Tipsheet: Reporting with iPhone video & audioSue Newhook susan.newhook@ukings.ca Twitter: @suenew

University of King’s CollegeSchool of Journalism

Use your smartphone like a pro: four basic rules•Good grip

• Get close, keep steady, use a tripod

•Good sound• Look for the built-in mic, use your earbud mic, buy one

•Good light• Look for most light, keep main light behind you

•Good shots• Steady & still! Don’t use zoom; don’t pan without a plan

Sound

• Whether video or audio-only, good sound is vital• Use a mic whenever possible – improvise if you have to• Get in close! A far-off mic isn’t much use• Listen hard for & avoid background noise; your ears will filter out what a

mic won’t

Remember ethics & the law• Never tell someone “no one will see this video”… and don’t believe

anyone who says it to you. No one can guarantee that.

• Don’t use other people’s visuals, music w/o permission, credit or payment. Need generic viz? Check out Creative Commons (http://creativecommons.org/), or shoot it yourself!

• Livestreaming: Remember, when you press the “Broadcast Now” button you are flying without a net. You can’t take it back.

Top 10 Smartphone Tech Rules:1. Clear the (memory) decks – video gobbles space2. ABC = Always Be Charging – video gobbles power (bring power)3. Go to airplane mode – notifications, alerts, calls may crash your recording4. Clean the lens before you shoot5. Shoot horizontal (landscape) – Button to the right6. Steady up! If you can’t use a tripod…be one 7. AE/AF LOCK & adjustment8. All shots at least 10 sec long9. All cams = same composition and storytelling rules10. Low light levels? Need to zoom? iPhones aren’t good for this: Use a different camera

Top 10 Video Storytelling Rules: 1. Get close2. Work with light: behind you, not your subject3. Look at your real shot, not the one you’re wishing for4. Think sound!5. Rule of thirds (incl. headroom, looking-away) 6. Neutral eyeline7. The axis or 180 line helps your shots make sense8. In journalism, we are always #nofilter9. Use the “5-shot method” because THAT will give you...10. Sequences!!!!

The Five-Shot Method:

•Establishing shot•Close-up hands•Close-up face•Reverse •One other interesting shot/angle

In the field

• Make a plan first• Remember your rules• Get ahead of the action• Look for shots & sounds that help to show what you’re talking about

and tell your story• Check your plan…and be prepared to change it. Adapt to reality! • Bring a notebook• Don’t let your pictures lie – make context, don’t try to prompt emotion

Some useful iOS apps (you’ll find your own -- mix & match):• Voice Record Pro• (vs native Voice Memo)

• SoundCloud• iMovie• Vine• PicPlayPost• JamSnap • Periscope

• Legend• Steller• The List App• Adobe Voice (basic explainers) • Videolicious • (free version: max 10 shots, 50

sec. – great for practice)