This is the second edition of Aim for the Heart. Newsrooms and universities all over North America are using it to help journalists tell stronger stories.
Order it now from the Amazon.com page.
Educators can get a free “desk copy” by clicking here.
Chapter One: Aim for the Heart
Finding Focus: Aim for the Heart of the Story
Use Soundbites That Connect to the Viewer’s Heart
Sounds That ‘Take You There’: Get Close to the Action
Chapter Two: The Shape of the Story
Stories Need Surprises: Give Viewers Gold Coin Moments
Story Frames: Structure and Restructure
Sentences Have Shapes, Too: Power at the End
Chapter Three: Find Memorable Characters
Put a Face on the Story: You Remember What You Feel
Little Pictures, Big Stories: Focus on People, Not Events
How Many Characters Do You Need? It Depends
Chapter Four: Write Inviting Leads
First Impressions: Get Them Hooked
Some Do’s and Don’ts for Leads: Don’t Stall; Get on with It
Kill the Cliches: And Especially the Cliches of Thought
Chapter Five: Verbs and Adjectives
The Thing about ‘ing’: A Passive, Verbless Style
‘To Be’ or Not ‘To Be’: Verbs Drive Sentences
Avoid ‘Fanstastic, Unbelievable, Gut-wrenching’ Subjecive Adjectives
Chapter Six: The Art of the Interview
Learning to Listen: Using Your Ears More Than Your Mouth
Ask Better Questions
Interviewing Reluctant Sources: Explain the Rationale
Interviewing Juveniles and Other Vulnerable People
A Few Interviewing Don’ts
Chapter Seven: Why Pictures are So Powerful
A Little Bit of Visual Theory
The Power of the Picture
Chapter Eight: The Vital Role of Lighting
Lighting Sets an Editorial Tone
Chapter Nine: Video and Visual Techniques
Let’s Get Visual: Capturing Compelling Video
Principles and Techniques for Photographic Objectivity
HD Video: Changing Ways to Frame and Edit Stories
Chapter Ten: Caution, This May Get Graphic: Thinking Visually
Think ‘Shapes’: A Checklist for Effective Graphics
Get It Right: Graphics Are Precision Work
Chapter Eleven: The Sound of the Story
Capturing Powerful Sound with the Right Tools
Ethical Concerns with Adding Music and Sound Effects
Do Not Rearrange Audio or Soundbites
Chapter Twelve: Working as a Backpack, VJ and One-Man Band Journalist
The Backpack Journalist’s Freedom and Challenges
A Day in the Life of a BPJ
Chapter Thirteen: Tell the Story Online
Rules for Online Storytelling
Reporting and Writing for Online
Online Skills You Need to Get Hired or Keep Your Job
Ethics and Social Networks
Chapter Fourteen: Ethics and Broadcast Journalists: Seek Truth and Report as Fully as Possible
Guiding Principle 1: Seek Truth and Report it as Fully as Possible
Who Said That: Evaluating Sources for Your Stories
Be Honest with Viewers About Your Reporting and Your Mistakes
Attack Dogs, Watchdogs, and Guide Dogs: A Journalist’s Commitment to Seeking Truth
File Tape: Truthful Reporting or Lazy Journalism?
Chapter Fifteen: Ethics and Broadcast Journalists: Act Independently
Avoid Conflicts of Interest
Chapter Sixteen: Ethics and Broadcast Journalists: Minimize Harm
Rights to Privacy for Private People and Public Officials
Using Graphic or Violent Images and Language
Identifying Suspects, Covering “Off-Limits” Stories and Other Tough Ethics Calls
Questions Before You ‘Go Live’
Chapter Seventeen: Let’s Get Critical
Al Gets Duped: Learning Skepticism
Al Gets Burned Again: Learning Curiosity
Questioning Conventional Wisdom: A Look at Why Students Kill
The Story Imbedded Between the Lines of Government Documents
Putting Critical Thinking into Journalistic Action
Chapter Eighteen: The Power of Enterprise Reporting
Enterprise from the Start: Morning Meetings
How to Generate Enterprise Stories
Look for the Story Behind the Story
Chapter Nineteen: Surviving and Thriving in Today’s Newsroom
How to Succeed
Continual Learning
Surviving Layoffs, Cutbacks, and Re-assignment
Stressed and Overworked
Time Management
Avoid Office Gossip and Politics
Leaders in the Newsroom
The Meaning of Life
An indispensable guide to our craft – from an indispensable guy in our craft.
- Brian Williams, Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC News
Aim for the Heart offers outstanding lessons for students at all levels. Tompkins’ approach is smart and engaging, bringing multimedia stories into focus through effective and ethical practices. His emphasis on improving technique in writing, shot composition and the marriage of the two moves students forward.
- Kathleen Bartzen Culver, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Aim for the Heart is the book I wish I could have read 20 years sooner. Al Tompkins reveals the secrets of compelling visual stories. As an award-winning broadcast journalist, Al taught himself the ‘magic’ years ago. His willingness to share and teach is his gift to the rest of us.
- Boyd Huppert, Reporter, KARE-11
In the midst of a changing industry, Aim for the Heart is more important than ever. It reminds journalists, that no matter what the platform, the story is still key. Writing matters. Every manager should have this in their library; it’s a great way to inspire newsrooms.
- Carolyn Mungo, Assistant News Director, KRIV-TV, Houston, Texas
Al Tompkins’ Aim for the Heart is even better the second time around. For those of us in journalism our world is quickly changing beneath our feet, and Aim for the Heart will give you something solid to stand on, with insights on how to be a better storyteller and how to make use of the newest technology.
- Byron Pitts, Correspondent, CBS 60-Minutes
Anyone who has even attended one of Al Tompkins’ workshops knows that he brings amazing insight, energy and passion into the classroom. What’s even more amazing is how he manages to convey that energy and passion in print. Aim for the Heart inspires ordinary journalists to do extraordinary work.
- Lisa Taylor, Ryerson University
I’ve worked as a tv reporter for nearly 21 years…16 years in Portland, Oregon. This is by far one of the very best books I’ve read on the art of writing for tv news. I found it useful after reading the very first page. Tompkins uses clear, concrete examples to illustrate his points which instantly made me a better writer. Its refreshing to think about our craft with new insight on the purpose and focus of each story. I’ve urged all the producers and reporters in our newsroom to get and read this!
Mr. Tompkins’ book was the reason I got my first job coming out of college. The first two stories I put on my resume tape were heavily influenced by the things I read in ‘Write for the ear, shoot for the eye, aim for the heart.’
Al explains things so that you not only understand how to do the things we do, but also why we do the things we do. I still keep the book on my desk, and whenever my reporting gets into a rut, I haul out Al’s book and re-read it. My next few stories are always better than my last few stories.
I purchased this book to help teach high school students how to write for broadcast, and the lessons Tompkins gives are valuable for students and professionals. Tompkins shows the process behind the writing and the factors a reporter should consider, such as when less writing is more. The book is funny, entertaining, and touching at the same time. He gives many specific examples, including exerpts from scripts, that show the detail and the planning behind the writing. It changes the viewer’s perspective on the television news, and it certainly could help professionals refine their writing for broadcast.
Al Tompkins just gave a great presentation at RTNDA on how to find information on the internet. The seminar was filled with humor, insight, and just plain useful information. This book has a similar feel, like advice from someone who wants you to succeed. If a lot of young people read this book (along with some older journalists), perhaps journalism won’t be in quite the spot it finds itself in.
An informative, inspiring, illuminating, and delightful read. Al Tompkins gives advice applicable to not just television reporters, but to other journalists, writers and educators interested in news reporting. His love for journalism and ideals to seek the truth guide his pen throughout. Writers can gleam valuable advice on how to tighten their writing and photojournalists can learn savory tips on how to improve their photography. This should be required reading for news room managers. If more practiced the journalism Al Tompkins preaches, our local news broadcasts would be a lot less stale and repetitive.
-Michael Burton,…
