I’m getting a little low on video ideas, so I decided today to brainstorm.

I get my ideas for most of my videos from the following:

1. Live news stories
2. Assignments for future stories
3. The features (lifestyle) budget that comes out in advance. This one most often provides the best video ideas

But like I said, today, I’m running on empty. So here’s my brainstorming list:

Big vegetables, world records, road side attractions - tourist office, state fair organizers, schools, churches Small crafts - craft fairs, craftsmen’s guild Fast races, new technology - body shops, small business center High sky rise construction, helicopter, sky diving - local business, social networks

Odd wild animals - Zoo Cute pets, children - parks, animal shelters, pet stores Emotional sickness, poverty, surprise party, competition - health forums, social networks, college/school PR Eye catching Art, anything involving little clothing -colleges, beaches, art classes

It’s not much, but it’s a start. It’s not even well researched. But it’s something I can keep on my desktop and add to over time.

You can probably figure out that I started with elements I think make for good visuals and then imagined what sorts of stories I could tell based on other videos I’ve seen, life experience and my imagination. Then I wrote down courses of action. I actually am already in touch with the local zoo, which has helped me a couple of times. More often than not with the zoo I get a press release AFTER the event has already happened. Ex: Once I got a press release about how two days before a baby giraffe was born in front of a group of schoolchildren on a field trip. AGH!

A lot of these ideas can be researched with a little digging on the Web. The ideas that require me to physically visit some place are going to be the trickiest. Editors hate nothing more than when I go out into the field and don’t return with anything the same day — a very likely scenario if I visit the airfield or ride around parks. But I do think it’s necessary to find stories where they happen.

If I build enough sources, I should get tips for video just as a reporter does for stories. My hope is that I can generate a reliable stream of video opportunities that come right to me.