Post #3: Writing to video that happened many years ago

My third post not just of the year...but ever. I decided to watch a piece ESPN reporter John Barr did on Denver Bronco's receiver Brandon Marshall's troubled past with the law. What a story that was and how interesting as well. That piece was 13 minutes long. I know that a minute and thirty seconds for us to tell a story is not long, but I'm not sure if I could do 11 1/2 more minutes.

It's hard to think about some of the technical things behind a piece like this because you're so in tune to what she's saying as she gives her experiences. Some of the most riveting pieces of information though are the phone calls that ESPN recovered from the days Marshall allegedly went looking for someone to hurt.
  
Really being able to listen to Rasheedah screaming in the first 911 call and then her friend in the second one as well help tell this person's story. Translating what each person said made a whole lot of sense as well because sometimes you couldn't understand what they were saying. John did a great job at visually showing a piece that happened as early as the mid 2000's. A lot of this footage is also video from documents (graphics) ESPN made and pictures Rasheedah showed them.  Because ESPN is ESPN, and they can make those kinds of graphics, I feel like every bit of video was written to itself. John really had proof of everything he was showing. That was pretty amazing. The zoom ins on the words in each of the police reports showing what the accusations were along with a very interesting email Rasheedah apparently received from Brandon is basically all the evidence she needed. The photos of her bruises don't go against her either.

The facts from this article all make sense and all go together. Does the fact that the Broncos and Marshall each wouldn't talk about this situation on camera shed them in even more of a false light? I think so. And again, if Barr couldn't even show a document saying the team and Marshall decided to decline an interview, he included that in his standup, which is what we've been told you're supposed to do. Say in your standup what you can't visually show.

I can learn a lot from a reporter like this. I had a situation last week where I felt like I was somewhat video poor doing a story on a trash referendum bill. If only now, I knew how to make amazing graphics that exceed my budget range as a journalism student at MU and can only be funded by big companies like ESPN and CNN, I'd be in great shape!

Watch John Barr's story now at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4A756xTC0s

A picture of Brandon Marshall and former girlfriend Rasheedah Watley during an off and on part of their relationship.