This was a big undertaking that Brian came to me with months and months beforehand. He’d seen a National Geographic documentary on Fenway Park and thought a mini version of Target Field -- being a brand new state-of-the-art facility -- would be interesting. I agreed. We looped in John when I realized that I definitely needed a second shooter. John shoots stills primarily, but has a great eye for video and knows Target Field incredibly well because he works a lot of Twins games.
The planning took a while, but the powers-that-be at the stadium were equally as excited about it as we were and made sure we had all the access we wanted. So, the real planning was in equipment and shots and subjects. We decided to shoot over three days to split up the hours spent at the stadium and also have the chance to reshoot something if we didn’t get it right the first time -- which we definitely didn’t. But all three games were night games and all against the Yankees, which was important for continuity.
Shooting was super fun, and really interesting, we left room open for random things that we didn’t expect, and we were all pretty exhausted by the end of it. I started almost immediately on editing because we wanted to have it ready to publish over the All-Star Break when most sports news kind of comes to a halt anyway. We hammered away until then, and I had multiple people watch multiple versions of the video.
A main concern was how long it was going to be. Originally, I think we’d wanted to keep it around 5-7 minutes. The first cut was 14, and I thought I could get it down to 8, but I was surprised how many people watched it and didn’t want me to cut anything. No one said it felt long, and most said they were happy to sit and watch the whole thing. I did cut some down, got it under 10 minutes and called it a day. Eventually, I stopped calling it a video and started calling it a mini-documentary.
What surprised you most as you spent that day watching the action unfold?
Most surprising was the level of cleaning that goes on before and after games. The crew wipes down Every Single Seat before a home game. And there are people who sort through every bag of trash to make sure recyclables are being recycled and so forth. It was incredible how many people worked there around the clock to put on a game. We didn't really predict or fathom that beforehand.
Again, you can continue your answer if you want, C.J., but I'll keep moving along. While some of the winners had breaking-news aspects, the others we’ve talked about were primarily winners because of their enterprise and storytelling. The only pure breaking-news winner comes from the Bay Area News Group where John Green and Aric Crabb provided stellar photo coverage of the crash of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 at San Francisco International Airport.
John and Aric, please post the Tout about your work and tell us about covering the crash.
The majority of my time covering the aftermath of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was spent looking at the wreckage over a half mile away through a 600mm lens. The scene did not change dramatically over the five days I spent at my site along the western shoreline of the San Francisco Bay. Investigators moved about on the tarmac and came into view for seconds at a time as they entered and exited the charred remains of the plane.
Wednesday afternoon I was sent to San Francisco International Airport to cover a press conference with six crew members of the Asiana Airlines plane that crashed. It was the most bizarre news conference I have covered in my 15 years of working as a press photographer. By all accounts these six crew members were heros. Yet they were escorted through the international terminal and lined up before the press as if they were facing a firing squad. It was obvious that the crew members did not want to be there. I felt horrible for them as they were made to stand there before us. The looks on their faces and their body language was of sadness and shame.
I was at the local animal shelter working on a story about volunteers when I looked out of the second story window and saw a lot of smoke in the direction of the San Francisco International Airport. Having no idea of what it was I said , I have to go and headed toward SFO, thinking it maybe a hotel fire. As I got closer I realized it was much worse, a commercial jet crashed on landing!
Can you each post one of your favorite photos from the crash coverage, and tell any story that might go along with it?
It was not fun photographing the crew as they stood there and cried, but hopefully our readers now have a better understanding of the tragedy that those six people went through and the pain they will continue to experience.
A new development in the case in July rang a bell with Tom and started the reporters on another trail that exposed a conflict of interests by the legislator who was named to head a Utah House committee investigating the attorney general.
Thanks for having us Steve.
A judge said, “Tremendously thorough, well-written investigative reporting. It's the sort of impact journalism that should make us all proud to be in the profession. The first conflict story, turned in just 24 hours, provides tremendous detail.”
Tom is on an assignment today, but Robert will post the Tout and tell us about the story.
Unfortunately, Steve, we don't have a Tout prepared for you today. I'm the kid who didn't do his homework, I'm afraid. I'll tell you a little bit about it though ...
We are currently in the ninth month of covering a slow-motion train wreck of a scandal involving our current and former attorney general. Our original reporting started more than a year ago and has led to an investigation by the Utah House of Representatives with an eye toward impeachment.
But, after the House decided to go down this road, my colleague Tom Harvey got a tip that the House Speaker's choice as chairman of the committee had done legal work for one of the key figures and accusers of the attorney general.
We looked into it and found cases where he'd not only represented the the accuser, but several of his business partners as well, and was currently representing them in a case brought by the federal trade commission.
Ultimately, of course, that wasn't going to fly and the Speaker had to replace him as chairman. So the whole thing obviously got off to a rocky start.
As I mentioned, this is the second DFMie you've won for coverage of the Swallow scandal. And you've mentioned how long you've been working on this story. How do you keep the pressure on a continuing story like this?
They've now hired attorneys, investigators and staff for the investigation and are holding their second meeting with the new chairman next week.
Additionally, we put together the flow chart to help readers digest what has become a mind-boggling tangle of allegations and denials. Amy Lewis put that together with our help and it's been a huge help to readers.
Sure, Steve, good question ...
As I mentioned, we've been on this story really since April 2012. I think, when the Republican House starts tossing around the "impeachment" word with the Republican Attorney General, you recognize it might be a once-in-a-career kind of story. And we feel like we've been out front on it since the start. At the same time, it's a competitive story, particularly from a scrappy alt-weekly reporter here in town, so that keeps you on your toes and pushing aggressively to break new stuff.
Go ahead if you have more to say, Robert (or anyone else). But I'll wrap up: These winners will be the judges for the August DFMies. Digital First editors, please remember that your nominations are due to your cluster editors by next Tuesday, Sept. 10.
Also, watch for information on the livestream one week from today of the program honoring winners of the DFMies for our newsrooms’ best work of 2012.
All: This was a pleasure, especially as an IJ freelancer, to be part of this impressive process.
That should do it. Hopefully we get to see you all for another one of these ... and I'll bring my Tout next time. :)
I'll leave the liveblog open a few more minutes, in case any of the winners have other comments or Touts to post. Thanks to all! And congratulations!
What surprised you most as you spent that day watching the action unfold?
The majority of my time covering the aftermath of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 was spent looking at the wreckage over a half mile away through a 600mm lens. The scene did not change dramatically over the five days I spent at my site along the western shoreline of the San Francisco Bay. Investigators moved about on the tarmac and came into view for seconds at a time as they entered and exited the charred remains of the plane.
I was at the local animal shelter working on a story about volunteers when I looked out of the second story window and saw a lot of smoke in the direction of the San Francisco International Airport. Having no idea of what it was I said , I have to go and headed toward SFO, thinking it maybe a hotel fire. As I got closer I realized it was much worse, a commercial jet crashed on landing!
Unfortunately, Steve, we don't have a Tout prepared for you today. I'm the kid who didn't do his homework, I'm afraid. I'll tell you a little bit about it though ...
All: This was a pleasure, especially as an IJ freelancer, to be part of this impressive process.
