A Day in the Life of LNP Videographer Tyler Huber

The internet, unregulated social media, and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) have knocked local journalism off its foundation. Since the mid-2000s, more than 2,500 newspapers have stopped publishing and employment at U.S. newspapers has declined more than 50 percent. Many remaining newspapers are now owned by public companies or hedge funds without regard to the communities they purportedly serve.

But not here, not in Lancaster. In Lancaster, we are incredibly fortunate to still have a locally-owned news organization with people like Tyler Huber, who cares deeply about this community.

In the story below, Tyler gives us a peek into ‘A Day in the Life’ of a videographer for a news organization. This is the fourth article in a series on how your local news gets made and how important it is for this community to support local news.

Meet Tyler Huber

Digital Media Producer | thuber@lnpnews.com

I still remember the moment I received my first camera—a gift from my parents on Christmas morning 2008. It was a compact, entry-level camcorder, but to me, it felt like the most powerful tool in the world.

I still remember the first video I created that day, a montage of me doing cool tricks on a finger-skateboard (aka a Tech Deck!). My high school years were spent making dumb videos like this with my friends. In the midst of these adolescent antics, I was building experience and learning new ways to tell stories through video. The video camera soon became an extension of myself. After running my TV Studio class at Exeter Township High School in Berks County, I knew I wanted to make this passion a career. After more education at Kutztown University and an internship at Resolution Pictures, I was ready to dive into the workforce.

I started my job as a Digital Media Producer at LNP | LancasterOnline in January of 2017. My primary role has been to produce compelling video/audio content that not only enhances written stories but also stands proudly on its own. My favorite videos to produce have always been local history mini-documentaries. I have a penchant for shedding light on the forgotten tales of the region.

Whether I’m in the field covering breaking news, producing in-depth history pieces, or crafting sports content, my goal is always to engage and inform the community.

“LNP does video?” is something that I have frequently heard in the field over the years. Indeed we do!

Video storytelling offers a different experience than written storytelling. A single shot, a well-timed cut, music, and the tone of a subject’s voice can convey something text can’t. Video also brings authenticity, allowing viewers to see and hear the story unfold rather than just imagine it. I’m proud to be able to deliver that experience to members of this community.

The negative rhetoric surrounding journalism and the media can feel chaotic at times, but every now and then, it’s comforting to look back on simpler days. My first camcorder and a Tech Deck still sits on my desk as a reminder of those times.

A Day in the Life

9:30 AM: Inform my boss Dustin Parlet of what I’m planning on working on for the day. My shift will actually start at 2 PM on this particular day because of an assignment in the evening.

11 AM: I head to the gym to get a nice workout in before the shift starts. Plus that extra muscle helps to lug equipment around all day.

12:15 PM: On my way back from the gym, I stop into the new Nouveau Tea, a Vietmanese cafe on my street in Columbia to get a bite to eat. The bahn mi chicken sandwich is great!

1 PM: I get showered and dressed for the shift ahead.

2 PM: Clock in. My shift officially starts. First thing on my plate today is to record phone messages for co-worker JoAnn Droege. Since I provide LNP with video/audio needs, I provide the voice clips for the phone message system. I record the messages at my home office and send the audio files via email.

2:20 PM: I start preparing questions for an on-camera interview with a historian that is scheduled for the following morning. The video is about the Underground Railroad in Lancaster. I do some light research and start writing a list of the questions I want to ask the historian. My favorite videos to create are usually history related so I look forward to these shoots.

2:40 PM: Time to start charging camera batteries for the evening. Tonight, I will be going to the Lancaster-Lebanon League Girls Basketball Championship. I like to capture the entirety of the game so it is important that I have plenty of camera batteries to do so.

3:30 PM: While my batteries are charging, I gather the rest of my equipment that I will need for a night of shooting sports:

• Canon C100 video camera with 24-70mm lens
• A wireless handheld microphone for interviews and/or recaps
• A tripod for stable shooting

3:50 PM: I check out the sports page on LancasterOnline to get a preview of game I’m about to capture.

4:30 PM: All my camera batteries are fully charged. All of my equipment is ready at the door.

5 PM: I drive to Manheim Township High School—championship site. I rock out to “105.7 The X” radio on the way.

6 PM: I arrive at least one hour before tip-off to secure a spot before things get congested with other local media outlets.

7 PM: The game begins. My goal is to capture the entirety of it so I press record and ensure all the action is in-frame, in-focus, and properly exposed.

7:45 PM: Halftime! I purchase some food at the snack bar to hold me over until the end of my shift.

8:30 PM: Game is over. I storm the court with the rest of the media. and we capture the post-game scenes.

8:40 PM: I connect with sportswriter Jeff Reinhart. I record an on-camera recap with Jeff. He explains to viewers what happened in the game. He then informs me that he will be filing the story tonight around 10:30 PM, which gives me a deadline for the highlight video I am about to produce.

9 PM: I leave and head to the LNP offices at 101 North Queen Street.

9:20 PM: Time to start editing this footage. I start by editing the on-camera interview with Jeff. The goal is to make a 2-3 minute highlight video that recaps the championship game. Since I captured the whole game, I can provide highlights to everything Jeff says on-camera.

10:10 PM: I finish the video and upload it to our website. I inform Jeff that the video is ready to be placed in the story. It goes live with the story and becomes a nice visual supplement to the championship article.

10:30 PM: I clock out and head home.

11:15 PM: I spend the rest of my evening playing games with friends and catching up on the latest Phillies spring training news. Baseball season can’t come soon enough!

12 AM: I charge my camera batteries for tomorrow morning’s shoot and head to bed.

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