FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

The Cadence

How often should I video journal?

As much as you’d like. We suggest getting into a rhythm, and it’s better to journal too much than not enough. With that in mind, journaling after each day at work (or the very next day) when your impressions are freshest is encouraged. We’re very interested in hearing about any type of experience, even if you feel like it’s mundane or repetitious. On the other end of the spectrum, we think you should aim for at least once a week.

How long should my video journals be?

There’s no set time, but we do encourage speaking to camera for at least 5-10 minutes. Even if it feels uncomfortable or there are moments of silence while you think, giving yourself the time to remember and reflect on your experiences is important. And if you want to talk to camera for 30 minutes about a subject, then go ahead!

How often should I upload my video journals?

We’d love you to upload as you go. This allows us to keep track of the footage you’re recording and even send you notes with suggestions. We’ll pass along ideas like, “Could you talk more about this?” or “Could you give us your thoughts on this recent news story?” Uploading your footage after you finish recording will be beneficial all around. Instructions on how to upload are at the bottom of this doc.

The Subject Matter

What should I talk about?

In short, whatever you’re interested in. Of course, this project is really focused on your personal experiences with the coronavirus, but that experience extends past your work and into your everyday life. If you want to touch on anything that’s top of mind, we think it’s worth it. Here are a few prompts that you can use to get yourself started:

  • Tell the story of your day, from start to finish.

  • What was the highlight of the day and what was the lowlight?

  • Did anything happen today that changed your view on this crisis?

  • How is this impacting your loved ones?

  • What were your emotions today? Why?

  • Tell us about the people you work with? 

  • What are your biggest challenges?

  • Touch on some of your hopes and fears for the future.

  • What message do you have for viewers?

What makes a good video journal?

Honesty and making it personal. You don’t have to talk about things that you’re not comfortable with, but as much as you can, be honest with yourself and make this about your experiences. Future viewers want to know the real story from your eyes. The more honest and personal you can get, the more impact this will have.

Technical Stuff

How should I shoot my journals?

It’s very simple, and we’re actually more concerned about high quality sound than high quality video. For starters, you’ll be shooting on your phone. Ideally we’d like you to use a simple lavalier microphone (which we’ll send to you), and a small tripod and light (we’ll send that to you too). But if you don’t have all that gear or it gets stuck in the mail, you should just go ahead and shoot!

Here is a simple checklist to ensure you are capturing the highest quality video and sound.

  • Please always shoot landscape, not portrait. 

  • Look into the camera lens.

  • Please try to use the back camera for high fidelity of footage (non-selfie camera). If you’re having a hard time keeping yourself in frame, then it’s ok to switch.

  • Make sure the video settings are set to their max, if you’re using an iPhone, you don’t need to change anything.

  • If you’re using the ring light, place it behind the camera/phone. If it’s day time, use the white light setting. If it’s night time, use the warm light setting.

  • Pin the lav microphone as close to the top of your shirt as possible, making sure it’s secured and not rubbing against your shirt or you. 

  • Please shoot a quick TEST VIDEO!!! This is important to make sure the sound mic is working. When you play back the test video, unplug the microphone. Your phone will think it’s the speaker and you won’t be able to hear anything if it’s plugged in.

  • Ok you’re ready to shoot your journal!

How do I upload my journals?

Here is a link to send us your footage: COVID Stories Upload

Some best practices to follow in order for us to receive your stories as smoothly as possible:

  • Make sure you are connected to WiFi

  • Upload directly from your smartphone device (iPhone/Android)

  • The uploading process might take a while depending on the time of day and the length of the video, we recommend setting the upload overnight.