Another CNN DSLR Video Package

A new CNN Video Package was released shot on the Canon 7D DSLR Camera. The video focuses on the “Rally to restore the American dream” held at City Hall in New York.

Although I found the video compelling, I think this is one of the instances where “Cinematic Journalism” may start to tip the scales in the direction of bias. The producers of the video told dslrnewsshooter.com they took their visual inspirations from the films “The Grapes of Wrath” and “How Green Was My Valley.” Both of these films were strong takes on the labor movement during the time of the great depression.

The visuals in the piece use harsh black and white images with strong contrast. The music behind the visuals sets an ominous tone as labor advocates discuss their struggle.

While I personally believe strongly in the rights of labor, in a video as highly charged as this one it would have been better to show the other side of the argument. I realize that this piece in particular only covered the rally, but it did come off as strongly one-sided.

I think when producing a piece like this, every journalist should ask the question “Would the person I’m covering be excited to forward this out on his/her mailing list?” If the answer is yes, you may have tipped the scales a little too far in your coverage. I felt that was strongly the case in this piece.