Military Feature: Multimedia merger expands Cannon's news coverage

The Cannon Public Affairs department has gone from just producing written stories and photographs to broadcasting video stories on the Commanders Channel in the last year.

The multimedia department combined with the public affairs desk and grew from a staff of four people to 20 people, according to Public Affairs Chief Capt. Mae-Li Allison.

“We have more resources now to cover stories now,” she said.

Function

The organization posts articles on the base’s Web site as well as produces video stories.

The public affairs desk also functions as a liaison between the off-base community and the base, she said.

“We play a large part in the relationship building in the community,” Allison said.

Personnel

To cover stories, the public affairs department deploys three people: A photographer, a videographer and a writer.

Before the merger, the department sent one person to write and take photos of an event, according to Allison.

Merger

The photographers and videographers were part of the multimedia department. Their main job was to document incidents such as accidents and crimes for investigation, according to Staff Sgt. Richard Williams, who is in charge of multimedia operations.

While they still serve that purpose, the photographers and videographers now also shoot news photos and broadcast stories for the public affairs desk.

“Traditionally videography was all we did before, and now it’s more CNN News stories that we do,” said Senior Airman Amy Slye.

Airman First Class Elliot Sprehe said the merger has made his job as a writer much easier.

“Since the transition, being able to work with the photographers and videographers more alleviates some of the pressure,” he said.