The Broadcast News Toolkit focuses on the writing, shooting, and production of broadcast news across multimedia platforms in a non-technical and visually engaging way.
Covering a range of different story forms in broadcast news (RDR, FS, VO, VO/SOT, PKG, and Liveshots), this book illustrates basic audio/video shooting and editing techniques through straightforward examples, including online video tutorials that can be accessed via a QR code within the book. Specific issues relating to online content, social media, and audience engagement are discussed in detail, and the authors further explore why trust in news media is declining, the impact that fake news and deep fake videos have on media credibility in newsrooms, and what can be done to increase the perceived credibility of the news. Students will also learn how to write leads and teases that will keep viewers engaged.
This is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate students of Broadcast and Multimedia Journalism who are looking for a clear and concise guide to the modern digital newsroom.
Author(s): Kirsten Johnson, Jodi Radosh
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 222
City: New York
Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Dedication and Acknowledgments
1. Broadcast Newswriting Rules: Writing for the Ear
Say Goodbye to the Inverted Pyramid Format
Conversational Writing
Short, Simple, Sentences
Get the And Out of There
Eliminating Commas
Using Contractions
Writing in the Active Voice
Dates and Days of the Week
Months
Numbers
Symbols
Addresses
Ages
Abbreviations
Acronyms
Attribution
Quotations
A Timing Tip
2. Credibility and Trust in the Media
Fake News
Deep Fake Videos
Trust and Credibility
Trust Definition
Credibility Definition
Why People Don't Trust the News
Ways to Improve Trust and Credibility
Transparency
Process Box
Trust Indicators™
Television Newsroom Structure
Notes
3. Finding Compelling Story Ideas
Newsworthiness
Timeliness
Proximity
Conflict
Significance/Impact
Prominence
Unusual/Human Interest
Where to Find News Stories
Agency News
Localize a National Story
Media
News Releases
Talk to People in Your Area
Identify a Problem or Need in Your Community
Events
School Stories
Seasonal Stories
Anniversaries of Events
Use Your Eyes and Ears
Rankings & Research
Interview Newsmakers or Prominent People
Tell the Story of Someone Special
Contacts
Competitive News Outlets
Good Visuals
Social Media
The Changing Media Landscape
Notes
4. Great Leads and Tantalizing Teases
Two Main Types of Broadcast Leads
Hard Lead
The Soft Lead
Top Ten Tips for Writing Great Leads
Tips for Tease Writing
Notes
5. Interviewing
What's the Purpose of the Interview?
Types of Interviews
Talking Head Interview
Conversational Interviews
Research
Who Do You Interview?
Tips for Conducting Interviews
Listen
Take Notes
Diversity of Sources
Interview Expectations
Choose the Right Setting
Lighting
Sound
Logistics
Remote Interviews
Editing it Together
Helpful Audio Tip
Social Media
Notes
6. Writing Radio News and Producing Podcasts
Terminology
Writing Audio Stories
Describe the Scene
Actualities
Natsound
Use all of your senses, not just sight
Distracted Listeners
Types of News Radio Station Formats
Scripting Formats
RDR Example
Voicer Example
RDR/Actuality Example
Wrap Example
Some Other Notes about Scripting
Podcasts
Recording and Editing Audio Stories
Appendix A Radio Newscast Script, courtesy of WBAL in Baltimore, Md.
Note
7. The Reader, VO Story Forms, and Graphics
Reader (RDR)
RDR Script Formatting
VO Story Forms
Voice-Over (VO)
Content
Footage
Wallpaper Video
VO Scripting Formats
Graphics
Fullscreens (FS) or Fullscreen Graphics (FSG)
Basic Graphic Design Principles
Aspect Ratio
Essential Area
Color
Readability
Consistency
Infographics
Notes
8. The VO/SOT
Choosing Compelling Sound Bites
Setting Up the Sound Bite
Scripting Format Examples
Stand-Alone SOT
Note
9. The Package
What Types of News Stories Should Be Packages?
Story Forms
Diamond Story Form
Christmas Tree Story Form
Narrative Arc
Package Points
Ten Steps to Putting Together a News Package
Top Ten Package Tips
The Elements of the PKG Script
Notes
10. Writing for the Web
How People Read Online
New Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Initiative Aims to Combat Obesity and Get People Moving
Guidelines for Adults
Guidelines for Children
Online Story Formatting Elements
Gas Prices Expected to Spike Across the Country
Writing for the Web
Multimedia Elements
Social Media
TikTok
The Journey of a Story from Television to a News Website to Social Media
Here's the pkg script for television:
Here's a transcript of the package:
The story on the station's website:
Live Tweeting Tips
Notes
11. The Basics of Gathering Video and Audio for News Stories
The Tripod
White Balancing
Different Types of Shots
Extreme Long Shot (XLS) or Extreme Wide Shot (EWS)
Long Shot (LS) or Wide Shot (WS)
Medium Shot (MS)
Close Up (CU)
Extreme Close Up (XCU or ECU)
Basic Sequence of Shots
Camera Movements
Allowing Action to Move In and Out of Shots
Framing Your Shots
Cutaways
Backgrounds
Screen Size Matters
Recording Sound
Monitoring Your Sound
12. Video and Audio Editing
Logging Video and Audio
Video Editing
The Video Editing Process Overview
Step 1: Import Your Project elements
Step 2: Lay Down Reporter Track and Sound Bites
Step 3: Lay Down Video/Graphics
Step 4: Lay Down Music Bed
Step 5: Watch Your Story
Step 6: Export Your Video
Step 7: Watch it One More Time
VO Editing Process
VO/SOT Editing Process
PKG Editing Process
Rules to Keep in Mind While Editing Video
Say Cow, See Cow
Continuity Considerations
Jump Cuts
Axis of Action
Audio Continuity
Use of Computer-Generated Effects
Editing Your Audio
Use of Music
Crossfades
Natural Sound
Displacing Audio
Layering Sound
13. Writing Specific Types of Stories
Sports Stories
Avoid Jargon and Clichés
Write to Your Video
Sentence Fragments
Numbers
Opinions
Look Beyond the Play-By-Play
Consider Covering Other Sports
Interviews with Athletes
Social Media
Politics and Government
Government Structure
Budgets—Follow the Money
Report Fairly
Community Impact
Government Meetings
Meetings and Speeches
Find Your Focus
Begin with What's Most Interesting
Set the Scene
Interviews
Visuals
Open Meetings
Business Stories
Avoid Jargon
Numbers
Visuals
Business Documents
Consumer Stories
Crime Stories
Understanding the Criminal Justice System
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Avoid "Cop Speak"
Allegedly
Covering Disasters and Tragedies
Get the Basic Facts
What to Do at the Scene
Find the Person in Charge
Don't Make Assumptions
Pass Information Along
Follow-Up Stories
Health and Science Stories
Make the Story Relatable to Your Audience
Weigh Differing Viewpoints Carefully
Consult with Experts in the Field
Make Additional Information Available
Embargos
Find Your Focus
Avoid Jargon
14. Live Shots
Live Shot Coordination
Five Elements Necessary for Live Shots
Tip #1 - Follow the same basic principles of doing a stand-up but emphasize why you are there going live
Tip #2 - Make sure what you say is accurate. Don't speak in a way that alarms others unnecessarily or places others in danger
Tip #3 - Don't memorize large chunks of information. It's better to have an outline
Tip #4 - Assume your microphone is always live and the camera is always on
Tip #5 - Be aware of your time, especially when conducting interviews
Tip #6 - Make sure you have backup equipment
Tip #7 - Have contingency plans if the live shot has technical or other difficulties
Tip #8 - Reporter and anchor question and answer should provide meaningful perspectives
Tip #9 - Have clear communication between the station and the field
Tip #10 - Above all—remain calm especially when there are technical difficulties
Types of Live Shots
The Donut or Live Wrap
As Live
Starting as a Solo Journalist
Live Truck Safety
Notes
15. Producing the TV Newscast
What does a Producer do?
Preparing the Rundown
Elements of the Rundown
Stacking the Newscast
Teases
16. News Ethics
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Code of Ethics
Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Code of Ethics
Associated Press (AP) Statement of News Values and Principles
National Public Radio (NPR) Code of Ethics
The Ethical Journalism Guidebook of The New York Times
Media Code of Ethics Database
Why Ethical Codes Matter
How Digital Media is Challenging Media Ethics
Ethical Dilemmas Journalists May Face
Protecting Sources
Protecting Victims
Privacy vs. News Value
Conflicts of Interest
News as a Business
Journalism Ethical Case Studies
Naming Victims of Sex Crimes
Controversy over a Concert
Capturing or Creating the News
Kobe Bryant's Past: A Tweet Too Soon?
A Public Official's Suicide at a News Conference
Notes
Index
