Reporters, video and examples from all over

Our door is always open to visiting journalists. This week we were able to talk shop with Chris Krewson of The Morning Call in Allentown, where he runs the online operation. His mcall.com is about to get the same redesign treatment we can already see in Orlando and Hartford. (The Tribune Company hard at work.) Chris's own shop does a lot of video work. He's researched other examples of excellent newsroom video and has shared these findings:

The Bakersfield Californian. Last year they produced 400-500 videos and 70 percent was shot by reporters. Web editor Davin McHenry says: Ninety percent of reporter-shot video is edited by another person. We have a pool of 6 people who edit video (most of the work is done by two people, the multimedia producer and multimedia reporter.)  Additionally the web editor, assistant web editor, night editor and one reporter help pitch in with editing as needed. The other 10 percent is edited by reporters themselves.

The Washington Post and the Post documentary video page. Some examples from reporters:
*Washington Post "Answer Man" John Kelly goes to the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge for an inside look at the unique machine that lifts barriers to alter lanes during rush hour.
*Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War patrolled the streets of Washington, D.C., as the U.S. entered its fifth year in Iraq. Reporter: David Montgomery.
*In the Pacific Northwest, wind and hydro-power are coming together to produce electricity without the release of any greenhouse gases. Post reporter Blaine Harden interviews Brad Peck, Energy Northwest.
*Brigid Schulte, a Metro reporter, shoots Mary McElveen, recently appointed Alexandria's poet laureate, who talks about what she hopes to do for poetry in the city.
*Washington Post Reporter Nelson Hernandez was traveling with a convoy delivering new water trucks to the water agency in Baghdad when they came under attack by insurgents.

Note: The Hernandez video was edited by Chet Rhodes, a multimedia editor at the dot com Post newsroom and one of the most influential trainers for reporters and photographers getting started in video. Editors in Roanoke (Carole Tarrant) and Allentown (Chris Krewson again!) praise his one-day training sessions.

Three lessons from Rhodes: 1. Save seven minutes at the end of an interview for the video segment. 2. Let the subject tidy up, and 3. Ask two questions, no more.

The Daily Press, Hampton Roads, Va. Reporter Danielle Zielinski updates the Web audience on the construction of a new rollercoaster at Busch Gardens.

The Asbury Park Press. That link starts a series of videos streaming. Recently, there were videos on a fire, on a bed and breakfast rehab project, and on a 107th birthday. This link starts another series, which recently included a video on a bus accident and then rolled into the rehab project video.

The Austin American-Statesman. That is the page that showcases all their newsroom video.

The Herald-Leader of Lexington, Ky. Two reporter pieces: Fans turning out for their team and a piece on the Lexington Philharmonic.

Notes on video players: I look to see 1. is there a "share this" or "email this video" button? 2. Will the player indicate both the length of the video and how much time has elapsed so far? and 3. Is the user appropriately given notice about any ad and about how long it will be before the newsroom video starts?

I'm hoping to develop more guidelines as I view more examples.