Interviewing and Ethics
This is the standard, professional shot for news interviews, framing the subject from the chest up.
What is a Medium Close-Up (MCU)?
This is the primary, brightest light that sets the main exposure and tone.
What is the Key Light?
This space is left in the frame in front of a moving or looking subject to create balanced movement or gaze.
What is Lead Room (or Nose Room)?
A short clip of an interviewee speaking, also known as the soundbite.
What is SOT (Sound On Tape)?
The entire camera swivels vertically (up or down) from a fixed axis.
What is a Tilt?
This ground rule means the information can be used, but cannot be attributed to the source by name.
What is On Background?
This light softens the shadows created by the Key Light and reduces contrast.
What is the Fill Light?
A shot taken from the subjective visual perspective of a character or subject.
What is Point-of-View (POV)?
The local station that has a contractual agreement to carry the programming of a major network.
What is an Affiliate?
The camera swivels horizontally (left or right) from a fixed axis.
What is a Pan?
The deliberate, silent pause used after an interviewee finishes speaking, encouraging them to elaborate.
What is a Pregnant Pause?
Light from a large or diffused source, such as a large window, creates this light quality.
What is Soft Light?
The basic compositional rule where key elements are placed along the lines or intersections of a nine-part grid.
What is the Rule of Thirds?
This is the unmanipulated, real-life background sound from the scene (e.g., traffic, applause) used to add atmosphere
What is NAT Sound (or Natural/Ambient Sound)?
The entire camera physically moves forward or backward, changing the perspective.
What is a Dolly (or Track)?
The camera operator's priority is the interviewee's frame, so the reporter is usually positioned this way.
What is slightly off-camera?
Low-Key lighting, which creates a dramatic, shadowy look, is the result of this type of Key-to-Fill contrast ratio.
What is a High Ratio?
This transitional shot of something other than the main subject is used to cover edits or provide context.
What is a Cutaway?
The senior manager responsible for the entire news operation, including content, quality, budget, and personnel.
What is the News Director (ND)?
This camera movement changes focal length, making the subject appear closer or farther, but does not change perspective.
What is a Zoom?
This type of question, such as "Wouldn't you agree that...", must be avoided as it biases the interview.
What is a Leading Question?
This type of light, like Daylight at 5600K, has a higher Kelvin temperature and a cooler, more blue color.
What is Cooler Light (or Higher K Light)?
This type of angle, where the camera looks up at the subject, makes the subject appear dominant or powerful.
What is a Low Angle?
A fully self-contained, pre-recorded news report featuring the reporter's voice-over, B-roll, SOTs, and often a stand-up
What is a Package?
The entire camera is lifted or lowered on a large mechanical arm, allowing for sweeping vertical or diagonal movements.
What is a Crane (or Jib)?