Career: Television Cameraperson

New Delhi, June 9 - WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

A video journalist is a cameraperson usually attached with a TV channel where s/he shoots the content for news shows and documentaries

CLOCK WORK

• 9 am: Go to office
• 10 am: Check the news updates to find out the day's likely news to be covered
• 11 am: Editorial meeting wherein day's assignments are given (sometime they are given the night before)
• 11:30 am: Leave for shoot; discuss the story with the reporter for the likely shots
• 12:30 pm: Shoot the video in cohesion with the reporter
• 3:30 pm-5pm: Leave for office
• 5:30 pm: Submit the recording to the reporter to be sent for editing
• 7 pm: Leave for home

THE PAYOFF

Initially you earn a modest salary which is somewhere Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month as a fresher. The salary grows with time and experience and after five to seven years, you can start earning Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 or even more. The salary also depends on the channel. If it's a local channel you might not get paid much, while in the national channels you can earn as much as Rs two lakh per month after you prove your mettle. "The salary grows at par with that of a reporter, and sometimes it is even higher," says Narendra Gudavalli.

SKILLS

• You must be a very hard working person. Carrying (and sometimes running around with) a heavy camera which can weigh up to seven kilograms needs physical strength and stamina.
• Nose for news. Many a times, a cameraperson gives story ideas to the reporter. S/he ought to keep her/his eyes and ears open.
• Agility. You can find an eye-popping video anywhere - from a roadside dhaba to 7, Race Course Road.
• People skills because a video journalist always works with reporters. It's very important to have a good rapport with every one you work

HOW DO I GET THERE?

• Take up a camera-journalist course at a reputable institute where you can learn camera usage. After you are adept at that, you can apply for a cameraman's or trainee's job at a local news channel
• All major channels now run their own institutes for camerapersons. The India Today Group and NDTV run training academies in New Delhi
• But the only flaw in these academies is that they don't assure placements. Around half of those who study here fail to get the jobs in the news channel that runs the academy

INSTITUTES & URLS

• Diploma in camera from the National Institute of Film and Fine Arts (www.niffa.in/courses.html)
• PG diploma in electronic journalism from the Asian College of Journalism (www.asianmedia.org)
• PG diploma from NDTV (send email to ndtvmi@ndtv.com. This year's admissions are already over)
• PG diploma from TV Today, Delhi (www.aajtak.intoday.in)
• PROS & CONS
• Money is good in the long run
• Very strenuous as you have to keep on your feet all the time There can be long working hours, especially when you are travelling
• You are assured wide exposure. Just like in other streams of journalism, you get to meet new people, and get to travel to different places
• One must consider health hazards. Many video journalists tend to develop back problems and spondylitis due to the loads they carry while shooting

Source: HT Horizons

Date: 10th June, 2010

---

For further details about related courses and colleges please click below:

Related courses and colleges