There’s a lot of talk out there about what’s being called “backpack journalism,” both good and bad. The idea behind backpack journalism is multimedia versatility. A reporter is sent out with not only the usual Steno pad, but an mp3 recorder, microphone, still and video cameras so that they can capture any and all multimedia options that might crop up.
One accolade of this practice, which is hardly industry standard yet, is that it encourages journalists to think “outside the box”… or the column, as the case may be. Who can criticize that? In the world of digital media, video and sound offerings are key tools in vital storytelling. A picture is worth a thousand words, right? And video is flashing ten or more pictures on the screen every second.
But what about quality? Any seasoned videographer will tell you that it takes training and practice to put together a good video. Sound technicians study for years to get the crystal-clear recording quality you love on your favorite CDs. Does a reporter have the necessary technical skills to not only work as a writer, but a photographer, a sound tech and a videographer? Should they have to?
While it may be both more streamlined and cost-effective to hire a single journalist to do it all, is it a good idea? What are your thoughts on backpack journalism?
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