Segment from the National Geographic Channel. Retrieved from YouTube.com.
In a video segment of National Geographic Channel’s, “Looking for the Afghan Girl,” several key video editing strategies are used to create a compelling news story about a reporter’s journey to find an unnamed Afghan girl photographed for the cover of a National Geographic magazine thirty years later.
The clip uses supplemental footage, known as B-roll, to add meaning to the sequence. Lots of different shots of generally similar things like Afghan women in veils are shown repeatedly. However, interest lies in capturing those images from different angles—wide shots, close-ups, etc.
Additionally, the story is further supported with natural sound which sets the stage of the story. Another important key to the cohesiveness of a news clip is the match of visual elements of the story to the supporting audio—natural sound or voice actualities, for example. These elements not only create the story, but also help the story flow and give credibility to the reporter and report.
Cutting out unnecessary footage is an essential aspect to creating a compelling news story. Using various editing techniques like different angle shots, B-roll and natural sound help create an effective and dynamic news story.
Interesting story…sad for that woman.