A backpack journalist is a multi-skilled reporter who travels light and is responsible for all aspects of a story, often in dangerous or remote locations. This type of reporting is preferred by TV stations and can save money, but also poses liability risks.
A backpack journalist is a person who performs assignments, often in remote locations, and is responsible not only for writing or presenting a story, but also for being a camera operator, producer, and editor for those stories. The backpacking journalist is likely to travel via a variety of transport methods, often on foot, to reach remote locations where interesting events are taking place. This person usually carries a laptop, as well as a digital camera capable of capturing photos and videos, and a satellite phone.
A person acting as a backpack journalist can find himself in dangerous situations where normal reporters and film crews cannot access. The backpack journalist is likely to cover war zones or other areas of unrest, and in many cases the journalist must cover rough terrain to get to a story. When he or she covers a story, that person is responsible for all aspects of the report, from writing the story to delivering it to a news outlet. This usually means that the backpacking journalist has a high level of control over the story, as he or she will not have access to an editor or producer who would otherwise guide the story.
As a result of the type of travel the backpacking journalist must undertake, he or she often tries to travel light. A laptop carried in a backpack is usually small and light; cameras and audio equipment will be kept small and to a minimum, and satellite phones will also need to be compact and lightweight. Any items the journalist carries should be stored in as little luggage as possible, and the luggage should be easy to transport and store.
Becoming a backpack journalist can be a useful career move for many reporters. Television stations often prefer this style of reporting because it gives them a ranking edge over competitors, especially in Internet reporting. Hiring a journalist can also end up saving the news channel money in the long run, as separate employees will not be needed to operate the cameras, produce the news segment, edit the story, etc. The downside of hiring these employees can be a liability issue; this type of journalism can be exceptionally dangerous in some situations, and the news organization must rely on the judgment of one person rather than many to produce quality reports.
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