People hate me because I can’t keep my mouth shut.
People hate me because I always seem to be smarter than them.
People hate me because they hate to admit that I am indeed smarter than them sometimes. Kekekekeke.
So, I need to rant today because I have seen so many videos edited by fellow CJs who just do not notice this very annoying, ear splitting and distracting point.
Putting many changing shots into one video make the video interesting. But for goodness sake, cut off all the audio first. Unlink the audio from video. Remove the audio. Add as many padding shots as you wish.
Then, find one pleasing background sound, be it music or the speech and use that in the soundtrack or narration.
This way, you do not subject your viewers to banging drums, clanging cymbals, music, traffic, talking heads and what nots in one single video. People can go insane, you know?
I just don’t get it why some people just don’t get it after watching other’s videos. Oh wait…maybe they think they are so terror-merror that other people videos, for e.g. mine, are without quality. So they don’t watch. Yeah, someone once bitched that I am only good in producing videos in quantities but with no quality.
Who the hell cares, man? I got a story or news to tell, I am not a creative person. I tell my story, move on and find more stories. Why would I want to waste my time trying to be OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) with the artsy-fartsy thing? I am a citizen journalist, not Yasmin Ahmad.
After this post, I hope CJs do not give 6 seconds shots with different audio anymore. Sigh…Lilian, you are a such a bitch, you know? *grins*
I found this question on ICFJ related to the Haiti earthquake. It is probably a good time for me to ponder, reflect and write.
I believe there is no one single answer to this. Some news have to be objective, reporting on the damages, number of lives lost, condition of the scene and maybe a bit of the emotions.
But those are news. Humans hunger for that heart matter. The tear jerker. The raw feelings. Otherwise, we will all be dead from being so cold, objective and without emotions.
One of the topic we had during the advanced citizen journalism course is narrative journalism. I am good in that area. I can write things that make me cry, what more others. In fact, I couldn’t even read out loud what I wrote.
I wrote about Kugan’s mother long wait for justice. Janet read it. I told her I can’t because it will make me cry.
Even in video journalism, we can also swing from the objective video angle to the emotional video angle. I had done both.
But the recent dragon boat tragedy is my first time dealing with really raw, painful human emotions. I believe not many people are able to deal with that kind of situation. I bet my CJ partner will sob so hard, I had to console him. Kekekeke, men do cry, you know?
It takes a lot of effort from me to be objective. From the beginning I had already decided that I am not going to go the path of vernacular media whereby they force feed the public with lots and lots of gory photos and emotional scenes. So, I abstained from filming dead bodies, close-up of tear stained faces and audio of people crying. I merely take a few seconds of such scenes to drive the point.
So, my answer is, we need to have both types of news reporting. The emotional angle to bring awareness, create more compassion and hopefully get more people to donate and help. However, one has to be careful of not using others’ misfortunes to sell news.
My video above has touched 4K views on Youtube. I believe the link has been passed around because my normal views are around 300 only. So, I take comfort that 4,000 people have viewed the tragedy from several angles.
What I had tried to convey in the videos are:
1) The condition of the tragedy site
2) The volunteers who were working hard to help
3) The element of faith in the face of tragedy
4) Short glimpse of the parents and grandparents
5) Rescue efforts by the police and other authorities
6) A compassionate state leader
7) The despair situation with fading lights and darkness
Only God knows how my mind was working hard on how to approach the editing at the time of filming. I was like having a director, an editor, videographer and viewer all talking at the same time in my head. *grins*
Read what people commented on the question on ICFJ site.
Oh, I forget to add. My first draft on Kugan’s mom was chuck into the dustbin by Mkini editor Kabi. Hehehehe. I sort of expected that because he wants news, I give him views. It doesn’t kill off my enthusiasm because I merely brushed it off as ‘Janet taught me to write that way, you just don’t know how to appreciate my talent’. I posted it on my blog though.
Someone left a list of questions on Malaysiakini’s site regarding the dragon boat tragedy. I feel those are very pertinent questions and want to note it over here so that if I have a chance, I will direct the questions to the right authority.
As a citizen journalist, I have the opportunity to enter the site and have access to the briefing and press conference by the relevant authorities. When I was there earlier, they haven’t found all the bodies and hence, works were concentrated on find them missing young men.
It was a good time to ask too many questions because, putting it in the wrong sentence, one can be seen as witch-hunting or finger pointing.
by saengch
This is a tremendous tragedy. Could the journalist please investigate some of these questions? (1) How many of the team were wearing life jackets?
(at the moment, we seem to be getting different answers from two parties, the police and the fire and rescue team. We know the first victim was wearing a life jacket but he was trapped and drowned. When the second victim was found, we asked again but no confirmed answer was given)
(2) How many of the deaths and missing members involve not wearing jackets and how many did wear life jacket?
(Although life jackets seems to be the life saver, unfortunately, given the circumstances, it may not help much. With the traumatised survivors, it is probably hard to get the confirmed answer at the moment but I hope they will indeed get some ideas later on.)
(3) Were the life jack just inadequate in number, or not suitable for rowing exercise (too thick), or was it lack of supervision that cause any not to wear them under the heat of exercise in the morning sun?
(my nephew who used to be a dragon boat participant told me that they used to take it off and sat on it because the life jacket makes rowing difficult. Youths being youths, are carefree)
(4) Was there inadequate fund for life jacket from the school or government?
(this is one of my main concern because it is a known fact that our Federal Gov does not give full funding to Chinese, Tamil, Missionary and Agama schools. Thsi sport is more a school based initiative.)
(5) Was the muddy area a factor that trap the swimmers (3rd day of lunar month, lowest tide rising at 9am)?
(the whole area is totally not suitable for anyone to venture in because the sea is muddy but further away, big ships anchored there. Moreover, the ground is a junkyard, full of danger)
(5) Was it true about an informal report of earlier collisions of several dragon boats on 14 of Jan and one rower having fallen into the waters, not raising enough alarm by authority?
(I asked this question on a private basis and was given to understand by several independent parties that the schools have used the location for several years to do their practices. It is free, unlike proper water sports area. And the other reason given was it is conveniently located. However, the state does have to answer why they shifted the dragon boat competition to the surrounding area last year. I was given to understand that they will shift it back this year.)
(6) Was the lack of floats/boays, marking lines, bad planning, lack of safety engineering check of the first-time-use muddy area a factor?
(There is absolutely no bouys, no markers. It is an open, dirty, muddy sea.)
All the above are based on my observation and findings from my short trips to the site, twice.
I still recall the cold sweats I endured when I first went to a press conference alone as a citizen journalist at the Penang State Legislative building. There was lots of protocol and dress codes to follow. My confidence was already shattered early in the morning because I was wearing a 3/4 sleeve blouse. The guard, knowing I am a newbie refused to allow me in. I had to made a mad rush home to change into a long-sleeve blouse just to get into the compound. Going into the hall needs black lounge suits or baju kurung for women.
I was there because of a protest and memorandum handover related to high rise buildings. I made one mistake of asking one of the member a question. The whole gang of ‘real’ journalists mobbed him the moment I asked a question.
Now I am much more experienced and I would do the same too. Whenever we hang around an event or situation, our senses are on alert. Eyes, ears are open to see if there is anything happening. The moment we notice or hear something, we will rush with our cameras.
So, I am now part of the mob. But I don’t have as much knowledge as the veterans. They recognise all the VIP faces, who are the big guns to aim for and where or what they do.
Recently, I was kneeling down on the carpet floor of the Town Hall building with my video camera (to get good shots, the camera has to be shoulder height of the subject,hence the odd kneeling position). The topic is about town council, city status and things that are foreign to me. I don’t even know much how the MPPP works. There are directors and there are councillors. Who is who. How are they related? Who is the big boss of them all? So many things unclear to me.
Suddenly, the Chief Minister who was sitting on the sofa directly facing me said to me, “Lilian, you know right, what is a (I forgot what he said but it is something like making Penang a city status)?”
I bluntly shook my head and told him, “No wor, I don’t.” I seriously do not know because I don’t exactly know how my island is run. He thought I was just trying to be smart by pretending to be stupid.
He said, “Clever lah you people (the reporters), say don’t know so that I have to explain it. That way you all don’t have to write so much.”
Peer pressures would have cause many people to say, “Yes, I do.” That way one cannot be embarrassed in a gang knowledgeable journalists. But not me. I don’t want to act clever when I am really clueless and blur about an issue.
After the CM explained, it dawns on me that if the council takes over the whole island, we probably won’t have so many problems of Fed Gov controlled JKR pushing the buck to MPPP and MPPP doing the same to them. I know how tedious it is for CJs to find the right authority when dealing with public properties like bad roads, bad structures etc. I wanted to ask but this time, peer pressure stopped me.
I can just imagine the whole gang of reporters who were standing behind me staring at me from behind, “You stupid or wert?”
I found this really short clip of 18 seconds long message from Shuf. Shuf is one of our big bosses in the video department in Malaysiakini dot tv. We citizen journalists were trained by Malaysiakini-ICFJ. Actually, he is not even our boss. More like some reliable, knowledgeable, veteran chap whom we can rely on.
So, this is Shuf 18 seconds long praises for us citizen journalists of Malaysia. Thank you, Shuf…
And can I also share my 22 seconds of praise from one of my favourite interview subjects. He is none other than the Chief Minister of Penang. Without him and his earliest approval of my reporting, I probably will not have achieved this much.
I went to the CM’s office to interview him about PICC. As usual, I set up my camera, waited for him and when he was seated, I got right down to my set of questions. But he surprised me with this wish. He even insisted I put that in my video. But of course, my topic is serious and I don’t think those who watch it will be amused with the lighter side of the CM. So, I cut it off and air it alone.
This article jolts me back to the harsh reality of living in a city like Penang. I just discovered that all the years when I passed by the soup kitchen near my office in Jalan Larut, I never even notice they are homeless people looking for a free lunch.
I worked there for almost 7-8 years, walking past this shophouse and always notice the bunch of smelly beggars hanging around. I think my colleagues and I probably held on to our purses tighter because we always connect them to snatch thieves.
Once, Jimmy and I were driving around with his GPS to locate the place. We couldn’t find it. Then, I have asked a few beggars several times for direction. I couldn’t find it too.
But few days ago, I suddenly notice the place. Now, I know why there are so many people hanging around the tiny green patch of grass between Jalan Larut and Argyll Road.
It will be my next destination. I also have to cover someone who is now holding a proper job after being homeless.
The other day when Janet was in Penang, I had the honour of having her company and to have breakfast with her. She wants to learn more about Kampung Buah Pala. But our conversation actually revealed a lot of things that I never thought of.
It never occurred to me why I do certain things. She asked me something like what drives me to be a citizen journalist. It popped out of my mouth that I did it because of my faith.
There is no such thing as for the love of the country or to make the future better for my children or to butter the CM’s butt. Hahahahaha.
I told her I feel it is my Christian duty to use the skills I have to help another. Of course, I am not so generous to be helping people all the time like I am Mother Teresa like that. But deep in my heart, the most fulfilling things I have done are those that involve the poor and the homeless.
I also told her that if one or two of the villagers from Kampung Buah Pala are not from my church, I wouldn’t have invested my tears, sweats and cow dung stained jeans. I kept going back because I see no help coming to them and I was stubbornly waiting for something good to happen to them. (Of course, I am not discerning people by their faith but truth to be told, I have a certain stronger connection when we pray to the same God)
At the core of it, what makes me go for yet another video filming session is the stirrings in the heart that I see as God’s prompting.
I also told Janet that I don’t just head to my destination without saying a prayer. Usually, when I am driving to the place or the night before, I will silently talk to my Jesus. “Lord, open my eyes so that I can see what You want me to see. Do not allow my ego to take over but instead, give me the wisdom of knowing what to do.”
Sometimes, those assignments are terrifying like when I have to interview people whom I see as ‘the big people’ such as Lim Kit Siang. I would confess to my Jesus how nervous and scared I am being in their company.
Then, there was this time when I have to interview our Bishop. He was like the mighty sky and I am chicken little. I have never talked to him before that. He doesn’t notice little nobodies like me.
And I was going to tackle a big assignment of clearing the church’s name. Lucky I have my CJ partner with me or else I think I will stammer so hard. Now, the Bishop’s face breaks into a smile whenever he sees me and I give an imaginary Gimme 5 to Jesus.
So, my driving force is Jesus. Some did it for Hindraf. Some did it for Gerakan. Some did it for PKR. Me? Jesus Christ. And I hope I don’t ever sway away or get sucked in DAP. Kekekeke.
Utter nonsense uttered. That’s why I dug out a month old video clips which I have no intention of editing to make two videos out of it. I have a stack of press conferences videos which I never produce any documentaries because I sometimes feel the issue is a non-issue where the focus of our citizen journalism is concerned.
I attended the briefing by the Penang Botanic Gardens Director on the development of the gardens on November 18, 2009. After weighing the issue, I see it as yet another tussle between the previous government and the new government.
I do not wish to get entangled into yet another one of those ping-pong case. I had enough with Kampung Buah Pala. Moreover, from what I had gathered during the press conference and also site visit, it appears to me that the top leader is surrounded by some inefficient folks.
However, when I see some clueless, over egoistic, unknown folk talk about the Chief Minister with so much disrespect and self-centeredness, I decided to produce the videos. This chap is obviously being very naive, out of touch and doesn’t seem to know who and how to report his grouses.
As with every case, there are politics involved. Smart people will know that. You can’t run away from politics. You want to make life easy? Sit on the right side.
I have been bombarded with criticism over at my Youtube account, other people’s blog, my own blog and even on social networking sites over my tendency to put myself in a video.
There was this one time when I attended a 3-hour long event and I made a less than 10 mins video of it with my questions in the video. Well, someone said this on my Youtube account :
This video by the egoistical Lilian should focus on the 3 hours forum yet it was made purposely to protect & defend herself.
She had also abused her privilege as a “citizen journalist” in KBP to provide insider information to DAP. It is time for her true colours to be exposed!!!!!
Of course, I find it soooo amusing that someone actually took offence with me and accused me of being a spy. I don’t blame them for thinking I am a spy because I was holding a 9-page Kampung Buah Pala chronology of events which I downloaded from the State Gov. official website and printed them. Then, I am not the kind of person who can sits and listens only. I can do many things at a time. So, I was busy texting, Facebooking and etc with my mobile phone. Naturally, people think I am feeding information and getting my instruction on what to question the Gerakan president.
But this post is about how much do we put ourselves in our citizen journalist video? For me, I think it is only right to put ourselves in there when necessary because the video is from our point of views. We are not representing a media company as a reporter. We are reporting our own news so we have to be part of the video.
The above video is a press conference by the Chief Minister. Again, the whole event took about 2 hours because the CM also visited the site. I have added my conversation into the video because it is about my concerns that I am addressing. I am not the mouthpiece of any party but representing the citizens in reporting. The Chief Minister has accepted that whenever he sees me in his press conferences, I am there not as part of Malaysiakini but the general citizens.
When I have been instructions by Malaysiakini to ask questions, then, I usually identify myself that I am there because my editor asked me to. Then, I clearly made it known that the questions are from Malaysiakini and not me.
But for the above Botanical Gardens project, I brought questions I have heard from people on the grounds and also picked up concerns voiced over the internet. I asked the CM and he replied to me as a leader to a citizen.
I wish people will learn what is citizen journalism before lumping me with the professional journalists and then, try to demean me by putting me down. I am not one of those who can be easily intimidated. I will tell them off that they are the noobs for not understanding the meaning of citizen journalism, not me. It usually pissed them off. Hehehehe.
The other thing is, if I am going to waste many hours of my time in pursuing a story, on a voluntary basis, with no fixed income, why should I hide myself? Moreover, people have heard thousands of news, serious ones, so why bother with more? Let’s chill and make news our way, the CJ way.
The two batches of citizen journalists who underwent the Malaysiakini-ICFJ citizen journalism course had a small gathering on 19 December 2009 at LAB Bistro in Batu Feringghi.
Well, I wouldn’t rave about having graduated because it is not really a big deal. We attended several weekend courses, learned video filming, video editing, journalism ethics, script writing and tadaaaa…..we are called citizen journalists.
What is more important to me is the work we produce. Sadly, only a few of us have taken that blind faith leap and began producing videos. Meanwhile some are still waiting for that ‘boom’ to come up with something. Then, there are those who tread in the safe waters of producing either entertainment events or helping some Adun to be their mouthpiece.
I had done videos just using photographs and MP3 recording. So, I really do not see why others won’t just jump in and produce something. No matter how crappy our first job is, there is a story to be told.
On that night, I was just playing around with the huge camera from Shufiyan. I didn’t know he is going to edit and produce a video out of the silly shots Jimmy and I had captured.
But essentially, I think I said something like, “I never really count the number of videos I made but I think it is around 200. I don’t count them because I don’t want that figure to intimidate other CJs.” I am like a freak with a major kiasu competitive streak to produce 200 videos while others are still struggling through. And I also said, “I don’t really care if my videos have made an impact on others.” I usually shoot, make the best of it, and hope that somehow something good will come out of it. I don’t want to keep track because it is like asking for credits. My friend said my character is like ‘fuck and go’ whereby I just do it and move on.
