I’m getting really serious about vlogging!

Canon 80D

Los Angeles,CA—I just got a new vlogging DSLR camera.  I already had a decent news gathering video camera, a couple GoPro cameras, an iPhone and four drones.  

I actually have a working video and photography studio in my home. Needless to say, I also have a video editing suite and can post whatever I please on Social media sites.  However now, I really do have all need to regularly produce a very watchable vlog.  

I’m still learning new things every day.  The largest vlogging obstacle is a lack of subject material.  I finally made the realization that the best vloggers can make a story out of a trip to the dentist or even the grocery store watchable and interesting!  It’s time for me to learn how to be an enterprising vlogger.  I must go out and find my stories and share them.  

I do have a huge TV news background working on such stories as The Oklahoma Bombing and Ted Kaczynski, the long sought UNIBOM, serial bomber.   I’ve produced hundreds of news stories on high profile murders and other infamous crimes. 

Running around with a camera in the cities where I spend most of my time seems so lame by comparison!  Then it dawned on me that most of the other people in the world rarely or never have the opportunity to see things through my eyes!  They are in all different parts of the country or world! Yes, it’s all brand new to them! I’ve become jaded and unimpressed with my lame surroundings!  It isn’t my surroundings but me that has been lame! 

Super Vlogger, Casey Neistat who makes $8 million a year from YouTube, takes us to all of his local haunts in Manhattan when he’s not traveling.  Since I only visit NYC occasionally I find it very interesting.  Casey can do a vlog about, doing laundry or riding his skateboard interesting and that is the fundamental art of storytelling.  

It’s not the material, but the vlogger’s ability to bring his or her adventures to the audience. Telling the story with excitement and energy is an absolute must!  However, I’ll skip the Neistat skateboard and the trip to my local hospital emergency room. Sorry, I know there are people that would enjoy that episode, way too much! 

If you’ve thought about doing a vlog to cover your hobbies, travel or business just do it!  I want to tell you that without phenomenal luck the likelihood of you getting rich is similar to winning the lottery.  The reward is in getting to know how to let others far away live your adventures.  That is incredible empowerment! 

You should also know I’m a senior citizen and and I’m convinced vlogging will help keep me young.  Last but not least you can learn the mechanics of shooting, editing and posting your own videos at my own video Guru, Michael Rosenblum’s teaching site, thevj.com 

Why Investigative Reporting is Dead in America

Los Angeles, CA—George Orwell said in best, “Journalism is printing what someone else does not want printed; everything else is public relations.”

I’ve enjoyed a joint Career, along with being a licensed private eye, I was drafted into TV news as an investigative producer.  

Fortunately I’ve never been sued despite thousands of investigations and news stories.  I’ve always been very careful to avoid common pitfalls or errors in gathering and disclosing records. However I’ve seen plenty expensive litigation both legitimate and frivolous plague news organizations. Right or wrong litigation costs can be crippling to any newsroom.  

I’ve watched news managers panic when the phone calls bombard newsrooms after an Exposé.  Threats to sue along with demands for retractions are common.  Today’s news managers just don’t have the stomach to hear the whining from the miscreants who see their foul deeds displayed on their TV screens.

It is routine for every investigative story to be reviewed by lawyers before broadcasting is approved.  The cost of the lawyers has steadfastly increased while the revenue form advertisers has been steadily tanking.

What you see these days, are routine and somewhat lame consumer stories disguised and packaged as investigative reports.  

Seemingly gone forever are those great hidden camera stories from the 1960s,70s and 80s.  

Going after politicians or celebrities carries little risk since they are clearly public figures.  Those are considered safe targets since their legal protections are very limited. 

This is really a sad state of affairs for news organizations.  The public no longer has a watchdog press waiting to pounce on lawbreakers and scam artists. 

Did You Know There Is A Real Empowerment Tool Hiding In Your Smartphone?

Los Angeles, CA--Do you have a cause, perhaps a beef with your government, school, employer, homeowners association or even the news media?  Do you have something you need to promote or sell?  You can unleash that beast in your smartphone and get results! 

If your voice is not being heard you’ve apparently found yourself helpless in calling attention to your situation.  Don’t expect others to speak up for you, but now you can speak up for yourself through technology.

Yes, you can tell your story to the masses on your own terms.  It’s far easier than you may think.  

Your smartphone has a powerful video camera and video editing system.  You just must be able to tell a coherent and compelling story.  You use that smartphone to shoot, write, edit and create your story just as any seasoned TV journalist or vlogger would.

You simply sign up for a free Youtube account.  An important part is creating the tags or search words that people will use to find your video.  If the names, places and subjects aren’t listed in the tags, nobody will find your video unless you first send them the link.  

If you put up a watchable video that contains solid and steady pictures, good audio, decent voiceover and perhaps some text or even music you will get your video noticed.

First and foremost always hold your smartphone horizontally!  TV and computer screens are horizontal!  

Keep your videos short and to the point.  Speak naturally as you would to a friend.  Always obtain interviews from witnesses whenever possible.  

Find a pleasing news story or a vlog that you can emulate in monkey see, monkey do fashion and your good to go. 

There’s lots of internet training videos out there.  I highly recommend taking the on line course offered by thevj.com because they train video journalists worldwide.

Imagine that you’re inside a business or at the scene of an important news-making event.  If you can put a news video story together you can sell it for a tidy sum!  

You too can become video literate.  Once you begin, there may be no stopping you.  You may even find this learned skill is life changing and bring you unexpected wealth.  

When Conservative Blogger, Andrew Breitbart suddenly suffered a heart attack and died, I wanted to do a simple story for my blog.  

There was a belief by many that Breitbart was murdered because of stories he was publishing about Barack Obama. 

I went to the scene and just by chance I ran into an eye witness that saw Breitbart fall and die on the street.  I included that interview in my video and made a bundle! 

Here is that story:

A Gifted 15 Year-Old Rocked My Music World

Breezy Love Rocking!

Winettka, IL—My work has taken me to Europe, Mexico and even India.  I’ve met some amazing people during my adventures.  Last summer I somehow found myself at a great concert.  The venue was the spacious back yard of a beautiful home where some wonderful intimate concerts are held. 

The weather could not have been nicer.  I had an elegant date for the evening but we did not quite know what to expect.  I loaded up with the wine, cheese grapes and other snacks in lieu of dinner.

I grabbed a front row seat and the show began.  The opening act was a precocious and amazing teen, Breezy Love.  She writes, sings and plays a guitar.   Soon she was wowing the audience with her raw talent.  This youngster absolutely owned her audience as few pros can ever equal. 

The star of the show was, Logan Brill who was not in anyway, chopped liver she has been honing her craft already for years.  Logan did not disappoint, but this review is all about Breezy because she was a real prodigy.  

Breezy must now concentrate on her education first and foremost.  But her gift of entertainment must soon be shared with the world.

Let me say that my childhood was a real mess and music lessons were out of the question and whatever special talents I had were never discovered.  Every child’s possible talents for the arts must be explored. I’m always thrilled when I see a youngster excel beyond not only their peers, but the adults in their lives.  

I was so impressed with Breezy I immediately contacted a long time friend working with NBC’s The Voice and America’s Got Talent.  Hopefully Breezy can catch a break   and be seen there.  The rest will take care of itself.

I love selfies with talented stars!

I’ve seen many talented people that were never properly promoted or represented by successful talent agents or managers.  They simply grow old in church choirs or lounges without ever getting the rewards they deserved.

If you have a child your absolute duty is to discover his or her’s talent and promote the Hell out of it.  That is if the child does not have some other interest that shows real promise.  

We all want to see our children have better lives than we have.  Life is too short to not take full advantage of our creator’s gifts.  

I know you will hear a lot more from Breezy.  I give her a definite, thumbs up!

Here is a video from Breezy’s Youtube Channel.  Please enjoy, like and subscribe to it.  

The Last Chicago Cop Convicted of Murder before Jason Van Dyke.

Officer Richard Nuccio circa 1968

Chicago IL--It was 50 years ago in June of 1968.  The location was the old Franksville hotdog stand just across the street from Wrigley Field.

There was a Town Hall District Cop, Richard Nuccio, just two years on the job.  

He apparently had an ongoing situation with a neighborhood lad, 20 year-old, Ronald Nelson.  

Nuccio allegedly once exercised an unusual act of curbside justice.   In the brutal Chicago wintertime Nuccio supposedly took away Nelson’s shoes and ordered him to walk nearly a mile barefoot in the snow as he slowly followed him in his squad car.  

Things came to a head in early June of 1968, as Nuccio chased Nelson on foot at the popular hot dog stand across from the ballpark. 

Nuccio shot Nelson in the back killing him.  A 3 1/2” knife was recovered that Nuccio claimed Nelson threw at him.  The rub here was Nelson was shot after the knife  was thrown that actually missed Nuccio.  

Once the knife was thrown and missed, the threat and justification to use deadly force ended.

Nuccio was tried twice his  defense lawyer was none other than the legendary, Julius Lucius Echeles. 

Julius Elcheles Left, Mob Boss Tony "Big Tuna" Acardo, Right

Elcheles was actually my neighbor for several years at Marina City.  His clients included every major mob boss of the day.  He even served a short term at Club Fed himself! 

Echeles was quite the showboat and was always dressed to kill in the finest suits.  His girlfriends were always the hottest babes of the day. He had an incredible sense of humor and I’m sure he’s reincarnated now as a comedian hosting late night TV.  

Echeles lost the case and Nuccio went to the joint only to have his sentence commuted by Governor, Dan Walker who was himself later sent to prison. 

Nuccio was released after serving only six years.  He drove a cab after that.  I’ve got no clue where he is today. 

Nuccio’s Story was repeated to Chicago police recruits for decades as a teaching example.  

The Chicago Police Pension System is in a Death Spiral.

Chicago, IL—Chicago’s politicians have steadily used the police pension fund as their personal ATMs looting millions.  It’s no secret it will fail at some point soon. 

Were the board members asleep while this was happening?  Were they complicit or just negligent? One thing for sure the pension was not aggressively protected or it would be solvent today.

Retired officer, Rosemarie Giambalvo has fought for the rights of disabled officers for many years.  She’s fought for retirees along with the disabled too.

Ro really earned a spot on the Pension Board and now needs the votes to make it happen.  I anticipate Ro flashing her razor sharp bulldog teeth and making life really miserable for those victimizing retirees.  Ro will never get in bed with the city politicians and administrators. 

It’s long past time to bring new watchdogs to secure retirement of Chicago cops.  Vote for Ro!