In The Shadows

I had my first shadow shift this week. On Wednesday, I did the live truck shadow shift for the 10. When I got to the station, the live truck operator was communicating with everyone he needed to in order to figure out where to go and making sure everything was in the truck. 


After being at the station for a few minutes we left and went to find a spot for the live shot. The story was about guardrail, so before he left Steven (the live truck operator) looked up a map online to find a place that had guardrail on the side of I-70, but also seemed like a place that would be easily accessible and safe. When we found the spot he had looked up, he went out to see where would be the best spot to park the truck and set up. Through all of this, I have learned that communication is very important. The producer, reporter, live truck operator and master control all need information from each other, so communication makes things run smoothly; especially since once the live truck operator leaves the station they are on their own to find the spot and set up the shot. 


Live truck operators have a lot of work to do once they leave the station. When we found where we were going Steven had to put the mast up, check the signal from the station, plug in power cords, cords to get feed from the station and send video back, cords to make the IFB work, etc. Then he had to figure out what lighting would make the best shot and set it up. All of this is finished before the reporter gets there. Operators usually need to have everything set up and ready to go fifteen minutes before the show starts. 


After everything was set up, the live reporter (Stephanie) met us. Both Stephanie and Steven told me that reporters should bring their scripts, copy of the rundown, make-up, a pen/highlighter/sharpie, their camera, 'emergency kit' and IFB. The IFB is important because it is a form of communication between the producers and the reporter/live truck operator. Stephanie says, "It's so you know what's going on." 


Steven says that reporters can really help operators buy helping tear-down after the shot, being knowledgeable in the way the equipment/process works and to communicate. If reporters want a certain shot/place or a graphic to be used, they need to let the operator know. He also said the biggest problem that plagues reporters is freezing up and forgetting what their script says. 


I learned a lot from this shadow shift. He said it's important for reporters to understand the process and equipment. This shift taught me that, and I do believe knowing all that has to be done and is going on will make shifts go a lot smoother. This shift also furthered my understanding that things work well when people communicate, oh and also taught me that you have to wear a reflective vest when you're standing on the side of I-70 with semi-trucks passing by at 70 mph!