9 Things To Know About Telling Awesome News Stories With Video

After reading our video tips, you’ll be ready to rock Watchdog Wire's Summer Recess Video Contest! Click here for more info.

1. Get the Right Equipment

Via starscream-and-hutch.tumblr.com

If you have a smartphone, you're already go to go start filming events. The iPhone's built-in video camera isn't ideal for larger productions, but it's always in your pocket and at the ready when a story starts to develop.

Make your video even more professional by adding a tripod and a handheld microphone to improve sound and picture quality.

2. The Smartphone is a TV Station in Your Pocket

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If you were to tell a journalist in 1999 that you could shoot video, edit video, broadcast the video to the world, and then tell your friends all about it from a device the size of chalkboard eraser they would think you're crazy.

Just remember to hold your phone sideways (landscape) so the video is the same orientation as most video screens.

3. Shoot Like a Pro

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No one's expecting you to be the next Spielberg, but you should have some basic concerns about light and sound.

When possible, shoot in a well-lit area and make sure to keep the source of light behind the camera, so that it's shining on the front of your subject.

You'll also want to pick a quiet place to shoot. Sometimes background noise is unavoidable - which is when a microphone will save the day.

BONUS: Here are a few "protips" from Ben Yount, Watchdog.org's video expert:

Frame your subject in ⅓ of the shot, and have them look into the other 2/3rds

If you are at a long event, you might want to shoot only what you need (perhaps a Q&A section, for example).

You don't have to waste time and battery shooting a three hour event when you only need 10 minutes, but under some circumstances you might want to keep shooting

If you are going to shoot the entire rally, start a new video for each speaker.

4. Never Stop Shooting

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If you're filming a politician, you never know when a juicy quote is coming, so don't turn off your camera after they've answered your question. Keep the camera on them until they're out of your sight.

5. Obey the Law, but Not Necessarily the “Rules”

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KEY DISTINCTION: always follow the law when it comes to filming, but you can push back against "no video please" requests from nervous politicians. Also, most city council and school board meetings are considered part of the public record, and you have the right to film them.

Consider one of the most famous examples of "no video please". A Congressman from Indiana named Baron Hill refused to allow high school students to film his town hall meetings for their civics class because he didn't want it ending up on YouTube. Hill then went off on a rant about how no one could tell him how to run his office, and sure enough, it ended up on YouTube.

6. Edit and Share

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Video editing can sound daunting, but Microsoft and Apple both include simple, user-friendly editing programs on most new computers. This is where you cut to the main point and get ride of the boring or less-important parts. The shorter the video the easier it is to watch!

You'll need a YouTube account to upload your video, but that's it! Give your video a catchy, newsy title like "School Board Clashes Over Taxpayer Funding." Most people won't be interested in "May 2013 School Board Meeting."

Once it's uploaded, make sure to use other social platforms like Facebook and Twitter to share it with other citizens!

7. Practice Makes Perfect (Or At Least Good Enough)

Via religion.ua.edu

There is an old saying in newsrooms: Perfect is great, but something is better than nothing. No one expects you to make a movie. The more video you shoot, the better you'll get. So practice, practice, practice.

8. Consider Some Add-Ons

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If you're going to be a bear, be a grizzly. With a little money, you can take your smartphone's HD video to the next level.

A smartphone stabilizer mount allows you to mount your phone to a tripod for steady video.

A flexible tripod is small enough to carry anywhere, but solid enough to give your video a professional, steady look.

A microphone cord (like this one) allows you to get broadcast quality audio from one on one interviews (Be careful: these are for iPhones and only some Android devices. Check with your retailer before purchasing).

Cheap mics sound cheap, but you can still get good quality audio for under $100.

9. Enter Watchdog Wire’s Summer Recess Video Contest!

Video is the ultimate equalizer in journalism: your smartphone or handheld camera may not be as sophisticated as professional news cameras, but it shoots the same way, and if you're in the right place at the right time, you can catch footage that no one in the media can.

This summer, you can put our tips into action by entering WatchdogWire's Summer Recess Video Contest.