Broadcasting and Cable provides an in-depth look at the gear being used by reporters in Iraq (ASIDE: The writer calls it the “U.S. occupation of Iraq.” Gee, I wonder what HIS politics are.). Videophones and small-aperture satellite “fly­away” systems are allowing journalists to cover more ground with less equipment, something about which I’ve written considerably in the past (essay). Newsgathering in other countries — especially European — is moving to the Video Journalist concept, and it’s only a matter of time before it happens here. Why? Look at this line: “allowing journalists to cover more ground with less equipment.”

The videophones complete a compact field acquisition system comprising Sony PD-150 or PD-170 DV cameras and Apple G4 laptops running Final Cut Pro software.

“It’s a small kit to begin with, and it’s worked,” says Sharri Berg, vice president of news operations for Fox News Channel. “It’s small enough for redundancy, so you can take an extra camera or an extra videophone.”

Deploying the G4 laptop has had a big impact on CNN’s digital satellite-newsgathering operations, according to Gordon Castle, senior vice president, CNN Technology.

As he explains, at the beginning of the Iraq war, CNN was relying on hardware-based videophones, specially built boxes that allowed reporters to plug the camera in and transmit a serial video stream. One videophone box was dedicated to store-and-forward applications; another was designed for live feeds.

“Now we can transmit through the G4 itself,” says Castle.

Images are video­streamed to air. He says, “It’s eliminated a number of pieces of equipment and made us much more flexible.”

CNN also uses Sony PD-170 cameras and runs Final Cut Pro on its G4 laptops. It finds that a lot more material is being edited by journalists in the field.