All’s not ‘fare’
The BBC probably has some of the best news videos – both visually and journalistically – even when the topic is as mundane as a bus and train fare increase. Still there’s always room for critique.
I’ve been thinking about framing interview subjects recently and I’ve been able to learn quite a bit just by looking at how the BBC frames the subject on a 16:9 screen – the rules of the thirds become a lot more clearer on a 16:9 screen. I do feel that some of its framing does break the rules though. When framing officials, the camera is placed at eye level. However, when interview commuters, a good number of shots do look like the audience is “looking down” on the subject.
Also, I wished there was more of a logical sequence in the shots – People at the platform, looking at the signs, boarding the train, sleeping on the train, then getting off the train. I also thought it would be better if the reporter told the story through a particular ride either he or a commuter took and compared the difference.
The story felt like it could have been a print report instead, since it was mostly informational. In fact the text story on the BBC site was mostly similar and it also went into more details and talked about the finger pointing that went on over the fare hike.
