‘Vox Pops’ is industry jargon for the recording of the views of passers by; ‘Vox Populi’ in its Latin form and the ‘Voice of the People,’ in more modern English. Many argue that recording a random sample of people is far from achieving a representation of the thoughts of the general public at large and statistically this would bear that view out.
It is however a useful tool in the armoury of the radio news journalist and broadcaster in putting together an interesting bulletin or piece of news reporting. The process can cover any subject from the views of the people in a market in Afghanistan, to the concerns of parents about the lack of a pedestrian crossing, near their children’s school. The subject matter is seemingly endless and as the reporter is simply canvassing random viewpoints, the potential is as broad as there are news stories.
Sources of News
There are as many sources of news as there are news stories, and the following list is by no means exhaustive. It may just help to show where recording the views of the public at large sits in the overall round of news gathering. Sources of news include:
- Reporters and Contacts
- Press Releases and Politicians
- News Agencies and News Conferences
- Freelancer Contributors
- Pressure Groups and Letters to the Editor
- Tip Offs including hoaxes.
- Events and Emergency Services
- Anniversaries
- Make up Ideas for News Stories.
The Vox Pop piece has a place in nearly all if not in all of the above sources of news. It’s probably less valid for breaking news or news headlines for fairly obvious reasons:
- The people being ‘Vox Popped’ may not be aware of the story and so have not yet formed a view
- Major news stories are of sufficient interest in themselves without interruption
- Listeners are more likely to want just the facts of the important news stories of the day
- Some news items may have such gravitas, (murder, death, war, famine etc) or be so serious a Vox Pop piece would appear flippant and out of place and context.
- Recording observations sometimes however of people involved or witnesses in a serious item can give vent to feelings ‘on the ground.’
When and where to record, and when and where to insert Vox Pop audio in among or as part of all the other stories in a bulletin, as with every other news story is a matter for Editorial Judgement. This affects the balance, the delivery of the news and the style of the delivery and falls under the remit and direction of the News Editor.
Making up the News
Areas of news reporting the scenario is a perfect fit for are long running news items, or anniversaries of particular events. These usually elicit a good response from those asked and provide a wide variety of opinion. Topics that can be covered very effectively are:
- A particular development that has split a community
- A long running battle between interested parties that has affected a community
- Any item that appears regularly in the news
- Anniversaries of a particular, local, national or international event (it’s a year to the day since......)
The benefits of using the Vox Pop technique in these circumstances for good audio recording are many and varied. Most people asked more importantly will have something to say, a belief, or a point of view to express. So even without a particular news piece, or even without a significant story to report at first, the Vox Pop technique has created a story with interest, colour and points of view.
Back in the studio the collected audio collated, edited together effectively and quickly, put in context by the reporter or the anchor an interesting and very current radio news item is ready to go to air.
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