A basic person-on-the-street video interview report needs six key elements to be successful. Here they are.
1. An Introduction: This is where the reporter introduces the topic the report is focusing on. The intro should be written in short, conversational broadcast copy. Visually, the intro can show the reporter or some other shot that relates to the topic.
2. Interviews: These should be relatively short. Visually you can show the reporter and the person being interviewed in the same shot, or just the person being interviewed.
3. Titles: These should be used to identify each person speaking and appear at the bottom of the screen. You should generally include a person's name and where they live, along with their age when appropriate.
4. B-Roll: Shots of people being interviewed can quickly get boring. So you need some b-roll to add visual interest to your report. B-roll is simply shots of things that are visually interesting that can go with your report.
B-roll can be specific or generic. For instance, if you're interviewing people about how cold it is outside, you could get shots of people standing outside shivering. Or if you're interviewing students at a college campus, you could just get general shots of students walking through hallways, going to classes, etc. The point is to get some footage that can be used to make your report more visually interesting.
5. The conclusion: This is where the reporter wraps things up. The conclusion basically summarizes what the report has been about and what those interviewed have said. Again, this should be relatively short and written in simple broadcast style. Visually, the conclusion can show the reporter or some b-roll footage.
6. The sign-off. This is where the reporter states his or her name and the name of the news program he's reporting for. A typical sign-off goes something like this: "With the View From Bucks, I'm Jane Smith."
Take a look at this video report by Rachel Canelli of the Bucks County Courier Times newspaper. Note how she uses all of the elements I've just outlined in her report. The result is a report that's easy to follow, moves along briskly and is visually interesting.
