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page 1 | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6 page 7 | page 8 | table of contents | references | test Visuals and B-Roll Ever heard the saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words"? This saying is nowhere more true than on television, and if the picture moves , so much the better! When preparing for an interview that will be televised, think about what "visuals" you can bring. Depending on the interview, your visual may be a retractable needlestick device, a pair of latex gloves, or something else - it depends on the story. The basic visual no nurse should be without is the "RN" pin. If you can show your story, rather than only talk about it, T.V. reporters and their audiences will appreciate it. But using visuals means having them with you, which means thinking about the possibilities ahead of time. Put "visuals" on your own interview preparation checklist. "B-roll" is background footage. Because T.V. is an "image-hungry" medium, reporters and producers often will tape footage to run with the story. This B-roll will run while the reporter's voice-over is "setting up" the story. Watch the news, and you'll see a lot of B-roll. If the story is on treating premature infants, for example, the footage may be a "pan" over the incubators in a neonatal unit. If the story is on home health care, the B-roll may be of an RN pulling up to the client's home in his or her automobile, getting out of the car, and walking up to the front door. Reporters may ask you to be available for shooting B-roll. If you have questions about how the B-roll will be used in the finished story -- ask. In summary, this independent study module has provided specific information about strategic media relations, media relations activities/tools, and about the challenges and opportunities of interviewing in different media formats. The ultimate goal is to enable you as a nurse to use the media to advance the objectives of your nursing organizations.
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