NEWSREAL: A
view through the lens, when…
Tim Ortman is an Emmy Award
winning cameraman who has spent 35 years - a lifetime, working in television
news, having worked for all major U.S television news networks (NBC, ABC, CBS,
CNN, FOX) and the BBC. His understanding of the overall television production
process is comprehensive; with over three decades of experience shooting,
lighting, editing, story editing, writing, and producing news.
1.
What really inspired you to write your book, to force you
from
taking an idea or experience and conveying it into a
book?
What I considered a quick start to a normal career in
television news, was viewed by many others as a meteoric launch to a
fascinating career. After hearing tales of my early career, I was told repeatedly,
“you should write a book about those times” but I always discounted it.
Quietly, almost secretly, I began to jot down thoughts and stories from the
many journals I’d kept, to see if there was a cohesive story to be told. And
then, one friend told me, “You should write a book about those times… and you
should meet my brother, he’s a publisher.” That was motivation enough to turn a
series of news stories into a memoir with the theme being; a look back from the
pinnacle of international network news.
That theme took on a secondary purpose when the entire news media
came under attack (as enemies of the American people) from President Trump and
his supporters. While first a memoir, this book is also a defense of the
crucial role the mainstream news media plays in our society.
2.
What is it about and whom do you believe is your targeted
reader?
The book is about my life and work overseas as a staff
network cameraman for NBC News. I witnessed many historic world events such as
the war in Lebanon, the famine in Ethiopia, and the fall of communism. But it
also provides a glimpse into the inner workings of a major American news
network, the foreign press corps, and the many interesting people dedicated to
covering news around the world.
This book is for anyone who has ever read The New York Times, Wall
Street Journal or Huffington Post or watched NBC Nightly News or 60 Minutes. But
the audience is even wider. The ratings for TV network news have declined. Today’s
viewers are half of what they were when NEWSREAL takes place. Where did they
go? Have younger readers/viewers turned to Facebook, Google, and Twitter as
news sources? Is social media the successor to award-winning journalism?
3.
What do you hope will be the everlasting thoughts
for
readers who finish your book? What should remain with
them
long after putting it down?
The incredible value and importance of a strong and independent news
media. In 1971, Supreme Court Justice Black wrote, “The press was to serve the governed, not the governors.”
This nation, all nations are far stronger with a
strong news media than without.
Additionally, we are a world of many nations and news reporting
should reflect a global perspective. Not all news is originated in
Washington D.C. World news coverage keeps viewers and consumers of news aware
of potential threats. But also, that same global coverage, can shed light on
the many similarities we share and create empathy that can help shrink the
globe.
4.
What great challenges did you have in writing your
book?
I had no difficulty committing time to this project. As
it’s about my life, I found it easy to reflect upon and re-tell those stories.
And, I had a great deal of help from a nurturing editor and knowledgeable
publisher...and that is where I encountered challenges. My initial manuscript
was more reporting than writing. To write within their suggested framework, I
needed to slow down and unpack the professional and emotional baggage of life
on the frontlines of news. Initially, I had covered the basics of journalism;
who, what, where, when, why. But I (perhaps intentionally) omitted the deeper
dive into sentiments and feelings of that life.
5.
If people can only buy one book this month, why should it
be
yours? This is a book that entertains and informs;
without being preachy. This is a look back to a time, not so long ago, when the
system of covering and reporting news worked. And, it can still be applied to
today.
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Brian Feinblum’s insightful views, provocative opinions, and
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@theprexpert and email him at brianfeinblum@gmail.com. He feels much more
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BookMarketingBuzzBlog © 2018. Born and raised in Brooklyn, he now resides in
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