The New York Times - Times Documentaries

By: Samantha Nordmeyer 

The New York Times is a publication that we have all heard of. In paid subscriptions alone, the newspaper has an audience of 3.5 million people.  
Not only do they post online daily, they have printed articles as well, and as I recently found out, a section for video articles. 

Within this section of their web page are categories of videos. Such as documentaries, health, immigration, and extreme weather. 
My new found favorite is the documentary section. 

I recently watched one called Chinese Cameras Come With Chinese Tactics  (https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/americas/100000006007030/china-ecuador-surveillance.html) Within the video many different visual strategies are used. The video is mixed with one on one interviews, footage that utilizes graphics on the screen, along with video of a video. The many different angles and approaches work to keep the audience interested but doesn't overload them so much that they check out.  

There is an even amount of narration as there is natural sound. Along with these noises, there are also sound effects that fit with the visual in the video. For instance, there are moments when you can hear cars passing by, or the whir of technology which really adds to the credibility of the short film. 
There are many different interviews used within the 12 minutes to add depth and multiple interpretations. Along with plenty of straight facts from the narrator to fill in some of the blanks. 

Realistically, we as a class could easily learn from the strategical aspects of this video but also from the journalistic strategies as well. 

The narrator doesn't ask too many questions, he gives his subjects enough time to finish their thought and seemingly respects everyone's input. The conversation itself of "is the government watching me?" is a touchy subject and Jonah M. Kessel, Melissa Chan, Paul Mozur, and John Woo handle the controversy with respect and knowledge. 
While narrating, there is pauses accompanied with dramatic music, there are rhetorical questions answered with simple facial expressions. This video proves that sometimes saying less is more, saying less can have a heavier emotional impact on your audience. 

There are captions that tell you exactly who it is giving you information and why they are credible with the specific concept. 
Many experts are interviewed on many different parts of the overall problem which adds to said credibility. 
The camera man uses the rule of thirds with most of their one on one interviews with what I can guess as the hope to make the speaker the most important part of the frame. 

Although the concept is large and broad, the video does an excellent job at explaining what it needs in a way that a large audience could understand. 
Many technical strategies are used to add to the drama of the issue. Such as slowly fading out from the subjects speaking and into the narrators. The video is not at all choppy and I believe that plays a large roll in it.  

Even though it is only twelve minutes long, the documentary highlights so many small parts of the overall issue.
There is history, facts, opinions, emotional speakers and logical thinkers. The many different view points are organized well and in a way that makes the video flow. 
It is an amazing video that gives as much information as you could possibly understand in a small amount of time, not only touching on the issue of government privacy but backing it up and tearing it down as well.