All the cutting edge technology I learned in collegetypewriters, film splicers, glueis now in a museum; the one thing that hasnt changed is how to tell a visual story.Bob DotsonMake It Memorableprovides a distinctly different, hands-on introduction to the craft of visual storytelling. Many texts have been written to help people master the changing technology of journalism; here, Bob Dotson teaches readers how best to tell a story once they do.This second edition of Dotsons classic book offers dozens of new tips for the digital age and a step-by-step explanation of how to find and create all kinds of visual stories under tight deadlines. In addition to new scripts annotated with behind-the-scenes insights and structural comments, the book includes links to online videos of all the story examples.There is no other text quite like it.Additional videos that can be utilized for class assignments and exercises are available onwww.nbclearn.com/makeitmemorable.

Bob Dotson,Special Correspondent for the NBCTodayshow, has more than forty years of experience in the field of broadcast journalism. His long running American Story segment is one of the most honored series in network television history, winning more than 100 awards, including eight Emmys. In addition, Dotson has received more than seventy awards, including six Edward R. Murrow Awards for Best Network News Writing, the top journalism awards from both DuPont-Columbia and the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation, numerous National Headliner Awards and the highest honor in the field of photojournalism, the Sprague Memorial Citation from the National Press Photographers Association. He is also recipient of the William Allen White Foundations 2015 National Citation for long-standing journalistic excellence in service to the profession and community.

Chapter 1: How to Become a StorytellerReporting vs. StorytellingThe Rule of Threes and Filling the SilenceThe Question That is Not a QuestionScript #1: Lives LostThe Most Important Thing You Should Do Before an InterviewThe Best Thing You Can Do After an InterviewHow to Quickly Write a Good Opening LineChapter 2: The Game of What If?Hey. You. See. So.Script #2: Pops DreamSurprisesScript #3: Farm to FameHumorStructuring a Visual StoryPlanning Notes for YouTube Star SegmentWhat Went on the Cutting Room FloorScript #4: YouTube StarChapter 3: Getting StartedLook for Different Ways to Tell Your StoryScript #5: Found ArtFind a Strong Central CharacterScript #6: Park Avenue PeelerFind Interesting Stories and People to Interview, Even When Time and Money are TightScript #7: Living Ghost TownChapter 4: Im Sorry This Story Is So Long. I Didnt Have Time to Write a Short One.Pictures Come FirstWrite the Middle of Your Story NextAsk Yourself, What Does This Mean?Dont Throw Away ThoughtsScript #8: Cave RescueHighlight a Storys Natural DramaWorking FastScript #9: Ruby BridgesScene SettingForeshadowingConflictCharacter GrowthResolutionPut Stories into ContextChapter 5: The Building Blocks of a StoryWordsVideoSilenceNatural SoundSound BitesReporter On-Camera Stand-UpGraphicsScript #10: Pearl Harbors Untold StoryEditing StoriesChapter 6: A Survival Kit for Professional Storytellers in the Social Media AgeThe So What TestOne Thing is Certain . . .You Are Not the StoryIts Video Folks, Not the MoviesBe ConversationalGobbledygook and ClichésActive VoiceWrite in ThreesHow to End a StoryCar WarsA Final ThoughtAppendix: Reporters ChecklistGlossary of Script CuesAcknowledgmentsIndexAbout the Author