Do's and Don't's: Feature Story Visuals

Scott Sanborn leads into the video feature
on a local creator, Jim Rogers

KGAN recently broadcast a charming feature segment titled "Created in the Corridor" which serves as an opportunity to dissect use of visuals.

I've established some do's and don't's for this piece below.

DO's

-Detailed b-roll: the up-close shots fit with this precise craft.
-The walk-through: here the creator verbally and visually walks viewers through his work and the process of its creation and use.
-Involved interviewer: by placing Scott Sanborn in the shot, observing or demonstrating, from week to week, there becomes an audience recognition and trust.
-Up and about: avoiding the formal sit-down when their job has them on their feet more often than not, instead following them as they go, and interviewing along the way.
-In studio intro/outro: the anchor stand-up in front of a large screen with the segment's signature image mimics a professional 60 Minutes-style piece.

DON'T's

-Mmhm's: audible remarks such as "mmhm" and "okay" from the interviewer seem unprofessional and distract the flow of the piece.
-Interruption via editing: at times the subject's remarks are faded out to make way for the reporter's commentary. (I see this a lot in local news and to me it feels like both awkward, low-quality editing and rude execution to talk over the interviewees response. I would prefer the audio be cut off clean.)
-Misfit skyline: the segment visual looks the opening to "Fraiser." A New York skyline does not make me think of the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor.
-Cut-offs: the story's title as it appears on the website reads "Jim's instrument Ma..." - a little mistake that could detract online viewers.

Despite some don't's, I like this piece. It feels like a segment from a national magazine, but covers a local story.

Goal met: local station delivers high quality news about issues that pertain to me.