Two things about broadcast news we need to understand

12. Two things about broadcast news we need to understand

13. Substance and format

14. Writing a TV news script: the substance

15. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief

16. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief • Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits

17. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief • Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits • Use friendly, conversational tone

18. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief • Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits • Use friendly, conversational tone • Active voice

19. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief • Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits • Use friendly, conversational tone • Active voice • Present tense

20. Writing a TV news script • It’s brief • Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits • Use friendly, conversational tone • Active voice • Present tense • Attribution before quotes

21. Writing a TV news script • “Talking head bad. Video good.”

22. Writing a TV news script • “Talking head bad. Video good.” • Write to your best video: lead with the strongest shots

23. Writing a TV news script • “Talking head bad. Video good.” • Write to your best video: lead with the strongest shots • Engage emotions

26. It’s live and you never know...

27. Format your story: the style

28. Format your story: the style • Idea is to make your copy readable and to fit exactly into the news slot

29. Format your story: the style • Idea is to make your copy readable and to fit exactly into the news slot • Spells out who says what and what the viewer is seeing on screen

30. Format your story: the style • Idea is to make your copy readable and to fit exactly into the news slot • Spells out who says what and what the viewer is seeing on screen • Much more complicated and technical than print or internet media

31. Format your story: the style • Idea is to make your copy readable and to fit exactly into the news slot • Spells out who says what and what the viewer is seeing on screen • Much more complicated and technical than print or internet media • No standardization from station to station

32. Here’s what we’ll use for WLAF-TV

33. Here’s what we’ll use for WLAF-TV • Always use split-page format (two columns)

34. Here’s what we’ll use for WLAF-TV • Always use split-page format (two columns) • Left shows what viewers see; length of segment (TRT); and who’s saying it

35. Here’s what we’ll use for WLAF-TV • Always use split-page format (two columns) • Left shows what viewers see; length of segment (TRT); and who’s saying it • Right column shows the exact words the viewer will hear

37. WLAF-TV style • All copy being read is ALL CAPS

38. WLAF-TV style • All copy being read is ALL CAPS • The words being spoken in sound-bites or SOT will be in lower case (initial caps) in Italics

39. WLAF-TV style • All copy being read is ALL CAPS • The words being spoken in sound-bites or SOT will be in lower case (initial caps) in Italics • Put the name of newscast, date and your name (as the writer) in upper left

40. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected

41. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation

42. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud:

43. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud: can it be read easily and naturally

44. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud: can it be read easily and naturally; is it easy to understand

45. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud: can it be read easily and naturally; is it easy to understand; is it conversational;

46. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud: can it be read easily and naturally; is it easy to understand; is it conversational; get rid of awkward words

47. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected • E’s and I’s! Energy, enthusiasm, emphasis, inflection and interpretation • As you write your copy, say it out loud: can it be read easily and naturally; is it easy to understand; is it conversational; get rid of awkward words; determine real length of story

48. So let’s try it • Write and record a 40-second story. You are a reporter for WLAF-TV. You are at the scene of a train-car crash. A Tropicana juice train carrying 2.5 million cartons of juice rammed a Dodge Ram truck at the intersection of US 301 and 27th Street in Bradenton. No one is hurt. You are leading in to a sound-bite from the train engineer, April Showers. • Write anchor lead, record reporter live at scene, interview with April Showers, reporter back to anchor, write anchor outro

49. Teams • Sophie & Lucy • Sarah & Bret

50. Assignment 3/4 • Prepare and tape a one-minute news package