Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

Watching her news story run on the six o'clock news, A-Channel videographer Cheekwan Ho can finally relax. A busy day, starting with a news conference at city hall requiring three other interviews in various parts of the city, has ended. At each location, Ho had to haul her own tripod, camera and microphone, in addition to shoot video and audio clips, and conduct the interviews. Then, back at the office, she and an editor had to compile the 30 minutes of video and audio into a two minute story.

Cheekwan Ho shows off the tools of her trade.

Unlike other news stations, Ho can only use the information on her video to tell the story, she can't go into the studio and add her voice over top of a video clip. "That makes it challenging," she said. "You have to make sure you ask the right questions to get the responses you want so it flows, without being able to voice-over. You get good at asking good questions."

Asking the questions came naturally to the SAIT graduate. During her two-year diploma program, Ho focussed on broadcast reporting skills, not the techy-side of the industry. "The videography came by accident when A-Channel offered me a position as videographer," she said. "I have a background in still photography, so I liked camera work. We did learn some in school, but for video, I have had to develop an eye to get everything moving."

Even though camera operation plays a major role in her work, Ho said you don't necessarily have to be a techy to become a successful videographer. "The most important thing to any reporter is curiosity," she explained. "You have to be a people person and be able to think on your feet. You have to have an ability to capture sound and visuals."

Working 9 a.m to 6 p.m. five days a week, including weekends and statutory holidays, Ho gets plenty of practice using those skills to tell a good story visually and verbally. But having to look after the content, and the visual side of the story can be the best and worst part of the job, she admits.

"I like the autonomy I have. I'm not a reporter relying on a camera person. I know exactly what my story is and I shoot what I want. With the autonomy, sometimes it's good to have someone working with you to bounce ideas off, but there's no one there."

Beginning each day at the office, Ho's able to talk with other reporters and editors about the events emerging for the day as reported in newspapers, or on radio stations. Then there's a meeting with the producers who hand out story assignments. From there, she's essentially on her own, required to meet tight deadlines with current news. Because television's deadlines are so strict, that means days become more compressed, not longer, she said. If breaking news happens after her shift, those on the next shift will gather that information.

While Ho began her career essentially right after graduation, she's the exception to the rule. "Anyone coming out of school should expect to got to a small market and get paid very little," she said. "Be prepared to pay your dues." There are keys to advance quickly, however. "The more skills you have, the more marketable you are," Ho explained. "If you can report, have good on-camera skills, and the technical skills, that's a good combination."