The need for MMJs

This chapter gave a lot of perspective to how vital it is to become well-rounded journalists and to develop a wide range of skills. As time passes, newsrooms are only become more efficient and more multimedia based and we as J-school graduates have to rise to the tasks required in this new technological age. It took a lot of wind out of me just reading all the tasks that we do on a regular basis as journalists, but when you are in the moment chasing a story, you don't have time to think of all the work you do, you just execute. What I found really valuable was that while you have to stay on task, a few of the featured MMJs or OMBs emphasized the necessity of keeping your characters and their stories in the forefront; capture your subject's emotions and their sound, their reactions, the surroundings - be in tune because this is their story and it's important. You can't rush storytelling. Pace yourself, but don't lose sight of your story and your message. Because broadcast is such a visual medium it can be easy to get lost in the beautiful shots, but this chapter pointed out that some of the most crucial shots are fleeting and although they may not always be the most beautiful or framed perfectly, you have to capture those images first and foremost because they provide a substantial amount of information. You also have to keep sound in mind. Journalists must listen critically, because NAT sound can add the minute details and can make a big difference in the mood and quality of a shot by immersing you in the scene. All of this stuff is easier said than done, but as Lynn French mentions, you have to practice and practice and practice.