Why we love telescopic poles (and you should too)
Fibreglass poles for shots from unusual angles and for aerial photos were our first flagship product and we have never given them up, for several reasons.
· 3 min read
New or aspiring journalists: 5 truly useful 2.0 gifts
Table of contents
The job and title of 'journalist' is multifaceted; those who study journalism or have just begun to walk the paths of this profession (...of faith) have chosen a field with countless specialisations and focus areas, which may change over the course of a career for personal reasons or choices, because of newsroom decisions, or at the whim of fate.
Another advantage, besides the dynamism, is the opportunity (indeed the real duty) to study a great deal and continually keep up with technological developments and new trends.
One only needs to stop and look back to admit that over the last 15-20 years the journalist's job has been practically turned upside down, moving from the dynamics of print and television or radio journalism to the web.
All the main working tools of journalists have changed and continue to evolve.
Today we will give some advice on truly useful gifts, for different budgets, for those who want to start out on this path or who have already done so.
1 - Google glass
A few articles ago we already talked about the Nieman Foundation at Harvard, a highly distinguished foundation in the United States that periodically draws up a list of objects and things that will change the world of journalism. To highlight the expertise of the Nieman scholars, twenty years ago they had 'foreseen' everything about how the internet would change journalistic work and how it is consumed.
Last year the foundation put Google glass and drones at the top of the list of change-bringers, sensing that in a few years both will be indispensable especially (but not only) to independent reporters.
Read also
Drones: a tool for independent reporters
These highly technological augmented-reality glasses allow you to read websites and online news, check social networks, view maps and directions via Google Maps, take part remotely in video conferences, capture photos and videos to share online, and much more.
To tell the truth, the first prototypes did not enjoy the hoped-for success, but in the USA they are now marketing the second, improved and more functional version, designed specifically to speed up the most dynamic types of work.
2 - Telescopic pole
Regardless of the specialization or specializations each journalist will take up in life, whether reporting news or writing about interior design, there is not a single field of journalism in which Visual Story Telling (which we discuss in point 5) has not by now become dominant. Every journalist must also be able to take the photos for their own pieces; at the very least, this is always an added value.
And there is not a single field of photojournalism in which telescopic poles have not proven to be a support that is as useful as it is practical for aerial photography.
Aerialclick has recently introduced its new ultra-light carbon fibre pole that reaches up to 8 metres (from 299 to 799 euros).
Also read
'3 sets where a telescopic pole makes the difference'
3 - Remote control
A remote control device for a camera or video camera is among the gifts that can definitely be useful to a future reporter for a wide variety of reasons, and it greatly increases the quality and potential of the photos and footage produced.
Every journalist today must also learn to find their way around shooting, audio-video production and editing, and have their own online portfolio and their own website or blog on which to upload their work or parts of it.
4 - SAPR operator course
Although it seems that drones are the new MUST of the journalism world (and we, who design and produce them, can only be happy about it), we believe that it is first more important (and legally necessary) to invest in training.
Certainly, if a journalist holds a licence and recognition as a SAPR pilot, they will have an important extra card to play in the very complex and competitive working world they have chosen.
5 - Visual Story Telling course
We can never stress enough the importance that the ability to tell stories through images has in journalism of every era, and particularly today. Visual story telling is not just mere, simple 'photographing', otherwise it would not be explained why some Instagrammers have millions of followers while others struggle to reach 500. The same goes for Pinterest and Periscope, a true real-time social documentary.
A nice gift is, in this case too, an investment in training in the creation of high-impact videos and photos, capable of attracting readers and followers. There are specific tricks and techniques taught in courses, some of them also online and very good, such as those given by Ninja Marketing.
Are you an aspiring journalist? What would you like as a gift?
