Video story forms provide a structure for video content to improve newsroom video skills and benefits readers. The document outlines 5 common video story forms: Event, Guide, Profile, Slice of Life, and Man on the Street. Each form is defined by its preparation, story structure, and content. Using consistent video story forms can improve training, skills, and content management in a newsroom.

1. Video story forms Michael Roberts

3. Problems Bad video Weak video skills Poor use of video Solution Video story forms Topic / Main points

4. Video comes to the newsroom…

7. Video trends 2011 Fewer videos: High-quality, extended video pieces More videos: Quick, short video More shooters: Reporters with simple cameras Embed vs. free-standing: Video as part of package; link sets; repeat use from inventory

8. Video standards

14. Video story forms Event Guide Profile Slice of life Man on the street

15. 5 Video Story Forms Event: Live news event. Guide: Tour. Orientation. Consumer information. How-to. Profile: Person. Place. Organization. Slice of life: Sights and sounds of familiar event. Man on the street: Q&A with series of people.

16. Event video Preparation: Date, time, expected highlights, cast of characters. Consumer information for recurring event. Story structure: Chronological; beginning-middle-end. Content: Distinguishing visual and audio elements. Interviews with participants.

17. Guide video Preparation: Tour guide. Consumer, participant information. Expected highlights. Story structure: (a) Chronological. (b) Blocks or chapters. Example: Tour of candy factory that follows production line (chronology). Guide to restaurant by menu, setting, and chef (blocks). Content: Consumer information from tour guide (interview), with related visual / audio elements.

18. Profile video Preparation: History of subject. Identify defining characteristic; essence; central motivation. Story structure: Identifies subject, defining characteristic, and shows that characteristic in action. Content: Opens with subject or tour guide to identify subject, then shows defining characteristic in action or results. Note: Video is not devoted to history of subject, but rather the defining characteristic.

19. Slice of life video Preparation: Identify familiar event, something viewers will immediately recognize. Select theme or slice to highlight. Structure: Introduce theme, follow with collage or variations on the theme. Content: Visual / audio expressions of selected theme.

20. Man-on-the-street video Preparation: Identify (1) news topic, (2) single question for video, (3) relevant group of people. Structure: Introduce topic and question, followed by concise answers. Content: Multiple responses to single open-ended question. Limit sound bites to 7-10 seconds. Vary framing of each subject.

26. Video story forms Michael Roberts