How to Tips for Great Video Storytelling

Galen Culver is an exceptional video storyteller.  He’s a working multimedia journalist — a combination reporter-videographer.  Galen and I have also teamed up to teach video storytelling to television journalists across the country.  The most experienced video storytellers say they learned a lot.  Like immersing viewers in the experience as in this story about an Oklahoma BBQ.

How to Tips for Great Video Storytelling

Even if you’re not a multimedia journalist, you can learn a lot to improve your video storytelling for your website or social media.

How to Tips for Great Video Storytelling:  Takeaways

  • Write to your video.  Picture and sound must match.
  • Write tight.
  • Start with a strong first line because it sets the tone.
  • Write so viewers know what you’re showing matters.
  • Humanize your copy:  tell viewers why they should care about the person you’re showing.
  • Write like you talk.
  • Keep your writing simple.
  • Read your story aloud to ensure you’re conversational.
  • Paraphrase information, capture the emotion from people.
  • When you voice over, leave time for short gaps for natural sound up.

Improve your video storytelling — from writing to shooting video  Contact bob@kaplitz.tv for more practical tips.  We can even include Galen Culver in our discussions.

About Galen Culver

Galen Culver is a reporter/photographer for Oklahoma’s News Channel 4 who produces “Is This a Great State or What?

Prior to joining NewsChannel 4, Galen worked as a reporter, photographer and weekend anchor in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

He broke into the television business a reporter and photographer in Missoula, Montana.

Galen earned his degree in Journalism and Communications from Washington State University.

Galen has received many photojournalism accolades including the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

His coverage of the first Gulf War won an Oklahoma Associated Press Award for Best General Reporting.

In July of 1991, Galen began a unique assignment to find and showcase amazing Oklahoma sights and stories.

Since that time the “Is This a Great State or What” segment has aired nearly every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on various News Channel 4 broadcasts.

Enjoy one of Galen’s stories:  BBQ Story

And feel free to contact me when you’re interested in fine tuning your writing and storytelling skills.  You can schedule a session with Galen and me:  bob@kaplitz.tv.



Bob Kaplitz

Bob coaches executives and managers on developing their leadership skills, which improves the morale and efficiency of their companies. He mentors individuals through Everwise, which optimizes the way companies develop their people by connecting professionals with the experts and resources they need to be successful.

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