Two shots function as a staple of television news. When a reporter interviews someone, the never leave the interview without first shooting a two shot with the person they are questioning. This validates the reporter as the one who asked the questions. Two shots are also valuable as "cut aways." A two shot can be edited into an interview to cut away to a different perspective then cut back to another sound bite. Two shot cut aways help television editors piece together sound bites so that the audience is unaware that an edit was made.
There are several types of television news reporter two shots. All of them involve two people in the frame but they are all positioned in different ways. An "over the shoulder" two shot shows the back of one person and the front of the other person. The view is framed over the shoulder of the person whose back is to the camera. This is a standard two shot for a reporter doing an interview. A "profile" two shot is framed directly from the side of both subjects. It is from the point of view of a third person watching the conversation nearby. This type of two shot is far less common because it is not especially flattering to the subjects. A "wandering" two shot involves a camera moving around the subjects. The people in the frame are static and the camera wanders around them. This type of two shot gives an interview an edgier and more urgent feel.
The two shot is the featured perspective of television programs involving two hosts. These two shots are usually "side by side." The subjects are sitting or standing next to each other with both facing the camera. You see these two shots on morning talk shows, sports broadcasts and local television newscasts. They show the anchors together and interacting. This is important in programs where the anchors are on one shots most of the time or are heard but not seen through much of the broadcast.
The film industry uses many more creative two shots for effect. One of the subjects can be in the foreground while the other is quite far away. Emotions are much more powerful when you can see someone else there to witness it. The two shot itself communicates to the audience. The second subject in the shot could be provoking the emotion or reacting to it or oblivious to it. Without both subject in the shot the viewer can't make those connections.
A two shot can also involve a "walk and talk." This is where the two subjects in the frame are interacting and moving while the camera follows them. The camera is usually in front of the subjects with the photographer walking backwards. The objective is to show the subjects in a natural interaction apparently oblivious to the camera in their faces. The subjects can be pointing out things they pass or can ignore everything around them. This makes use of the surroundings or focuses all the attention on the subjects. The walk and talk two shot works both ways.