The High-Five: 5 Questions with Television Producer Stephanie Brumsey
Q. I love your LinkedIn cover photo and the words to live by in its message. Without being presumptuous, it sounds like those words can serve as a mantra in your professional life as a journalist. With that understanding, how do you ‘break free of the mold’ to create nuance and differentiation in the stories you help to craft as a producer?
‘Freedom” Sculpture, by Zenon Frudakis
A, That is my mantra! When I was working in local news, my Senior Producer and mentor told me that my stories would always be better, if I could find something that mattered to me within the story and could make it matter to someone else. And as I've continued to work in the industry, I've realized that my perspective as a black woman, is unique to the field and it's helped me add nuance to storytelling, tailor pitch ideas with a different angle and simply look at how other stories can be enhanced.
Q. The newspaper chain McClatchy recently filed for bankruptcy. I started off in print journalism, working for the New York Daily News in the 1990s, which, at the time, was the country’s sixth largest newspaper. Today, we create, share and receive stories much differently today, and from direct, peer-to-peer sources such as social media. Does the decline and waning interest in print impact your job in broadcast journalism and the focus more on video and digital delivery? If so, how? If not, why not?
A.The decline does impact my job in broadcast, far more than I ever would've thought. Local reporters do amazing work. They're on the ground telling the interesting community stories before they hit the big national stage. So many important stories broke because a local reporter went to community board meetings or was reporting on a repeat issue with a local official. These local officials usually use these positions to gain larger positions and their records matter.
“And as I've continued to work in the industry, I've realized that my perspective as a black woman, is unique to the field and it's helped me add nuance to storytelling, tailor pitch ideas with a different angle and simply look at how other stories can be enhanced.” -Brumsey
But more importantly, local news matters because that's where people live, work and raise their children. The decisions made about your local water source, the closing of that historic church, etc. Those things are important. And I can't say that what happens in Washington DC isn't equally important, but it won't have the same impact on your everyday life. I rambled there, forgive me. I just truly feel that it's important in a way people won't recognize until it's too late. But, back to your question - the decline in local news does impact broadcast journalism and the focus on more video. More and more you see stories picked up through social media with video clips sourced to twitter handles and pictures from people's Facebook accounts. It creates another level of responsibility to ensure the story is being told with accuracy, which is an area of growth that I think in this era of so-called "fake news" is something everyone can benefit from - especially our consumers.
Also I don't think that there's an waning interest in print. I think there's a waning in patience of how print is traditionally created, and I think that the system could stand a little bit of an overhaul in order to make it work for the modern day, but I think people are still interested in print they've just been lulled into the complacency of getting things for free through the internet.
Q. I imagine creating a single segment, let alone an entire news program, is an exhaustive, intensive and nimble process. If there’s breaking news, you have to remain agile and create an on-the-fly experience that aptly captures what’s happening in ‘real-time.’ Can you share what goes into an end-to-end production process, as well as uncovering and application of the learnings and improvements from it?
A. You hit the nail on the head, it is an exhaustive, intensive and nimble process. I work on a Sunday politics show, so we have room to breathe in regards to story treatment. The process end to end is very similar to putting together a story as a team on a regular basis, so I won't bore you with those details. But breaking news on tv is different. This is where I am thankful I'm surrounded by experienced professionals, as I am new in my role with MSNBC. Breaking news begins with our local reporters or a wire service flagging the story. In the background, as we're in the control room, there is a team of people: confirming the story, gathering elements, setting up possible interviews, etc. In the control room, we start working on finding relevant video, filling in the anchor, working on the onscreen graphics. It's hard to explain, because each situation is different, but what's not different is the level of teamwork that goes into it. I've learned a lot about attention to detail, patience and flexibility - things that sound cliche but are large drivers in that situation.
“I don't think that there's an waning interest in print. I think there's a waning in patience of how print is traditionally created, and I think that the system could stand a little bit of an overhaul in order to make it work for the modern day, but I think people are still interested in print they've just been lulled into the complacency of getting things for free through the internet.” -Brumsey
Q. What has been the most difficult or challenging production problem you had to solve and why?
A.To be perfectly honest, only one example comes to mind. In a previous job, I went out and shot two stories in one day. It was going to be great! I then went Christmas shopping, threw it all in my trunk and drove home. I ran into my landlord's apartment to address a plumbing issue I had and when I walked outside and back to my car, I realized that my car had been vandalized and everything stolen out of the trunk. It was horrible. I remember dreading calling my boss and explaining the lack of footage AND the stolen gear. I learned so much that day about so many things, but the biggest part was about letting things fall where they lie. But most importantly, I realized that the very worst thing had happened! I had no story for my job, and the world didn't explode. I, like many others, often stress myself about things that are not often in our control - this was the ultimate lesson that things work themselves out. Probably not the story you expect, but it's the most difficult production issue I ever faced.
5. Life in perpetual BETA is essentially the notion that you are constantly and continually in the state of becoming. You’re never quite there and always are striving to improve. This concept is one I introduce when I speak about rapid organizational change and individual development and growth. I have introduced BETA as a mnemonic to explore ways in which one could bring about positive change in one’s life or organization. The mnemonic is below. Would you indulge me and share how you would apply these words as it relates to your personal life or your life as a journalist?
Belief - Nothing is insurmountable
Empathy - We are all human and as such, empathy and kindness need to be at the forefront as often as possible
Trust - Trust the process, things work themselves out. As long as you do the work, it will speak for you in the end.
Advocacy - Don't forget to turn around and help the next person succeed.