Vlogging Tips

Hello fellow BNR students. As all of you know one of the requirements for this class is to do a vlog. The main tip given for this assignment is to look at the camera and not the screen, so when your vlog is viewed it doesn't look like you purposely didn'took at the camera or didn't know where it was. Such as in the wonderful example Brian Steffen showed us of Michele Bachmann. I have a few more tips that can help you have the best vlog ever.

1. Choose a topic and stay on topic. Vlogs are not ment to be long. Address the points you want to in a timely and organized fashion.

2. Quality beats quantity. It is better for you to have a few quality videos than a large sum of boring videos.

3. Articulate, if people can't hear or understand you they are not going to want to view your vlog.

4. Avoid the use of ummm and like. It is plain and simple-just don't say them.

5. Avoid unnecessary distractions. This includes a distracting background scenery or noise.

6. Lastly, just like this blog it is important to add lables to the vlog describing what your vlog is about. It gives people a higher likely hood of being able to see your vlog and possibly getting more subscribers.

I hope these tips help and feel free to comment with more tips.

Photo Credit: Via Creative Commons

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Are Video Diaries Considered Journalism?

There are many different types of vlogs (video blogs) today. Many people consider all of these different types of vlogs journalism, but do they really share news with us?

The one type of vlog I have questions about is video diaries. A video diary is a vlog where a person tapes him/her self and discusses his/her opinions, thoughts, and experiences. I have seen many of these vlogs, and I'm not sure I would consider them journalism. I realize that this blog that I am writing now is simply my thoughts and opinions on video diary vlogs; so is this blog considered journalism?

It's difficult for me to say that a vlog about someone discussing their trip to the mall or how their day was could be considered news. After all, many of these vlogs do not impact the audience in any way. A great deal of them do not have any of the seven news honored values. Most are for sheer entertainment, and that is why they receive so many views and subscribers.

For example, Shane Dawson has his own YouTube channel, but there is no actual news in his vlogs. He simply discusses what experiences he has had, and he also makes little skits to entertain his audience. This is considered a video diary, but I would not consider this news. There are countless other vloggers who do the same thing.

I have yet to come across a video diary vlog that is news worthy. I have searched YouTube and Yahoo video up and down and still haven't found any that abide to the seven news honored values. If anyone does know of one please write it in a comment. I'd enjoy viewing it.

Photo Credit: Fagstein

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