Beware of the Seas

Pirates have been in the news a lot lately. So, this week ABC's 20/20 did a story on some civilians who also have had encounters with pirates near the coast of Somalia. The story was done by Jim Avila, a reporter I respect greatly who I think tells a story as well as anyone.

I like the editing the story started off with. There were quick shots of ships as Avila explains how busy the area is with ship traffic. Then the picture fades into the threat the area presents, the pirates and their guns. It then cuts to a SOT with a man testifying just how dangerous the pirates can be. It's a great opening that grabbed my attention with good editing and effective use of a testimonial SOT.

Avila then tells of two Americans who found themselves in battle with pirates as they attempted to sail around the world. This does a great deal in connecting an international story with the main viewing audience of 20/20, Americans. By seeing some of our countrymen in that situation, it helped me connect with what the pirates attacks can really be like and I felt sympathy for the Americans who were victims. There was also good editing in this sequence with re-creation shots from the bow of a ship. There were other shots from the ship that re-created the story of that the American couple told of the time they were attacked.

I was a little confused why the story ended with the story of a French ship that was also attacked by pirates. It didn't do as much for me as an American to extend the story. It didn't seem like a great ending. I would have rather of seen more of the American couple or another story of Americans and pirates.

For my reporting this week, I went to ABC Labs to do a story on Governor Nixon promoting a new summer job program for Missouri youth. It was difficult because Nixon moved very quickly through the lab on his tour. I brought my tripod, but it was difficult to get it set up with how quickly Nixon was moving. I still was able to get some good shots and put it together with three sources for a pretty good package. I was glad I got the student perspective as well by going to campus to see what a person eligible for the plan thought about it.