Oftentimes, production is chaotic when all the viewer sees is calm; it’s mournful when all the viewer sees is stoicism; it’s irresolute when all the viewer sees is resolution. This ability is never more apparent than when we have breaking news as we did yesterday when a building block collapsed in Cologne, Germany.

Cameras were shuffled, scripts were rushed out hurriedly by Candace, the supervising producer, and Hala was pushed onto the set.

And while a cursory viewing might have portrayed an assurance of what we knew had happened and was happening, we really didn’t have much of an idea.  As images were flashed across the screen, Hala was seeing them at the same time as you, the viewer, were. As new information came in, she was learning of it just as she was disseminating it through her microphone.

But back to that breaking news: It can be especially difficult for those people running audio who have to make sure all of our guests are mic'ed, all of our field reporters are properly connected while also overseeing a whole host of other, more esoteric responsibilities.

Here at I-desk that responsibility falls to Jeff, CNNI's Sr. Audio Operator. Not only is he your connection to the voices of our anchors and guests, but he is also your sonic portal to the world. In other words, without him you'd have only pictures and no sound.

On top of this great responsibility, Jeff plays the part of studio policeman, making sure all the extraordinarily expensive equipment is handled properly and with care (think of each computer, microphone etc... as each of Jeff's babies). And warning!! Never bring food into the studio: Jeff will have a conniption (although yes I'm guilty of sneaking a thing or two in here and there.)

Posted by: Video Journalist, Zach Pontz
Filed under: Behind the scenes •I