If every tour needs the perfect guide, then every journalist and documentary filmmaker working abroad needs an experienced local producer. Someone who knows the drill, the contacts, and all the in’s and out’s of coordination so that you can focus on what you do best—reporting. After years of leading news teams through the ever-changing region in Israel and the Palestinian territories, we have the lo-down on the benefits of producing with a local partner. 1) Expedited research time: You can only depend on your native-language search engine tips and social media feeds for so long. The closer you wish to get to the story, the more entrenched you have to be. A local producer already has the contacts and the rapport to get the exclusive leads, interviews, and access you need upfront, and before the competition. 2) Expert production coordination: Wh en covering sacred sites, high security areas, or simply navigating an unfamilia...