Smartphone journalism: Videos

Summary

This video offers essential tips for journalists and content creators to enhance their smartphone recordings. It emphasizes the importance of a clean lens, using airplane mode to avoid interruptions, and managing storage space. The video also covers techniques for better framing, focusing, exposure control, and stabilizing shots. It advises on audio quality, suggesting the use of external microphones for improved sound. Finally, it touches on using the BBC's newsgathering app PNG for professional video recording and sharing, as well as alternative methods for content distribution.

Takeaways

• 📱 Use a clean lens for recording to ensure clarity.
• ✈️ Switch to airplane mode before recording to avoid interruptions.
• 🗂️ Check storage space and consider reducing video resolution for more recording capacity.
• 📱 Record horizontally for TV or online purposes, as vertical framing is less versatile.
• 🔒 Tap and hold on the screen to lock focus and exposure for better control.
• 🔍 Avoid digital zoom and instead, physically move closer to the subject for better quality.
• 💡 Use the phone's light cautiously as it can drain the battery quickly.
• 🤳 Maintain stability by holding the phone close to the body or leaning against a stable object.
• 🎥 Keep each shot for about 10 to 15 seconds for a professional look.
• 🎙️ Prioritize good audio; use an external microphone for better sound quality.
• 📹 BBC journalists use the PNG app for recording, editing, and sending videos.
• ⏳ Utilize features like slow-motion and time-lapse for creative filming.
• 📧 Share videos via email, social networks, or cloud services for quick dissemination.

Q & A

What is the primary focus of the video?

The video focuses on sharing tips to improve the quality of smartphone recordings for journalists and others.

Why is it important to clean the smartphone lens before recording?

A clean lens ensures better image quality by preventing smudges or dirt from affecting the recording.

What is the significance of putting the phone in airplane mode before recording?

Airplane mode prevents interruptions from incoming calls, which could disrupt the recording process.

How much storage space should ideally be available on the device for recording?

It's recommended to have at least half of the device's capacity free to accommodate potentially large video files.

What is the recommended orientation for recording footage for TV or online purposes?

Horizontal orientation is preferred for TV and online, as vertical framing is less useful for broad broadcasting purposes.

How can one achieve better focus and exposure in smartphone recordings?

By tapping the screen to adjust focus and exposure, and pressing and holding to lock in these settings.

Why is it advised against using the zoom feature while recording video on a smartphone?

Using the zoom feature degrades the picture quality, so it's better to physically move closer to the subject.

How can one ensure a stable shot while recording hand-held without a tripod?

Bringing the arms close to the body or leaning against a stable object can help stabilize the shot.

What is the importance of good audio in video recordings and how can it be improved?

Good audio is vital for video quality, and it can be improved by using an external microphone or a clip microphone with the right connector.

What is the recommended app for BBC journalists to record, edit, and send video?

BBC journalists are recommended to use the internal app PNG (portable newsgathering) for recording, editing, and sending video.

How can one take a shorter clip from a recorded video?

Using the trim controls to isolate the desired area and then saving it as a new clip is the recommended method.

What are some options for sharing or sending recorded video?

Video can be shared or sent via email, uploaded to social networks, or stored on a cloud service.

Outlines

00:00

📱 Smartphone Video Recording Tips

This paragraph provides a series of tips for enhancing smartphone video recordings. It emphasizes the importance of cleaning the lens, setting the phone to airplane mode to avoid interruptions, checking storage space, and adjusting video resolution for more recording capacity. The orientation of the phone for recording is discussed, with a horizontal orientation being preferred for TV or online use. The paragraph also covers manual focus and exposure control, avoiding digital zoom, using the phone's light cautiously due to battery drain, and maintaining stability while filming hand-held. It advises on capturing audio effectively, suggesting the use of an external microphone for better quality and cautioning against covering the built-in microphone. Lastly, it mentions additional features like slow-motion and time-lapse recording.

05:00

📹 BBC's Preferred Video Workflow

The second paragraph outlines the BBC's recommended process for journalists to record, edit, and deliver video content using the internal app PNG (portable newsgathering). It highlights the app's role in ensuring the correct frame rate for broadcast and facilitating direct filing into newsroom systems. The paragraph also discusses video editing techniques, such as trimming clips, and various methods for sharing footage, including email and cloud services. It mentions third-party apps that BBC journalists use to enhance video quality and edit complete packages, emphasizing the potential of smartphones as mobile newsgathering tools. The paragraph concludes by encouraging exploration and practice of these techniques for effective video recording and sharing.

Keywords

💡Airplane mode

Airplane mode is a setting on smartphones that disables all wireless communication features, including cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, to prevent interference with aircraft systems. In the context of the video, it's crucial to enable airplane mode before recording to avoid interruptions from incoming calls, ensuring a continuous and uninterrupted filming session. The script emphasizes this step as particularly important for maintaining the integrity of the recording process.

💡Resolution

Resolution in video recording refers to the number of pixels used to form the image, which affects the clarity and detail of the video. The higher the resolution, the larger the file size. The script suggests reducing the resolution if storage space is limited, as video files can consume significant storage quickly. This is important for ensuring that journalists can record more footage without running out of storage on their smartphones.

💡Orientation

Orientation in video recording pertains to the direction in which the video is captured—horizontally or vertically. The script mentions that while vertical video is increasingly accepted, horizontal recording is preferred for TV and online platforms like the BBC's newsgathering app PNG. This is crucial for compatibility and professional presentation of the recorded material.

💡Focus and exposure

Focus and exposure are critical aspects of video quality. Focus determines the sharpness of the image, while exposure controls the brightness. The script advises users to manually adjust focus and exposure by tapping the screen and locking in the settings with 'AE/AF LOCK' for better control over the final video's visual quality, rather than relying solely on the phone's automatic adjustments.

💡Zoom

Zoom in video recording allows users to get closer to the subject without physically moving. However, the script warns that using the digital zoom feature can degrade picture quality, suggesting that it's better to physically move closer to the subject for a higher-quality shot. This advice is essential for maintaining the visual integrity of the recording.

💡Stability

Stability in video recording refers to the steadiness of the shot, which contributes to the professional appearance of the footage. The script provides tips for achieving stability when shooting hand-held, such as bringing arms close to the body or leaning against a stable object. This is important for producing high-quality, smooth, and distraction-free videos.

💡Audio quality

Audio quality is vital for video content, as it significantly impacts the viewer's experience. The script emphasizes the importance of good audio and suggests using the in-built microphone for ambient sound, but also recommends getting closer to the sound source or using an external microphone for better audio capture. This is crucial for ensuring that the message in the video is clearly audible and of high quality.

💡External microphone

An external microphone is a device that can be connected to a smartphone to improve audio recording quality. The script suggests using an external plug-in or clip microphone for better audio, especially in challenging environments like outdoors with wind noise. This equipment is highlighted as a way to enhance the professional quality of the audio in video recordings.

💡Slow-motion and time-lapse

Slow-motion and time-lapse are special video recording modes. Slow-motion allows for capturing video at a higher frame rate, which can be played back at a slower speed, revealing details that are not visible at normal speed. Time-lapse, on the other hand, compresses time by recording and playing back footage at intervals. The script mentions these features as options for creative storytelling in video recording.

💡Newsgathering

Newsgathering is the process of collecting information for news stories. The script refers to the BBC's newsgathering app PNG, which is used by journalists to record, edit, and send video directly to the newsroom. This term is central to the video's theme, as it illustrates the practical application of smartphone technology in modern journalism for efficient news reporting.

💡Editing and sharing

Editing and sharing are the final stages of the video production process. The script discusses the use of trim controls to create shorter clips and various methods for sharing or sending footage, such as email or cloud services. These steps are essential for preparing the recorded material for broadcast or distribution, ensuring that the content is accessible and engaging to the intended audience.

Highlights

Ensure your smartphone lens is clean for better recordings.

Use airplane mode to prevent interruptions during recording.

Check available storage space before recording to avoid interruptions.

Consider reducing video resolution to save space if necessary.

Record horizontally for TV or online platforms, as vertical framing is less versatile.

Control focus and exposure by tapping and holding the screen.

Avoid digital zoom to prevent picture quality degradation.

Use the phone's light cautiously as it can drain the battery quickly.

Maintain stability while shooting handheld by bringing arms close to the body.

Record each shot for about 10 to 15 seconds for better editing options.

Use the front-facing camera correctly by looking at the lens for piece-to-camera recordings.

Get closer to the sound source for better audio quality.

Use an external microphone for improved audio in noisy environments.

Avoid covering the microphone with your hands to ensure clear audio recording.

Explore slow-motion and time-lapse options for creative video effects.

Use the BBC's internal app, PNG, for recording, editing, and sending videos.

Trim videos to shorter clips for faster sharing and transmission.

Utilize email or cloud services for efficient video sharing.

Smartphones can serve as mobile newsgathering devices with the right techniques.

Transcripts

There are many smartphones on the market that journalists and others can use to record

edit and share material. In this video I am going to share with you a number of tips that could

help your recordings look and sound better. Here at the BBC many of our journalists

are using iPhones and while this film looks at those devices in particular, a lot of the

principles apply whichever smartphone you're using. So, whether you're using an Android, a Windows

phone or an iPhone, this first point is particularly important. Firstly, make sure your lens is

clean. Use your shirt or a tissue but often glasses cloth is best. You need to make sure your

phone is in airplane mode before you start recording. Going into airplane mode is really

important because it stops your device receiving a phone call. If it can get one while you're

filming, it will interrupt you and you may not get a second chance to record. Video files

can get very large very quickly so check in your settings how much space you have available.

Ideally, try to have at least half of your device's capacity spare. You can record more

if you can reduce the resolution of your video; on some devices, this is just a case of going

into your settings and dropping the resolution down. If your footage is for TV or online,

then you'll want to record it horizontally. Indeed for the BBC's newsgathering app PNG,

that's the only orientation it will support. But vertical framing is increasingly accepted

and acceptable on smartphones. But the resulting footage is not so useful for the BBC's purposes.

The phone will automatically adjust the focus and exposure, based on what's in the scene.

But you can get better results by taking control. Tap the screen to adjust the focus and exposure.

Press and hold to lock in those settings – you’ll see 'AE/AF LOCK' displayed to confirm this.

You can also move your finger up and down the screen to tweak the exposure even more precisely.

Most smartphones will give you the option to zoom while you're recording

your video but this will degrade the picture quality, so it's usually much better to get

closer to what you want to film, as long as it's safe to do so.

If necessary, you can turn the light on

when recording video, but be aware that this will drain your battery quite considerably.

If you're out and about shooting hand-held without a tripod, a good

way to ensure a stable shot is to bring your arms close in tight against your body.

Or if there's something suitable, lean against it to ensure that your shot is stable.

And once there, keep filming each shot for about 10 to 15 seconds. On some phones, you can

record video and take a photo at the same time: here, tap the white circle in the bottom

right-hand corner. If you ever need to record a piece-to-camera using the front-facing camera,

make sure you look at the lens and not the screen to ensure you have the correct eyeline.

Getting good audio is vital for your video and the in-built microphone on most smartphones

will be fine for ambient sound but the closer you get to a guest or an interviewee the better

the audio will be. If you can, go somewhere quieter or even ask the guest to speak a bit louder.

Outdoors, wind noise can also pose something of a challenge. You can overcome

many of these problems or challenges by using an external plug-in microphone or a clip microphone.

This will give you much better audio as long as you are using a mic with the right kind

of connector. A cheaper alternative or emergency standby could be to use the microphone on

your headphones that come supplied with most smartphones. Plug that in and then you can

use this microphone to get better audio and good framing. Bear in mind though that we

took something of a risk here by plugging the microphone in after we'd started recording.

It's usually far better to plug your microphone in first and then launch your video recording app.

Make sure you know where the microphone is that records audio when you are recording video.

On the iPhone it's between the lens and the light but whichever device you're using,

find out where it is but don’t cover it with your hands. You have another couple of

options when you're recording video: you can record slow-motion videos and also time-lapses.

If you're a BBC journalist, the preferred way to record, edit and send video is to use

the internal-only app, PNG - 'portable newsgathering'. Using PNG will ensure you have got the

correct frame rate for broadcast too. You can then save and file your recording directly

into the newsroom systems. To take a shorter clip from your video, use the trim controls

to isolate the area you want to keep and then 'save as a new clip'. The shorter the video,

the quicker it will be to send. When you're happy with your footage and ready to share or send

it, tap the box with a forwarding arrow to reveal the options available to you.

Email is a simple way to send short pieces of video direct to colleagues back in the newsroom.

Another option would be to upload your content straight to social networks, or onto a cloud service.

BBC journalists are currently using a number of third-party apps which can increase

the quality of their video recordings and other apps with which they can edit

fully-mixed packages. A smartphone has the potential to be a mobile newsgathering device in your pocket.

Explore, practise and get comfortable with many of these techniques and you'll soon

be able to record and share great material.