Backpack Journalism Blog

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, 22 May 2013 — She drives around Guatemala City, moving from story to story in a purple, unidentifiable car that she calls “Bubble.” She humps a camera, an over-sized tripod and whatever else she needs, to pump out an average of three stories a day. She is camerawoman, sound woman, correspondent, producer, writer and editor.

On a hot afternoon and despite the fact that Bubble is not equipped with an air-conditioning unit, she asks me politely as we ride through this crime-ridden capital, “Would you roll up the window for a moment, please?” She has spotted a handful of motorcyclists in her rear-view mirror and is concerned they might be some of the armed thieves who cruise the streets here looking for prey.

She’s the only journalist at her station who claims to be what I call a “backpack journalist” or “backpack video journalist.” She is Eslly Melgarejo, who works at Guatevision. And she loves what she does.

(Photos by Bill Gentile.)

Above, the not-so-kind streets of Guatemala City.

Above, Eslly plows into her coverage of a sporting event for handicapped children. She has selected to portray one child, who is blind, for her project in my backpack video journalism workshop. The workshop is funded by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and hosted by Nancy McGirr’s Fotokids.

Above, Eslly is accompanied by her Guatevision colleague Diego Silva.

Above, she shoots a sequence of the marching band.

Above, kids warm up for the competition.

Above, Eslly focuses in.

Above, Eslly shoots a sequence of her character, Miguel.

Above, runnin’ and gunnin’ — with heart and soul.

Above, a short break.

Above, Elssy, a local celebrity, hands out some of the prizes to kids who won competition.

Above, Eslly, Diego and Bubble head out to another story.

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, 21 May 2013 — Here are some shots from the video journalism workshop today, the second of our five-day event. Today is the first day of Production. Students headed out this morning to begin constructing the visual foundations of their 3-5 minute documentaries.

Yesterday we covered the visual alphabet, the Six-Shot System, character and informal interviews. When the students returned from the field today, we critiqued their work, then dove into formal interviews, dramatic story arc and script, among many others.

The workshop is funded by the Thomson Reuters Foundation and hosted by Nancy McGirr and her Fotokids.

Above and below, students review their own work.

GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala, 20 May 2013 — Nancy McGirr (standing far right) opens the May 20-24 Video Journalism Workshop funded by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Nancy is hosting the event at her non-profit, Fotokids, in Guatemala City.

Below, I discuss composition with attendants.

Below, most of the group.

WASHINGTON, DC, 18 Mau 2013 — There are just 16 days left to SAVE $100 on the June 6-9 Video Journalism Workshop in Washington, DC. Use Promo Code BGENTILE to register at https://videojournalismworkshops.com.

You will learn to:

Articulate story ideas.
Capture powerful images and clean sound.
Recognize and cultivate dramatic story arcs.
Conduct compelling, in-depth interviews.
Write powerful treatments and scripts.
Narrate stories.
Edit for maximum impact.
Join the visual revolution! Join us in June.

Best regards,

Bill Gentile

WASHINGTON, DC, 18 May 2013 — During a trip to Venezuela last week, I visited the headquarters of Ultimas Noticias, one of the more widely read newspapers in the country and part of a broad and multifaceted media operation. The visit was part of a summer tour of presentations and workshops in Panama, Venezuela, Guatemala and Great Britain.

Below, members of the visual journalism team.

WASHINGTON, DC, 18 May 2013 — I address students and faculty at the Universidad Arturo Michelena (UAM) in Valencia, Venezuela, early this week.

I got back last night after a one-week trip to Venezuela, where I met with students and working journalists to discuss backpack video journalism and the technological advances that have made the methodology possible. I visited Barquisimeto, Valencia and Caracas and, as during previous visits, came into contact with wonderful young students eager to practice the craft of communication.

Sadly, and unlike my trip to Panama the previous week, I found Venezuela more polarized and more volatile than ever. Both trips are part of a multi-national tour that I’ve put together this summer. The Panama and Venezuela trips were funded by the U.S. State Department.

Tomorrow I head to Guatemala, where I’m conducting a video journalism workshop sponsored by the Thomson Reuters Foundation. (See http://www.trust.org/course/?id=a05D000000FIFPcIAP). I’m conducting another workshop this month in Guatemala, scheduled for the last week of the month and sponsored by longtime colleague and friend Nancy McGirr and her non-profit, Fotokids. (See http://www.fotokids.org). In June I head to London where I’m conducting a workshop for Thomson Reuters. (See http://www.trust.org/course/?id=a05D000000FJssUIAT).

Above, reviewing student work at UAM. Below, autographing handouts.

PANAMA CITY, Panama, 8 May 2013 — The journalists at La Prensa typically work in “silos,” meaning that reporters usually write stories and “los graficos” usually generate visuals. Having said that, there is some overlap, and a limited number of the staff actually do both.

I had a great time discussing video journalism with them, as well as the promise and the challenges that the craft poses.

They actually published a couple of stories of my visit. You can see them at  http://www.prensa.com/impreso/vivir/la-huella-de-un-reportero/176347 and http://www.prensa.com/impreso/vivir/recuerdos-y-consejos-de-gentile/176348.

(Photos by Julie McKay)

PANAMA CITY, Panama, 8 May 2013 — During my visit, I had the opportunity to breakfast with some of the key owners of Panamanian media outlets. From left are Juan Luis Batista, Bolivar Aleman, Guido Rodriguez, myself, Julia McKay of the U.S. Embassy in Panama, Rafael Candaneda, Guillermo A. Adames and Hernan Posada.

We had the opportunity to discuss how technology had opened up vastly greater opportunities for media owners as well as practitioners, and how citizen journalism has become an increasingly important component of the broader journalism landscape. The breakfast was held at the Club Union.

Below, the view outside Club Union.

PANAMA CITY, Panama, 7 May 2013 — Panamanian students and I discuss “backpack video journalism” and “citizen journalism” at the University of Panama. These students were eager to learn about how technology grants the power to communicate today like never before.

I had the opportunity to share some of the black-and-white images I made for United Press International (UPI) in 1979 while covering the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua.

(Photos by Julie McKay)

PANAMA CITY, Panama, 7 May 2013 — During an interview with “TVN Panama” host Roly Sterling, we discussed how technology has equipped so many with the ability to have a voice, and to raise that voice, on issues important to all of us. I participated in Roly’s show today as part of a State Department-sponsored trip to discuss “citizen journalism,” one component of the broader methodology that we refer to as “backpack video journalism.”