Hillary Clinton & Barack Obama, by Evan Vucci (AP). Used under license. Some rights reserved.
Please forgive the work-related puffery. Or don’t, damn you.
But this video – Obama’s Paranoia Factor, produced as part of Guardian Unlimited’s US elections coverage, mightily entertained me, and I thought it might appeal to the journalism educators I know read this blog from time to time.
It shows the Guardian’s US correspondent Suzanne Goldenberg on the hustle earlier in the week (you know – way back when we thought Barack Obama was unstoppable). The film graphically demonstrates how the Obama campaign had become more secretive and controlling as it moved into the lead (also noted, if only in text, by the New York Times).
Suzanne’s in fine form as she beetles round interviewing campaign workers, fending off absurd requests from officials to stop doing what every good reporter does – asking lots, and lots, of questions. You don’t often get to see a journalist at work like this, which is what might make it useful for those j-deans out there.
Our exclusive series of election videos are, incidentally, proving a huge hit – imho they’re among the best bits of made-for-web journalism we’ve ever done. They’re doing much of what we first set out to do with video last autumn; tell the story using video when it’s appropriate, in a way that’s true to our values and style, and in a way that’s different to anything you’ll see on conventional TV – or other websites. They’re being put together by a talented US-based team assembled by Guardian Films, and including our own in-house producers, journalists and editors.
But we’re still learning – do let me know what you think. And do check out our Deadline USA blog – another new launch I think’s steaming along very nicely too.
But we read it all the time…
I’ve been watching the Guardian Films and I think they have produced some great work so far. They’ve done a great job.
Marvellous to see the reporter pricking the officiousness of numerous little bureaucrats – especially the main lurker who tries to interfere with her interviewing of the volunteers. (priceless put down: “I’ve covered many elections and its rare to come across someone like you.”)
I agree this is the kind of thing journalism lecturers should be sharing with their charges.
Scales fell from my eyes the first time I witnessed a reporter expertly batting aside a jobsworth with this kind of reasoned menace – it was David Thomson, now with the BBC Politic Show.
He managed to wrongfoot these people with an extremely pleasant manner which somehow still dripped with menace.
Suzanne Goldenberg shows the same seamless skill here: “Can you get me senior campaign official to confirm that breaching my constitutional rights is now Obama campaign policy?” Total genius.