Elizabeth Vargas: Anchor, Reporter, Field Producer

Josh Elliott and Elizabeth Vargas are back from Italy where they covered the acquittal of Amanda Knox. And this morning on GMA — with Vargas in for Robin Roberts — they took viewers behind the scenes of what it takes to get an international live shot on the air. These days it takes a camera, a backpack and a willing anchor-turned-field producer.

Elliott: The return of Amanda Knox happened moments before air time. I’m getting ready first to discuss her departure on the outskirts of Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport. But look at what is happening behind the scene. A backpack. And look at my field producer:

Vargas: Yep. That’s me.

And while Vargas was talking with the control room in New York, giving cues to Elliott in Rome, the producer — who you see wearing the backpack and holding the camera — is Rich McHugh. He learned how to use the TVU technology on the way to Rome. He called ABC’s News Acquisition Center (NAC) in New York for a run-thru before GMA went on the air Tuesday, and in McHugh’s words, “It worked! Amazing.” Jon Meyersohn, who is Vargas’s producer, snapped the photo.

Video after the jump…

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