Top 12 Video Journalist Skills to Put on Your Resume

In the dynamic field of video journalism, standing out to potential employers requires a well-crafted resume that highlights your unique skill set. This article outlines the top 12 skills that video journalists should emphasize on their resumes to showcase their expertise and adaptability in a fast-evolving media landscape.

Video Journalist Skills

1. Final Cut Pro
2. Adobe Premiere
3. After Effects
4. DaVinci Resolve
5. Avid Media Composer
6. Lightroom
7. Photoshop
8. Audacity
9. Pro Tools
10. DSLR Mastery
11. Drone Operation
12. Social Media Analytics

1. Final Cut Pro

Final Cut Pro is a professional non-linear video editing software developed by Apple Inc., designed to enable video journalists and other content creators to edit, process, and produce high-quality videos with advanced features like 360-degree VR editing, HDR support, and multicam editing.

Why It's Important

For a video journalist, Final Cut Pro is crucial as it offers advanced editing capabilities, fast processing speeds, and a versatile range of tools for creating high-quality, engaging video content efficiently, catering to the fast-paced demands of news and journalism.

How to Improve Final Cut Pro Skills

To enhance Final Cut Pro for a Video Journalist, consider these concise tips:

1. Customize the Workspace: Tailor your workspace for efficiency. Go to Window > Workspaces > Customize to adjust your layout.

2. Use Keyboard Shortcuts: Mastering shortcuts can significantly speed up your editing process. Familiarize yourself with Final Cut Pro shortcuts to streamline your workflow.

3. Leverage Plugins and Effects: Incorporate third-party plugins and effects to elevate your storytelling. Websites like FCP.co and MotionVFX offer a variety of professional tools.

4. Optimize Media and Proxy Files: Use proxy files for smoother editing of high-resolution video. Navigate to File > Transcode Media and select Create Proxy Media.

5. Color Grading and Correction: Utilize the Color Board or Color Wheels for advanced color correction and grading to enhance your visuals.

6. Multicam Editing: For interviews or dynamic shots, use the Multicam feature to easily switch angles. Right-click your clips and choose New Multicam Clip.

7. Use Compound Clips: Combine multiple elements into a single compound clip for easier management. Right-click your selections and pick New Compound Clip.

8. Regularly Update Software: Ensure you're using the latest version of Final Cut Pro for new features and bug fixes. Check for updates via the App Store.

By integrating these strategies, you'll refine your Final Cut Pro experience, making your video journalism more impactful and efficient.

How to Display Final Cut Pro Skills on Your Resume

2. Adobe Premiere

Adobe Premiere is a professional video editing software widely used by video journalists for editing, cutting, and enhancing video content for news stories and features.

Why It's Important

Adobe Premiere is crucial for a Video Journalist as it offers advanced editing tools, supports a wide range of formats, and streamlines the post-production process, enabling efficient creation and delivery of high-quality video content.

How to Improve Adobe Premiere Skills

To enhance your Adobe Premiere skills as a Video Journalist, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Master Keyboard Shortcuts: Boost your editing speed by mastering Premiere's keyboard shortcuts. Adobe's official guide offers a comprehensive list.

2. Color Grading: Learn the basics of color correction and grading to elevate your video's look. Adobe's color grading tutorials are a great starting point.

3. Audio Editing: Improve your video's quality by enhancing its audio. Explore Adobe's audio editing tips to refine your skills.

4. Efficient Workflow: Develop an efficient workflow with Adobe's best practices for editing, focusing on organization and sequence settings.

5. Dynamic Linking: Utilize Adobe Dynamic Link to seamlessly integrate After Effects compositions without rendering. Check Adobe's Dynamic Link guide for more information.

6. Stay Updated: Adobe Premiere Pro gets regular updates with new features and improvements. Stay updated with the latest by visiting the Adobe Premiere Pro blog.

By focusing on these areas, you'll significantly improve your video journalism projects in Adobe Premiere.

How to Display Adobe Premiere Skills on Your Resume

3. After Effects

After Effects is a digital visual effects and motion graphics software used by video journalists for creating and editing dynamic visuals, animations, and effects to enhance storytelling in their video reports.

Why It's Important

After Effects is crucial for a Video Journalist as it enables the creation of dynamic visual effects and motion graphics, enhancing storytelling and audience engagement.

How to Improve After Effects Skills

Improving your After Effects skills as a Video Journalist involves mastering key techniques and staying updated with new features. Here's a concise guide:

1. Learn Keyframe Animation: Understand the basics of motion graphics by mastering keyframe animation. This is crucial for creating smooth transitions and animations.

2. Explore Expressions: Dive into After Effects expressions to automate animations and create complex effects without manually keyframing everything.

3. Utilize Precomps: Organize your projects and simplify complex animations by using precompositions effectively.

4. Master 3D Space: Experiment with After Effects' 3D capabilities to add depth to your video projects and make them more engaging.

5. Stay Updated: Adobe regularly updates After Effects. Familiarize yourself with new features and tools by following the Adobe Blog.

6. Follow Tutorials: Websites like Video Copilot and School of Motion offer in-depth tutorials that cater to both beginners and advanced users.

7. Join Communities: Engage with online forums and communities such as the After Effects subreddit or CreativeCOW's After Effects forum to get feedback, tips, and tricks from other users.

8. Practice: Regularly challenge yourself with new projects to apply what you've learned and discover your unique style.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly enhance your After Effects skills, making your video journalism pieces more impactful and visually appealing.

How to Display After Effects Skills on Your Resume

4. DaVinci Resolve

DaVinci Resolve is an all-in-one video editing software suite that includes tools for cutting, color correction, audio post-production, and visual effects, making it highly suitable for video journalists seeking to produce polished content efficiently.

Why It's Important

DaVinci Resolve is important for a Video Journalist as it offers a comprehensive, all-in-one solution for editing, color correction, audio post-production, and visual effects, enabling high-quality storytelling with efficient workflow and cost-effectiveness.

How to Improve DaVinci Resolve Skills

Improving DaVinci Resolve for a Video Journalist involves optimizing both the software settings and enhancing the workflow efficiency. Here are concise tips and resources:

1. Optimize Performance Settings: Adjust DaVinci Resolve's preferences to match your computer's hardware. Focus on memory and GPU configurations for smoother playback and faster rendering. DaVinci Resolve Configuration Guide

2. Use Optimized Media: Convert your footage to a lower resolution for editing purposes, which can speed up your workflow. Resolve supports this natively under the media pool. Optimized Media in Resolve

3. Keyboard Shortcuts: Learning and customizing keyboard shortcuts can drastically improve editing speed. DaVinci Resolve Shortcuts

4. Color Grading Workflow: Utilize Resolve's powerful color grading tools efficiently by learning the basics of color correction and grading. Start with primary corrections and move to secondary corrections. Color Grading in DaVinci Resolve

5. Fusion for Graphics: Incorporate Fusion for adding dynamic titles and graphics without leaving Resolve. A basic understanding of Fusion's node-based compositing can elevate your stories. Fusion Basics

6. Audio Post-Production: Use Fairlight within Resolve for audio post-production. Enhance your audio quality by learning to apply noise reduction, EQ, and compression properly. Fairlight Audio Post with DaVinci Resolve

7. Export Settings: Understand the best export settings for different platforms (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) to ensure your videos look their best when published. Exporting from DaVinci Resolve

8. Regular Updates and Learning: Stay updated with the latest versions of DaVinci Resolve for new features and improved performance. Also, regularly invest time in learning through forums, tutorials, and official training materials. Blackmagic Design Training

By focusing on these areas, a Video Journalist can significantly enhance their DaVinci Resolve experience, leading to more efficient and higher-quality video production.

How to Display DaVinci Resolve Skills on Your Resume

5. Avid Media Composer

Avid Media Composer is a professional video editing software widely used by video journalists and filmmakers for editing and producing news segments, documentaries, and other video content, offering advanced editing tools, media management, and collaboration features.

Why It's Important

Avid Media Composer is important for a video journalist because it provides robust, professional-grade editing tools that allow for efficient editing, organization, and storytelling, essential for timely and compelling news production.

How to Improve Avid Media Composer Skills

Improving your experience and efficiency with Avid Media Composer as a Video Journalist involves focusing on key areas such as workflow optimization, leveraging powerful features, and staying updated with the latest techniques. Here's a concise guide to enhancing your use of Avid Media Composer:

1. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Mastering keyboard shortcuts can drastically reduce your editing time. Avid provides a comprehensive list that you can refer to and customize according to your workflow.

2. Use Templates: Create and use templates for recurring project types. This streamlines your editing process, saving time on setting up new projects.

3. Optimize Your Media Workflow: Efficiently manage your media from ingestion to export. Avid's guide on Media Management is a valuable resource.

4. Stay Updated: Regularly update your software to the latest version to benefit from new features and improvements. Keep track of updates on the Official Avid Blog.

5. Join the Community: Engage with other Avid users in Avid Community Forums. Sharing experiences and solutions can offer new insights and shortcuts.

6. Learn from Tutorials: Invest time in tutorials for advanced features relevant to journalism, such as multicam editing, audio mixing, and color correction. The Avid YouTube Channel is a great starting point.

7. Optimize System Performance: Ensure your hardware meets Avid's recommendations and tweak your system settings for optimal performance. Check the System Requirements to ensure compatibility and performance optimization.

By focusing on these areas, you can significantly improve your productivity and creativity using Avid Media Composer, making your workflow as a Video Journalist more efficient and effective.

How to Display Avid Media Composer Skills on Your Resume

6. Lightroom

Lightroom is a photo editing and organizing software by Adobe, designed for photographers to enhance images, manage large numbers of digital photos, and prepare them for publication or sharing, useful for a video journalist in managing and editing still shots for multimedia storytelling.

Why It's Important

Lightroom is important for a Video Journalist because it provides powerful photo editing and organizational tools, enabling efficient enhancement and management of visual content crucial for storytelling and audience engagement.

How to Improve Lightroom Skills

Improving your Lightroom experience as a Video Journalist involves optimizing your workflow for efficiency and quality. Here are concise steps to enhance Lightroom for your specific needs:

1. Organize Your Library: Use collections and smart collections to manage your photos and videos efficiently. Adobe's guide on organizing photos can help streamline your process.

2. Presets and Profiles: Develop and import custom presets for consistent looks across your videos and photos. This preset guide explains how to create and manage them.

3. External Editing: For videos, integrate Lightroom with Adobe Premiere Pro for advanced editing. This workflow integration can greatly enhance your video journalism projects.

4. Keyboard Shortcuts: Increase your editing speed with Lightroom's keyboard shortcuts. Familiarize yourself with them using Adobe's shortcut list.

5. Performance Optimization: Make Lightroom run faster by optimizing its performance settings. Adobe offers a comprehensive guide on optimizing performance.

6. Learn and Update: Regularly update Lightroom and stay informed about new features. Adobe's What's New page is a great resource.

By following these steps and continuously exploring new features and practices, you can significantly improve your Lightroom experience, making your workflow as a video journalist more efficient and your output more professional.

How to Display Lightroom Skills on Your Resume

7. Photoshop

Photoshop is a digital image editing software widely used for photo manipulation, graphic design, and digital art, offering tools for enhancing and editing photographs and images for professional video journalism and storytelling visuals.

Why It's Important

Photoshop is crucial for a Video Journalist as it allows for the editing and enhancement of still images used in storytelling, creating compelling visuals that can accompany video content, and improving the overall aesthetic and narrative impact of their work.

How to Improve Photoshop Skills

To improve Photoshop skills for a Video Journalist, focus on these concise strategies:

1. Learn the Basics: Start with Adobe's official tutorials to understand fundamental tools and workflows.

2. Master Layer Management: Efficient layer management is crucial. Adobe's guide on layers can help streamline your editing process.

3. Understand Color Correction: Utilize tutorials on color grading and correction, like this Phlearn tutorial, to enhance your video stills and graphics.

4. Embrace Keyboard Shortcuts: Speed up your workflow with Photoshop keyboard shortcuts. Memorizing these can significantly reduce editing time.

5. Practice Non-Destructive Editing: Learn about non-destructive editing techniques through resources like this guide by Adobe to ensure original files remain unaltered.

6. Explore Advanced Compositing: Enhance your storytelling by mastering compositing skills. Adobe’s advanced compositing tutorial can be a great resource.

7. Stay Updated: Photoshop is constantly updated. Keep abreast with the latest features and tools by following the Adobe Blog.

8. Join Communities: Engage with communities on platforms like Reddit’s Photoshop community for tips, critiques, and inspiration.

By focusing on these areas and continuously practicing, you can significantly improve your Photoshop skills as a Video Journalist.

How to Display Photoshop Skills on Your Resume

8. Audacity

Audacity is a free, open-source audio editing and recording software widely used for tasks like podcasting, music recording, and sound editing, including by video journalists for editing audio components of their stories.

Why It's Important

Audacity is important for a Video Journalist because it provides a free, versatile tool for high-quality audio recording and editing, essential for creating compelling video stories with clear, impactful soundtracks.

How to Improve Audacity Skills

To enhance Audacity for a Video Journalist, consider the following concise tips:

1. Learn Keyboard Shortcuts: Increase editing speed by mastering Audacity's keyboard shortcuts. Official Shortcut List.

2. Use Noise Reduction: Improve audio clarity by using the Noise Reduction effect to remove background noise. Noise Reduction Guide.

3. Apply Compression: Level your audio dynamics with the Compression effect for a more professional sound. Compression Explained.

4. Enhance Voice Quality: Use the Equalization effect to enhance voice quality, making speech clearer. Equalization Tips.

5. Utilize Plug-ins: Expand Audacity's capabilities with third-party plug-ins for more advanced effects and processing. Plug-ins Resource.

6. Regular Updates: Keep Audacity updated to access the latest features and improvements. Audacity Download Page.

7. Explore Tutorials: Constantly improve your skills by exploring official and community tutorials. Tutorials Page.

By implementing these strategies, a Video Journalist can significantly improve their workflow and audio quality in Audacity.

How to Display Audacity Skills on Your Resume

9. Pro Tools

Pro Tools is a digital audio workstation software used for sound recording and editing, offering advanced features for mixing, mastering, and post-production, widely used in music, film, and TV industries, making it a valuable tool for video journalists for editing audio content in their stories.

Why It's Important

Pro Tools is important for a Video Journalist because it offers advanced audio editing capabilities, allowing for precise control over sound quality and synchronization with video, enhancing the overall production value of their stories.

How to Improve Pro Tools Skills

To improve Pro Tools for video journalism, focus on enhancing audio quality, workflow efficiency, and integrating video editing features. Here’s how:

1. Upgrade Audio Quality: Use high-quality plugins to enhance voice clarity and reduce background noise. Waves Audio offers a range of plugins suitable for voice optimization.

2. Streamline Workflow: Customize your workspace and utilize keyboard shortcuts to speed up editing processes. Avid's Pro Tools Custom Keyboard can significantly improve your editing speed.

3. Integrate Video Editing Tools: Although Pro Tools is primarily an audio platform, incorporating basic video editing features can be beneficial. Use Avid’s Video Engine for seamless video playback and basic editing without leaving Pro Tools.

4. Enhance Collaboration: Utilize Avid’s Cloud Collaboration for Pro Tools to work on projects with teammates remotely, ensuring efficient teamwork and project management.

5. Invest in Training: Sharpen your skills by taking advantage of online tutorials and courses. Pro Tools Expert offers a wealth of resources for all skill levels.

By focusing on these key areas, you can significantly improve your Pro Tools setup for video journalism, making your workflow more efficient and your output of higher quality.

How to Display Pro Tools Skills on Your Resume

10. DSLR Mastery

DSLR Mastery for a Video Journalist involves mastering the technical and creative use of Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras to produce high-quality, compelling video content for storytelling and journalism. This includes understanding camera settings, lenses, lighting, audio capture, and post-production techniques to effectively communicate news and stories visually.

Why It's Important

DSLR Mastery is important for a Video Journalist because it enables them to produce high-quality, visually compelling stories with depth of field, low-light capabilities, and manual control over focus and exposure, essential for engaging and professional video journalism.

How to Improve DSLR Mastery Skills

Improving DSLR mastery for a video journalist involves a blend of technical knowledge, creative skill, and practical experience. Here are concise steps to enhance your DSLR video skills:

1. Understand Your Equipment: Familiarize yourself with your DSLR's manual settings to take full control over exposure, focus, and audio. B&H Explora offers detailed guides and tips.

2. Learn Composition and Storytelling: Mastering composition techniques and visual storytelling elevates your video content. Study the rule of thirds, leading lines, and framing for impactful shots. Poynter provides storytelling tips for journalists.

3. Practice Manual Focus: For precise control over your storytelling, practice switching between subjects smoothly with manual focus. No Film School shares techniques and exercises.

4. Invest in Good Audio: Quality audio is crucial. Use external microphones and learn to monitor and adjust levels correctly. The Location Crew offers insights into capturing professional audio.

5. Experiment with Lighting: Understanding and manipulating light will drastically improve your video quality. Experiment with natural and artificial lighting setups. Wistia has tutorials on lighting techniques.

6. Edit and Color Grade: Post-production is where your footage comes to life. Learn editing software and color grading to enhance your storytelling. Adobe provides tutorials for Premiere Pro.

7. Continuous Learning and Practice: Stay updated with the latest techniques and technologies. Online platforms like Lynda offer courses in DSLR videography.

By dedicating time to learn each aspect and practicing regularly, you'll enhance your DSLR mastery and elevate your video journalism to new heights.

How to Display DSLR Mastery Skills on Your Resume

11. Drone Operation

Drone operation, in the context of a Video Journalist, involves remotely piloting an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to capture aerial footage or photographs for news stories, documentaries, or journalistic content, enhancing storytelling with unique and expansive visual perspectives.

Why It's Important

Drone operation is crucial for a video journalist as it enables capturing unique, aerial perspectives and dynamic footage that enhances storytelling, increases viewer engagement, and provides access to otherwise inaccessible locations.

How to Improve Drone Operation Skills

To improve drone operation as a video journalist, focus on the following key areas:

1. Training and Certification: Enhance your skills and ensure legal compliance through formal FAA certification or equivalent for your region.
2. Pre-Flight Planning: Use apps like AirMap or UAV Forecast for weather conditions, no-fly zones, and optimal flight paths.
3. Practice Regularly: Consistent practice improves handling. Consider virtual drone flight simulators for safe, varied scenario training.
4. Master Camera Settings: Learn advanced camera settings for optimal footage. Resources like DJI tutorials can be invaluable.
5. Stay Updated: Drone technology evolves rapidly. Follow DroneDJ for the latest news and tech updates in the drone industry.

By focusing on these areas, you'll enhance your drone operation skills, ensuring higher quality aerial footage for your journalism projects.

How to Display Drone Operation Skills on Your Resume

12. Social Media Analytics

Social Media Analytics for a Video Journalist involves the process of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data from social media platforms to understand audience engagement, preferences, and trends related to video content. This helps in optimizing content strategy, improving audience reach, and enhancing viewer engagement.

Why It's Important

Social media analytics is crucial for a Video Journalist as it provides insights into audience preferences and engagement, enabling tailored content creation for increased viewership and interaction.

How to Improve Social Media Analytics Skills

Improving social media analytics for a video journalist involves a blend of strategic content creation, engagement optimization, and data-driven decision-making. Here are concise steps to enhance your social media analytics:

1. Define Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve (e.g., increased engagement, more followers) to tailor your analytics approach effectively. Sprout Social offers insights on essential metrics to track.

2. Use the Right Tools: Leverage analytics tools specific to each platform (e.g., Twitter Analytics, Facebook Insights) and third-party tools like Hootsuite or Buffer for a comprehensive analysis across platforms.

3. Analyze Your Audience: Understand your audience's preferences, peak activity times, and demographics using tools like Google Analytics to tailor your content strategy.

4. Engage with Your Audience: Interaction increases visibility and engagement. Use analytics to identify successful engagement strategies and replicate them. BuzzSumo is great for understanding what content generates engagement.

5. Optimize Content Strategy: Use analytics to see what types of content (e.g., tutorials, interviews) and topics resonate with your audience. Adjust your content strategy accordingly to increase relevance and engagement.

6. Evaluate and Adjust Regularly: Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Continuously monitor your analytics to adapt your strategy, ensuring it remains effective. Social Media Examiner provides updates and tips on navigating these changes.

By following these steps, video journalists can significantly improve their social media analytics, leading to better engagement and more effective content strategies.

How to Display Social Media Analytics Skills on Your Resume