1.7 Where do you stand?
1.7.1 The journalist's camera

As a journalist you have to be aware that you see things from a certain perspective. You report on events and issues, and view them from a one position. You may be sitting at your desk or in a scientist's lab. You may be reporting from a press conference or writing about what you see in someone's kitchen.

Every story needs a "news angle" or perspective. Even though you are reporting on science, there is no truly "objective" journalistic view. You may choose to highlight a trend or put a research finding into context, or comment a scientific controversy. Or perhaps you would like to portray a person through the experience of spending a working day with him or her.

So remember, there are many ways to tell a story. Choose your perspective carefully.

Think of yourself as a journalist holding a camera — even if you are working for print, online or radio. The question is: where do you place your imaginary "camera"?

Your "camera" can be:

• close to a single person, e.g. a patient or a victim;
• high above a scene, reporting from a distance, independent and little involved;
• close to an organisation that offers information, such as an NGO or a company;
• close to the scientific community;
• close to the audience, examining problems in their daily life.
• … and there are certainly other options.

Once you have installed your "camera," leave it where it is. Do not jump around without good reason. In other words, stick to a certain perspective all the while you create your report — that is, unless you are preparing a very long piece, in which case you may need to change your "camera" position. If so, make it clear to the reader when and why you are doing so.

EXAMPLE:
Imagine you would like to cover the construction of a new geothermal plant in western Africa. Your editor allows you to write a longer story. A short news piece may have had one of three possible "camera" perspectives, but these could be combined as the segments of a longer feature:

1. The people who could profit from the renewable energy source.
2. The engineers and the company who build the plant — their work and the financial risk involved with every hole drilled.
3. Government officials and NGOs who support the geothermal plant construction. What is their vision for the energy supply in the future?

Click on the following link to a feature-story that illustrates how this can be done:
Kenya looks underground for power [ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/4473111.stm ]


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