“Do less better” is the resounding advice from former CBS News President Andrew Heyward to Professor Sissel McCarthy’s news video reporting students.
Heyward came to class recently to critique student profile assignments and told students a more focused piece is always better.
“Report broadly by being relentless on the street and then ruthless as an editor,” said Heyward, who urged students to find an angle and build a narrative arc around that.
He also shared the one question reporters should ask more often: What do you mean by that?
When someone answers that question Heyward says you often get a vivid detail or golden nugget that will make your piece memorable.
“Every story needs a great beginning and ending and a surprise or twist in the middle,” Heyward added.
