BE PREPARED
A photojournalist's checklist

"They say that artists are only as good as their tools. Well photojournalists are only good if they are ready for the unexpected." So says former KSTP photojournalism manager Dave Wertheimer.

"My toolbox goes beyond Steady Sequenced Video and Personalized Meaningful Natural Sound," he says. It starts with the basics. So here are the basics, according to Dave. (We also offer a peek at reporters toolkits.)

Always make sure you have more than a half a tank of gas in the news car. Camera batteries charged and the charger in the car. Wireless mic batteries changed often. A clean lens.

In my pockets I keep:

• At least $50.00 to go out of town at the last minute and a credit card for work use, 2 pens and white towel in my back pocket, not 1 but 2 spare car keys, a leatherman type tool (I have a Sog survival tool I have had for 10 years; it has a great tweeker on it), station ID and business cards in my wallet
  
  
• I use a PortaBrace "Slinger" instead of a run bag or fanny pack because that can go over any heavy coat, and is light for summer use. In the Slinger I have the following: 3 spare tapes, spare camera battery, spare wireless batteries, stick and lav mic, ifb kit for me and spare for talent, several audio connectors for different mult boxes including a 60db pad, flashlight and lens tissue.

In the news car I keep these basics:

• Camera and pad lock, Tripod, Steadybag, Light kit (2 totas and an omni) 2 police scanners, CB, 2-way radio, dc - ac power inverter, Cell phone IFB kit, GPS, radar detector, maps for the whole ADI and then some, clothing for several days including extra rain gear for talent and even hairspray, 2 rain covers for the camera, garbage bags, 6 bottles of water, bottle of bleach, granola bars, jumper cables, fixaflat, shipping labels, and at least at all times 20 raw tapes and a blacked tape with station countdown.

And the list goes on. The point is I try to be ready for anything.