The Ham Radio Video Corps - revisited

People are already saying that they like the idea of a Ham Radio Video Corps. One that would record the involvement of radio amateurs in emergency situations and make the pictures available to the working press.

But the man with the idea says that its more than just shooting the pictures. Here's Alan Kaul, W6RCL.

Last week I came by to tell you about the Amateur Radio Video Corps that many are convinced is needed. This week I'm here to say, whoa, wait a minute. Having a hundred or so cameramen and women running around shooting pictures of ham radio in action is terrific - but what are we going to do with any of those pictures?

How are we going to distribute them?

I mean, if we want to get them on television news when they are timely - that would mean if it was shot today it ought to be on the news tonight - how are we going to do that? Television networks have employees paid to make that happen. Ham radio doesn't.

And even if someone does shoot the tape - say 20-minutes of hams on both ends of police or fire department communications.. Wind blowing their hair, hurricane force winds pushing debris right past them .. Or Hams in a humid
dank shelter, sending health and welfare messages for Red Cross or Salvation Army, or hams cordinating supplies for an emergency relief center. How do we get it out? And how can the media make sense of it?

Sure, you and I can look at it and just about guess what it is. But how is that going to make any sense to any news agency that receives it? I mean, someone who knows nothing about ham radio might actually have to write a
script IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO INCLUDE THE VIDEO IN A NEWS REPORT. How is that going to happen? By magic?

I work in television. I'm a TV news producer. I go to where an event is taking place. I take good notes, I get the names and the correct spellings. I make sure the camera crew I am working with shoots the wide shot, the medium shot and the closeup. And when I get back to the newsroom, I have enough information to write the script. And if I don't, I
know who I can call to ask a question, like "who was the person in the red shirt?"

Who is going to provide that function in an amateur radio video corps?

Who is going to make copies of the tapes? And who'll pay for it?

Who is going to distribute the tapes in a timely manner?

I know we need some vehicle for getting publicity, making videos, etc. But we also need a process which will enable us to do it. I work for a living as do many of you. I can't just drop everything and make ham radio on TV happen.

What we need is more dialog. more ideas. This is a big task. It isn't easy. And if we're going to do anything remotely like this - without spending a lot of money, and without paying anyone to do it for us, we need your ideas. How can we - that is ALL OF US - make this happen?

Alan Kaul, W6RCL, AR Newsline

Alan and Amateur Radio Newsline would really like to hear from you on the idea of a Ham Radio Video Corps.
How would you put it together? Please let him and us know by e-mail to newsline@arnewsline.org

Source: ARNewslineT, W6RCL

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