Headphone-less, I was reduced to watching CNN with the sound off as I ran in the swampy basement of the Watergate. It's a weird experience being forced to concentrate on the "cinematography" of the news network, such as it is.
But it approaches surreal when anything computery comes on. Not that I blame the TV news guys: Someone sitting at a computer is one of the least telegenic events on Earth, and yet that exact activity often requires news coverage. What's a producer to do?! Maybe try faking it.
Here are seven tricks we've noticed TV news crews using that make working on a computer seem as fun as a spin through a house on MTV Cribs.
Imagine each of these techniques being yelled out by a stressed-out young guy who wishes he was Scorsese.
(Stream these videos on our site without clicking through to YouTube. We've got the best moment cued up for you.)