TELLING THE NEWS THROUGH CONVERSATION

How many times have you been advised to "people-ize" your stories? Nothing wrong with the idea, but in practice, it often means just grabbing some M.O.S (man on the street) interviews at the scene. Consider an alternative approach: Ask people to discuss the subject among themselves, and shoot their conversation.

Compare these stories about a World Bank protest--one using M.O.S. sound bites, and the other featuring a conversation--and let us know what you think.

NewsLab offers the following guidelines for creating conversation stories. If they help, please let us know.

Why Tell a Conversation Story?

• Conversation stories can serve as an alternative to man-on-the-street interviews in gauging public opinion and reaction, with the added advantage of visual continuity. M.O.S. soundbites almost appear to be scripted. People are stiff and formal in their responses. And that's no surprise, since journalists tend to grab those bites in a hurry, taking little or no time to encourage people to relax. Consider how differently people talk when they're standing up, facing a camera, speaking into a hand-held microphone, as opposed to the way they speak with each other.
  
  
• People are more likely to be candid and honest in expressing their views in conversation with friends than in answering a reporter's questions. This is particularly true if the camera is placed at a distance so it is not a distraction.
  
  
• A conversation story looks different from standard newscast fare. We don't often see people engaged in discussion, exchanging views. Consider how this approach might be used in reporting on issues where there is substantial disagreement.
  
  
• This approach mimics one of the most common ways in which people learn about the world and develop their own opinions--through normal, everyday conversations with friends and colleagues. The familiarity of the form should make it accessible to viewers.
  
  
• A conversation story can be produced without a reporter, whose time could be spent instead developing and providing context and background about the issue under discussion.

How to Produce a Conversation Story

• In a public place, look and listen for people who are involved in animated conversations. (If you're lucky, they may already be talking about your topic.)
  
  
• Introduce yourself and explain what you're doing. Chat with them for a bit about your story topic to get a "feel" for their level of knowledge and interest in the topic, their conversational style, and whether or not they share the same opinion. The goal is enlightening conversation, not complete agreement.
  
  
• Ask if you can mike them and shoot them from a distance while they continue the conversation.
  
  
• Set up the camera on tripod far enough away to avoid distracting the participants. You'll want to be able to push in and move for reaction shots and cutaways.
  
  
• Roll on everything, even if the subject changes. You might be surprised by the direction the conversation takes.
  

Other Issues to Consider

• Sound is critically important in these stories. Be sure your sound is clear. Avoid areas with distracting background noise.
  
  
• In editing, seek to preserve the natural flow of the conversation as much as possible. Too many cutaways can interrupt the flow and defeat the purpose of the conversational approach.
  
  
• The lead-in must make clear that the participants were asked to discuss the topic, particularly if they were not talking about it on their own before the shoot began.