When video is used to supplement a news story online, it is often placed awkwardly alongside the text and does a poor job standing alone. Here are three examples of well-done online news videos.
- Osama bin Laden’s neighbor - This video from the New York Times features an interview with a small boy who lived near Osama bin Laden’s compound in Abbottabad. This story uses a good mix of the five types of shots, and does a good job of using video to illustrate what the boy is talking about.
- Seattle’s Best Coffee - This piece from the Seattle Times revolves around one of their reporters attending a coffee cupping with two employees of Seattle’s Best Coffee. I liked this video because it also has a good mix of the five types of shots. In addition, it makes a good use of the slurping sounds of the three individuals tasting the coffee and has a good balance of straight interview shots as well as voice overs describing what you are seeing.
- World’s Best Pizza Acrobat – This short video from the San Francisco Chronicle focuses on a man who bills himself as “The World’s Best Pizza Acrobat” and does a great job of mixing up shot types. Having the story be about someone who throws pizza dough with a lot of flair definitely makes it easy to assemble some entertaining footage.
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