The other day I got a last-minute assignment to cover a rally by American progressives in support of a government-run health insurance plan. If you’ve been following the health care debate in the US you know that it’s become an emotional issue, especially in the past few weeks. After weeks of contentious town hall meetings where opponents of the government plan shouted down members of Congress and some protesters even brought guns to events with President Obama, the left felt it was time to fight back. With the president coming to the nearby Democratic National Committee to rally supporters, his base gathered outside with signs and chants to put the pressure on him to pass a public option. I’ve covered more than my share of rallies and protests working in Washington, and below I will share some tips on how I approach such assignments.
(Watch my video from the rally outside the DNC here).
FIND THE LEADERS
The first thing I do when covering a rally or a protest is find out who is organizing the event and try to get in touch with them in advance. It’s important to try to get a few names to ask for so that when you get to the scene you’re not lost in a sea of people. The other thing to check is if there are going to be any counter-protesters. I called a few of the opposition groups and they said they weren’t sure if they were going to send anyone. So by the time I got to the scene I pretty much knew who to look for from the organizers, and not to expect a whole lot of opposition. What that told me is that since I likely won’t have interviews from each side I’d need to include a bit of background in either narration or voice over to set the stage.
SHOW UP EARLY
Another concern when covering a rally is that people are very suspicious of people they don’t know with cameras. While groups like media attention for their cause, their first instinct is to be suspicious of the person behind the lens – many assume you are a plant from an unsympathetic opposition and will edit the footage to make them look bad. Too alleviate this concern, I always try to show up early and talk to people before the real rally starts, while it’s still quiet and get people comfortable with seeing me there. And of course, I wear my press badge with my organization’s name clearly displayed.
INTERVIEWS ARE SUBSTANCE
Try to talk to as many people as possible and get as many points of view as possible, both across the political spectrum and even within one side of a spectrum (oftentimes you’ll find many different voices within one group). Listen to people and really try to get a personal answer to the question, “why are you here? Why is this important?” People are very complex and it takes a lot for someone to take to the streets, so be certain to understand their grievance. Rally or protest stories can all look and sound the same – what really sets them apart are good, honest interviews. That said, don’t be afraid to challenge people if they are repeating falsehoods or spreading mistruths. It does no one any good to let people, whether out of ignorance or malice, perpetuate myths. So do your research before an event so that you can tell what is spin and what is genuine.
MAKING IT LOOK GOOD
Finally, part of what makes rallies so much fun to cover is that they provide lots of action and emotion. There’s plenty of opportunities for good nat sound, be it a chant, two people arguing or other noises that arise out of a bunch of people trying to draw attention to themselves. There’s signs, faces filled with emotion and often colorful props and costumes. Be sure to get lots of good close ups. Don’t be afraid to get your camera right in someone’s face. If you’re not close, it can just look like a bunch of people milling about (note of caution: be sure to accurately represent the size of the rally. Wide shots are important to show whether there’s only a handful of people or whether there’s a million people). As for editing, if it’s an energetic rally the editing can be fast and tight. If it’s more somber, like a vigil, then you can slow down the pace and rhythm of the editing. Remember, you want to tell a story about this particular rally on this particular day, so make it interesting while staying factually accurate. Ultimately, you should give viewers an understanding of what the protesters want within the larger context of what’s happening. In short, tell the truth and provide context.
Professional videojournalist Andrew Satter teaches online and interactively at The Compelling Image. Learn more about his course, “Mastering Video Production Basics,” and how it can get you up-and-running in the field of digital video production.
