We’re Gianna Toboni and Isobel Young, VICE Correspondents on HBO, and That’s How We Do It.
Some journalists spend their careers at their desk. It’s a good way to work, depending on the rhythm, but not for everyone. This is not for Gianna Toboni and Isobel Young, who travel the world as VICE correspondents for HBO .
The work is difficult and necessary. Toboni has done front-line coverage in Iraq, interviewed ISIS members, and previously collaborated with Al Jazeera and ABC News to tell important stories. Jung traveled to Aleppo, interviewed rape criminals in the DRC, contacted fishermen in Tanzania who fish with dynamite, and previously lived and worked in China.
With the premiere of VICE season 5 earlier this year, Jung and Toboni are busier than ever. We managed to catch up with them to learn a little about how they work.
Venue: Brooklyn, NY. Live concert: Correspondents and Producers, VICE on HBO. One word that best describes how you work: Gianna Toboni: For this I relied on my loyal and talented producer buddies, Alice and Nicole. They said “serious” and “violent.” Isobel Jung: With a sense of passion. Current mobile device: GT and IY: iPhone Current computer: GT: MacBook AirIY: MacBook
First of all, tell me a little about your past and how you became who you are today. How did you get into documentary news?
GT: In college and for a few years afterwards, I worked at ABC News as a booker, producer and digital correspondent. After getting fired, I raised money on Kickstarter to fund a documentary I wanted to shoot in Haiti, which eventually led me to VICE. I’ve had the opportunity to shoot a number of documentaries in over 20 countries around the world with VICE. Meanwhile, I worked as a correspondent for Al-Jazeera.
IY: Immediately after my studies, I moved to China. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do other than travel and language learning. I started working as a freelancer for various publications and TV companies. It seemed to me that Asia was under-represented in the global media, so I enthusiastically covered in-depth articles that draw attention to this part of the world. China is a goldmine of captivating and complex stories.
In 2014, I submitted an article to Vice News about the Hong Kong protests. We created a 30-minute documentary that allowed us to sort out some of the issues that weren’t covered in the headlines. This immersive style of working with long documents really won me over. So I moved to New York to do this all the time.
What apps, software or tools can’t you live without?
GT: Pen and notebook. Telephone. Application “Notes”. Podcasts. Zoom microphone for sound recording on the go.
IY: I use Day One quite often – it allows you to keep a digital journal on your phone and save location / images, etc. It’s great because I always lose paper journals so I can take notes on the go, geotag locations and upload images of places I’ve been and try to keep track of everything. I also have unhealthy relationships with most social media.
How is your workplace arranged? Obviously, “workplace” can mean a lot of things, especially when you’re in the field.
GT: I like to drink several drinks at once: water, juice, coffee, tea, etc. The sweatshirt and comfortable shoes are key factors. All of this may sound frustrating, but mobile comfort is important when you spend a lot of time in awkward places. Notebook and pen on one side. Research package and usually one book on the other side. Front and Center MacBook Air – It helps that it’s small and easy to reach. A phone with a charger is usually within arm’s reach.
IY: Worry! I’m in the fields a lot, so one day we’ll be at a civil rights protest and the next day we’ll be in the Congo countryside. I often prepare for filming by crashing into the back of a van or plane (this is where I am writing this now!). I can work anywhere, but my home in Brooklyn is my refuge: I have a huge desk, large bay windows and a jungle full of plants. I love working there.
And for jobs that are not always optimal – how do you manage to get the job done in difficult and sometimes dangerous circumstances?
GT: Surrounding myself with the best people who have become my best friends, and keeping calm and making smart decisions.
IY: You have to be prepared and know as best you can what situation you are in. This way, you can half predict what might happen. We are also very fortunate to have an incredible team of colleagues with whom we can talk and calm our nerves when they need to calm down.
Obviously, you work a lot on the road. How do you do it? Take everything with you, including the kitchen sink, or stop at the essentials?
GT: Definitely stick to the essentials. Usually I only take my backpack with me, no matter if it’s 3 days on the road or 2 weeks. Lightweight packaging is always worth it; sinks are designed to be washed mid-trip. Comfort and readiness are the keys to success.
IY: I’m a terrible packer. Fifteen minutes before leaving the house, I put everything in a bag. I once went to a two-week shoot with one pair of socks! In general, I try to make it as light as possible and only take the essentials. Oh, and I always take Tabasco mini bottles with me wherever I go.
What device, besides a phone and a computer, can you not live without and why?
GT: My mobile voice-over microphone. We often have to deliver works when I’m in the field, so the microphone allows me to voice over wherever I am.
IY: My Kindle / iPad. I need a library of books and articles for a long journey.
What’s your favorite to-do list manager or way to keep things organized?
GT: I rely on the calendar and notebook on the iPhone. I also send myself text messages and emails.
IY: Sometimes I use the Swipes app . Quite nice when you’ve completed the cleaning task. Most of the time, I just go back to good old pen and paper.
What are some of your best everyday activities? What’s your secret?
GT: I’m listening. Not sure if I’m the best, but in a conversation or interview, I always focus on listening. If you’re trying to get something out of the convoy, resist the urge to fill the dead space and you’ll often get it.
IY: I’m making killer eggs. Not to brag, but people say it’s the best they’ve ever had.
What do you listen to while you work? Obviously it depends on the work you’re doing, but do you have a favorite playlist? Or do you prefer silence?
G.T .: Usually silence. But sometimes Blood Orange , Solange and Lykke Li . I love NPR and podcasts, but I can’t listen to multitasking at the same time – I need to focus on one or the other.
IY: When I work in an office, on an airplane or in a cafe, I don’t need to distract anything. I wear headphones, turn on noise canceling, and sometimes use white noise if there is a chatter around.
What are you reading now?
GT: I just finished This Is What I Do , by Lincy Addario, a war photographer who also works for The New York Times. I’m just getting started on ” Ratfucked ” by David Daly. And I almost finished Adam Grant’s The Originals .
IY: I just got a gift from Sheila Nevins’ You Don’t Look Your Age … and Other Tales . I admire her a lot, and it’s a fun reading that is always pleasantly distracting.
How do you replenish? Working on the news can be brutal if you really want to black out for a moment. What do you do when you want to forget about work?
GT: Go to a rural Mexican beach town where no one speaks English and leave my phone in the room.
IY: I train, run and cook – this is my magic formula for turning off.
What is your sleep pattern? Are you a night owl or get up early?
GT: I always went to bed early, got up early. I use a regular old phone alarm, but I usually get up anyway.
IY: It’s dirty. I recently started using the Sleep Cycle app , which only confirmed how irregular my sleep is! I suffer from jet lag all the time, so quite often I wake up very early in the morning and start my day then because I can’t go back to sleep.
Fill in the blank: I would like _____ to answer these same questions.
GT:Shane Smith .
IY: Rowan Atkinson . He is a genius and almost never gives interviews.
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? Doesn’t have to be job-related or performance-related.
GT: Remember to enjoy the journey, especially during times of struggle or anxiety.
IY: Do what you love. I know it’s corny, but it’s true.
What else would you like to add that might be of interest to readers and fans?
GT: I would be called Kirby Puckett Toboni if he won the 1987 World Series MVP. To put it mildly, I come from a family of baseball fans.