part of a much larger effort by NBC News to cover this wide open Presidential race. Ultimately, the news is covered by people not technology. It’s the people of NBC News that are the formidibale force that Polticial Director Chuck Todd brings to bear on NBC’s coverage.

The sheer volume for one thing… The fact that we’ll [be] so transparent about what we’re reporting… Both in print and thru video is something that will be unprecedented for a major news organization. It is revolutionary as far as a network is concerned.

- Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director

Part of me thinks i should still apply for the job, just for grins, then watch them laugh as I slide my salary requirements across the table. What do you think? Should I apply?

Hey if you know any good candidtates or you think you’re one yourself, leave a link in the comments section!

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  • http://LenEdgerly.com Len

    You should apply, Jim! Your tech skills are of course excellent, but more than that, your curiosity, insight and empathy make you someone I’d love to hear from on the campaign trail. Another vlogger I admire who would be great is Josh Leo at JoshLeo.com , who has a similarly fresh take on life and pretty good video skills. He looks younger than you and I, maybe still in his 20s. I’d love to take a whack at this myself, but would run into serious opposition from the home front.

  • http://www.vaspersthegrate.blogspot.com vaspers the grate aka steven e. streight

    Took me this long to discover your blog, after following your Twitter messages for months, and speaking with you on the telephone!

    You truly merit the Most Valuable Player in the Online Journalism realm, pardner. Keep shooting straight and from the hip. Love it.

    http://twitter.com/vaspers

  • http://billcammack.com Bill Cammack

    Sup Jim? :D

    I need to roll with Hillary. Thanks. :D

    ReelSolid.TV: “When Hillary Is President”

    –
    billcammack

  • http://stevegarfield.com steve garfield

    Thanks for the mention.

    I like how Steve Capus says, “There is nothing like being there, up close and personal, when it comes to covering a presidential election.”

    I’d love to have the campaigns realize this too and start putting out more personal videos from the candidates. of course I care about where they stand on the issues, but I’d also like to learn more about them as people.

    What are they really like when they aren’t giving soundbites? How do they manage? are they micro managers or delegators.

    i’m really interested to see what comes of this…
    Thanks,
    –Steve

  • John

    You do realize there’s already at least one candidate doing all of this? Dodd has had a travelling blogger/videoblogger for a couple of months now and they’ve been doing no net live stream q&a’s as well. You want to see what cutting edge video from a campaign is like, I’d check out theirs. There’s also a bunch of behind the scenes stuff on their youtube page. I got hooked when they did a behind the scenes of the Daily Show.

  • http://everydotconnects.com Connie Reece

    Gotta know …. who took that top photo? Love it!

  • vergenewmedia

    Len, I too would run into a lot of oppostion on the home front from both of my gals! Besides I’ve got other irons in the fire. Josh Leo looks like a goog man for the job.

    Vaspers, I humbly accept the MVP award!

    Bill, thank you for sending the link to that video!

    Steve, you are, and have been a driving force in all of this cutting edge video stuff. Keep it up!

    John, if you’re going to promote the boss’s website could ya add a link??? ;-)

    Connie, that picture was taken in the newsroom by none other than @stalemac!

  • http://www.myurbanreport.com amani channel

    Thanks for the love Jim. I think we’re all part of something much bigger than we realize right now. I believe that more professionals are going to begin to experiment with new media. I’m sure you’re aware of http://www.StoryBridge.tv. I’d argue that there is no new or old media… We’re all media (it’s almost cliche). I’m very interested to see how the industry adapts to rebels like myself. By the way, if you haven’t watched this video yet, check it out. You said some really insightful things. http://blip.tv/file/247884

    PEACE!

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  • http://oreoscrumbs.blogspot.com Oreo

    Jim, I think you’re right in saying they’d laugh at what you’d be asking for in salary. Of course you’d be charging them by the hour, since they are looking for all access, all the time, and that hourly rate should be high for someone with this skillset. I haven’t had to deal with a network level production schedule, but I can imagine these reporters being pulled on from every direction at once.

  • http://spaceygreview.blogspot.com/ Grayson

    Wish that “rapier sharp wit” also provided the energy and the time necessary to be one of these campaign trail VJ monkeys. How I’d love it so, but “at my age” (title of new Nick Lowe LP!) that kinda stuff would kick my middle-aged ass. That’s a young person’s game. Still, if they had kinda this “boutique coverage” thing, whereby aging but seasoned techno-minded gals like me could get sent out for just “special features” then I’d be that reporter gal. I’m sure we could all work out a nice by-the-package rate!

  • http://newsvideographer.com/ Angela Grant

    Jim,

    The job description that you linked to doesn’t include any mention of the video duties, and video isn’t even listed in the required skill set for the position. I see that the article you linked to mentions all of it, but why didn’t they write it in the job description? Are you sure that it is the right one?

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  • http://www.vergnewmedia.com Jim Long

    Hi Angela! It is odd that the job description doesn’t mention the video duties. Both the NBC press release link and the National Journal job description link were included in an email describing these embedded reporter jobs. The political director of NBC has read this blog post, and has not told me otherwise. There are, as the NBC press release states, video duties involved.

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  • http://shelbinator.com shelbinator

    I’m going to be embedded with the Biden camp in Charleston for a couple days — we’ll see if I can get anything “genuine.” Are you going to be at the debate? I’m hoping to Ustream (or some other tool, depending) as much of the spin room activity as possible. If you’re there I hope you’ll pop by the webcam!

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