Conversations about the current state of journalism are often pretty grim: the death of print journalism, the loss of independent voices as huge corporations buy up more and more news organizations, the proliferation of fake news, and America’s obsession with clickbait–valuable information traded for Kardashians and Trump tweets. Negativity sells. Scandals sell. But what about positivity?
Boonton-native Meghan Dunn attempts the hard sell through her work as a journalist/producer with CNN Heroes, the CNN division which devotes itself to singing the praises of formerly unsung heroes. Through online stories and short films, Dunn and her colleagues help to publicize and fund the heroes’ work.
On November 29, Dunn spoke with Alexis Anderson-Urriola’s Digital Journalism class to share insights about her field. She discussed the process from the moment she is assigned a story through the project’s completion.
Dunn can often tell if an assignment “is going to be great” from the outset. For example, when Dunn received a story about a hero who runs a sanctuary for senior dogs, she knew it would strike a chord with readers. Like all good hero profiles, it included a compelling visual component. “When people are scrolling through their newsfeeds and see a picture of a cute old dog, they are much more likely to click on it” than something more somber, she notes.
Not only does the story need to be visually interesting, but the heroes need to be…well, heroic. According to Dunn, the vetting process is extremely rigorous. She likened it to an FBI investigation. Dunn runs background checks, reaches out to candidate’s colleagues, and combs through their social media accounts. “You’d be surprised what people post on social media,” she says. The investigations are necessary because, sadly, “You can run a non-profit, and still be a terrible person.” Some years, only a quarter of the candidates make it through the intense vetting process.
Once vetting is complete, the planning begins. Arranging the shoot is a very meticulous process, which “takes more time than the actual shoot.” Dunn is responsible for planning the flights, hotels, transportation, and other logistics for herself and a cameraperson with minimal aid from a production assistant. After coordinating a trip, Dunn spends between two and four days on site, gathering footage and conducting interviews. Afterwards, she returns to her office in New York City, where the editing process begins.
A completed story includes an article, video, interview, and link so people can donate when they feel particularly moved. Not only does Dunn feel satisfaction when a hero’s work is supported financially, but also as they gain the attention they deserve. Ultimately, 10 heroes are honored on the televised CNN Heroes program, and Dunn can’t help but root for those heroes she has profiled.
The heroes of 2015 pose for their picture above
Though Dunn was able to share the ins and outs of her specific job, her most salient advice applies to nearly any student hoping to succeed in nearly any field. Briefly, students should be prepared to “pay their dues” professionally and do the “grunt work” typical of entry-level positions. Interns, in particular, should “know [their] role” in the workplace. Furthermore, they should “know who everyone else is, and act accordingly”. Dunn notes that it is these thankless, tedious tasks that, if done diligently, are bound to lead to better jobs later on.
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