The Myth of “Just Capturing What Happened”
Spend enough time around cameras and editing software, and you start to hear it:
“I’m just capturing what happened.”
But no one just captures what happened.
The moment you press record, you’re making choices.
Where to stand.
Who to frame.
How tight to crop.
When to cut.
What to leave in.
What to leave out.
Every one of those decisions shapes meaning.
And meaning shapes understanding.
Media Is Never Neutral
We like to believe media can be neutral.
That journalism can be purely objective.
That documentaries can simply observe.
That videos can just show what happened.
But media doesn’t just reflect reality — it frames it.
Journalists choose which stories to cover.
They decide which sources to quote.
They determine what makes the headline and what becomes a footnote.
They select which images run and which stay in the archive.
These are professional judgments. Necessary ones.
But they are still choices.
And choices shape perception.
A low camera angle can make someone look powerful.
A high angle can make them seem small.
A swelling music track can turn an ordinary moment into something heroic — or tragic.
A quick cut can create urgency.
A long pause can create doubt.
None of these techniques are manipulative on their own. They’re tools.
But tools carry impact.
And impact carries responsibility.
Media Literacy Is a Creator Skill
We often talk about media literacy as something audiences need — the ability to question and analyze what they consume.
But creators need media literacy too.
Before you export your next video or publish your next post, pause and ask:
- What feeling am I creating here?
- What assumption might this reinforce?
- Am I being fair to the person in this frame?
- What context does my audience need?
Not because you have to be perfect.
But because you have influence.
Over the years, when teaching media production, I’ve had students tell me (half-jokingly)
“You ruined watching media for me.”
What they mean is this: once you start seeing the choices, the framing, the cuts, the emotional cues, you can’t unsee them.
And that’s not ruining media.
That’s understanding it.
It’s the moment someone shifts from passive viewer to thoughtful participant.
That awareness is powerful.
Intention Stands Out
We live in a time of fast content.
Fast opinions.
Fast edits.
Fast reactions.
In that environment, intention stands out.
Taking a little extra time to represent someone accurately.
Choosing not to oversimplify something complex.
Resisting the urge to exaggerate emotion just to hold attention.
Those are creative decisions, too.
And they matter.
When you adjust exposure, depth of field, pacing, and framing, you’re not just improving production quality.
You’re shaping how people see a story — and sometimes, how they see each other.
And If You’re Not the One Behind the Camera…
These questions aren’t only for creators.
They’re for viewers, too.
The next time you watch a news segment, a documentary, or a viral clip, pause and consider:
- What perspective is being presented?
- What might be missing?
- What emotion is this trying to create?
- What context would help me understand this more fully?
Media shapes how communities understand issues, institutions, and each other.
Being a thoughtful viewer is just as important as being a thoughtful creator.
Every shot sends a message.
Whether you’re making media — or consuming it — it’s worth asking what that message is.
