1 Project Start | Introduction | Get Topic Approved |
2 Pre-Production | Outline | Research | Production Plan |
3 Production | Interviews |
4 Post-Production | Organize | Sound Bites | Transcript |
| Reporter Track | B-Roll | Graphics | Final Edit |
5 Distribution | Export | Promotion |
| Interview Subjects | Recording Set-up | Dropbox | YouTube | RecordRTC |
| Meeting Set-up | Meeting Recording | Dropbox | YouTube | RecordRTC |
Once you have your Production Plan approved you are ready to record interviews.
Interview Subjects
It may take some time to get an expert to agree to be interviewed. Your first choice may not agree and you will have to find another qualified subject.
Invitation
For each person you wish to interview send an email message. Here is a template that may help when contacting an expert you do not know:
Subject High School News Interview
Message
Hello,
I am a reporter for my school’s TV news program, Logan Live! I would like to interview you for a story I am producing about (BRIEFLY DESCRIBE YOUR TOPIC.)
I am learning about broadcast journalism and your participation in my story will be greatly appreciated. Are you willing to be interviewed? If yes, when would you be available within the next two weeks for an online meeting?
If you are not available to be interviewed, is there someone else you recommend I contact?
Sincerely,
YOUR NAME
Class of YEAR
James Logan High School
Follow Up
If you have not heard back from the person after two days, send a follow up message.
Recording Set-Up
Video Conferencing
Video Conferencing software is the main tool for conducting an online news interview. It needs to provide good quality video and sound as the interviewer and subject talk with each other. Many popular video conferencing tools, such as zoom and Google Meet, require installing software that only runs on certain platforms, such as Apple’s OS X and Microsoft’s Windows. When using a Chromebook to conduct an online meeting, Jitsi Meet is a great option. It does not need to be installed; it allows recording of the video and audio; and you do not need an account to use it.
Before setting up a Jitsi Meet session you need to decide how you want to record it.
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Dropbox
This service allows you to store and retrieve files online. You may sign up for a free account here.
The free Dropbox account has limited storage (2GB) but is adequate for recording a Jitsi Meet session. After the recording is complete you will need to download the file onto your Chromebook, then remove it from Dropbox when you need more space.
If you choose to use Dropbox to record a Jitsi Meet session you will need your account name and password.
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YouTube
This second option for recording a Jitsi Meet session requires a YouTube account, and your school email address already has one. Visit YouTube.com and make sure you are logged in with you school email address.
Click the Create icon and choose the Go live option.
In the stream set-up window, enter a Title, then click on the pull-down menu next to Public.
Change the stream type to Private.
Select the No it’s not made for kids option. When the settings are correct, click the SAVE button.
Look for the Default stream key (Variable) and click the COPY button. Open your Production Planning Google Doc and type YouTube Stream Key at the top of the page. Use your [ctrl+V] keys to paste the key you copied.
You will need later paste this streaming key into your Jitsi Meet record settings.
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RecordRTC
This tool is an extension to the Chrome web browser. It allows you to record you screen, camera, microphone and speaker sound, and any combination of those.
To install RecordRTC, open this link then click the Add to Chrome button.
When asked to Add “RecordRTC”? click the Add extension button.
A confirmation window should appear and the RecordRTC icon should appear near the top right corner.
If the icon does not appear click on the Manage extensions icon, find RecordRTC in the list and click the pin icon.
RecordRTC is now ready to use.
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Meeting Set-Up
Once you have decided how you will record the meeting (either Dropbox or YouTube) go to meet.jit.si and enter a title in the Start a new meeting field.
Here is a good format to use for your title: News Story-SUBJECT-NAME
Replace SUBJECT with one or two words that describe what your story is about, and replace NAME with your name.
Click the go button when the meeting name is set.
If Jitsi thinks the title is too common you will see a warning. You should change the meeting name until the warning goes away.
Once the meeting name is set, copy and send it to each person you will be interviewing. You will only conduct one interview at a time, so using the same meeting title will work for different meetings.
Also: give each of your interview subjects this link (COMING SOON) to the basics of setting up for their interview.
Meeting Start
Ten minutes before the time you have scheduled the meeting to start, visit meet.jit.si and enter the meeting title. Press the Join meeting button to start it.
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Dropbox Recording
If you want to record the meeting to your Dropbox account, click the three-dot menu in the right side corner, then click on the Start recording option.
Click the Allow button to add Jitsi Meet to your Dropbox.
Click the Sign in button to log into Dropbox.
After logging into Dropbox click the Start recording button.
Ask your guest to join the meeting and conduct your interview.
When you are done with your interview go back to the three-dot menu and click the Stop recording option.
Close Jitsi Meet and open your Dropbox account. Double-click the meeting recording to open it.
Open the three-dot menu on the right side and click on the Download option. Navigate to your project folder and save the recording.
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YouTube Recording
If you want to record your meeting to your YouTube account, click the three-dot menu in the right side corner then click on the Start live stream option.
Click in the Live stream key box and paste the stream key you copied from your YouTube account.
Then click the Start live stream button.
You will see a confirmation message once the stream has started. Invite your guest and conduct your interview.
When you are done with your interview go back to the three-dot menu and click the Stop live stream option.
When the Live Streaming window opens click the Stop live stream button.
You will see a confirmation message when the stream has stopped.
Close Jitsi Meet and log into your YouTube account. You will find your saved stream in your live videos.
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RecordRTC
If you want to record your meeting using RecordRTC, click the RecordRTC icon in the top of your Chrome browser window and select the Screen+Microphone+Speakers option.
When the Share you screen window opens click the Application Window tab, select your Jitsi Meet window, then click the Share button.
If you only want to see the video of the person you are interviewing, click the > next to the video you want to close.
The RecordRTC icon will how be red and indicate the recording time. When you are done with your interview, click the indicator icon to stop the recording.
After the recording has been processed you will have the option to save it. Click the here link to start the download.
Navigate to your project folder and make sure the file name ends with the .webm extension, then click the Save button.
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