Nicole Todd
Former Multi-Media Journalist/Reporter

Having worked in a small market as a multi-media journalist, my day-to-day was always busy and always different. I'd arrive at the station around 8 or 9 AM, charge my camera batteries, and gather my tripod, camera, and memory cards. I would then check emails to see if I had any new story tips sent my way and look for replies on stories I had in the works. While each day had new stories and new information to share with our community, one thing was constant: morning meetings.

 

Every morning around 9 or 9:30 AM, all the MMJs during the day and the anchor would meet with the News Director to go over the day's events and pressers and assign each of us to them. 

 

As an MMJ, I would head out on my adventures of gathering sound bites, b-roll, and interviews for my stories for the day.  On a typical day, I would gather around 2-3 VO/SOTS and one package that would be 1:30-ish minutes long.  For each of the voiceovers, I would gather enough b-roll that would match the interview topic, and when filming my package, I would record myself with an intro and outro to package together for the later shows, so I would "be visible" in the 10 PM and 11 PM newscasts, even though I would be home.  

 

While out on the scenes, I would also go to a location that teased many of the stories for my anchor to produce promos that would air before the 6 p.m. show and in between commercials.

 

When back at the station, I would write out my story, edit all the sound bites in Sony Vegas, go into the recording room and talk into the recording microphone, send it to my computer, and add my voice to the story. I would then create a second version of this, using my pre-recorded intro and outro for shows later that evening.

 

I would then create all the videos for the VO/SOTs or VO's while most times, the anchor would write those scripts or edit to their voice if I had already written those scripts. The station I worked at as an MMJ did not have weekend or morning/afternoon shows, so if we had ideas and stories scheduled to air later in the week, these would also be created as teasers for what's to come later in the week to keep the audience engaged for more.

 

It's a fast-paced career that keeps you on your toes and engaged 24/7 for story ideas.

 

It helps getting to know everyone in the area and getting emails/phone numbers, so if you need a quote or information, they are only a ring away.