A look behind the lens

You look new, welcome to “Views from the News!”

On this weekly blog I will provide a look behind the lens, hence the title, of a broadcast journalist. Many people see the glamor of being on television before the long hours of blindly finding sources, running around, conducting interviews and creating news content.

My name is Brady Talbert, and I currently study broadcast journalism at Troy University. At Troy, I serve as the student news director, reporter, anchor and producer at TROY TrojanVision News; our daily television newscast. I am also a staff writer for The Tropolitan, the student produced newspaper. I have also interned with professional print publications, radio stations and video production companies. I am passionate about the world of journalism and am always eager to share it with others.

Here, you will see how the stories I tell on TV and in print come together. I will also provide a deeper, closer look at topics I have or will cover.

I want you, the reader, to have a clear understanding of how the media works. Some view the media as pot-stirrers and don’t grasp the importance of journalists. Why would I want to work in an industry that is often labeled “fake news?” How does a newscast get made? What is at the root of every story? These topics, and more, will all be discussed here.

You can come back each Friday for new blog posts. Also, make sure to follow me on social media! I have the links posted below.

So, sit back and prepare to get a glimpse of my life as a journalist. You may be surprised what you discover.

Give me a follow...

Instagram: @brady.talbert

Twitter: @brady_talbert

Comments

The importance of covering SGA elections

Being a journalist carries a lot of weight. It is my responsibility to communicate important information to the public so people can create be well informed opinions, and then turn around and elect officials to represent them. This applies at the national and local level. Locally, journalists must cover state and city elections. Without this coverage, citizens in smaller areas would likely know nothing about each candidate. For students who aspire to become professional reporters, acquiring the skills necessary to cover these elections is a vital part of becoming a reliable journalist. For student journalists, this means we must cover the executive officer elections for the school’s governing body, the student government association; as this “local news” is what our college community needs to decide who to support. Here at Troy University, Troy TrojanVision News has been covering the election process for weeks. We were there at the first SGA exec int...

Don’t be afraid to be a source

Sources! Sources! Sources! Sources are an essential part of creating a news story. Whether it be for radio, television or print, news cannot be reported without them. So, what exactly is a source? A source is someone who provides a journalist with information. They can be a well-educated, insightful professional who provides detailed facts or simply a citizen sharing their opinion on the topic at hand. The latter is the type of source I am talking about now. Often times I find myself searching for an average, everyday person to share their thoughts. Whether it be on new legislation, something controversial or even someone’s thoughts on a community service project, people are often reluctant to stand in front of a camera and be interviewed. I get it, I really do. A camera can be scary for some, and I have to remind myself that not everyone is used to it. I often find myself coaxing people into doing an interview, and people usually commit once the...

Localize it: Coronavirus

Apart of being an effective journalist is localizing stories. What does that mean? It means I examine the impact broad, national or international stories are having on our local communities. Every story must put people first, so by looking at how people are being affected in a smaller community, we understand the real implications of a large newsworthy event. The Chinese Coronavirus has made many headlines lately, and rightfully so. CNBC reports that 563 people in China have died so far from the disease, with a confirmed 28,000 cases reported. The outbreak has been devasting for the people of China, which is why countries are keeping a close eye on international travel to and from the region. People fear the spread of the virus. How could an outbreak in China be localized? Well, now it’s in the United States. As of Wednesday, NBC reports that 12 cases of the disease have been brought into the U.S. This may remind some Americans of the Ebola outbreak that...

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