Presentation Transcript

1. Unit 5 – Writing

   THE ENTIRE UNIT 5 POWERPOINT IS READY E-MAIL ME THIS WEEKEND IF YOU WANT IT
2. Broadcast News NPR serves as the example of radio broadcast journalism. -Television is tends to be the primary news source for most people -The 6:00pm and 11:00pm are the most important for local TV stations -News magazines are starting to diminish -Internet is emerging as the primary news outlet -Many examples of convergence
3. News Stories -The newscaster is someone employed to deliver the news (suggests all they do is read) -The politically correct term is broadcast journalist (they gather, write, edit, and arrange news) -News is an acronym for north, east, west, south and applies to happenings all around us -Local, National, International, Sports, Weather -Hard news – traditional, breaking or on-going stories that have impact, and that they audience should know -Soft News – feature news that is interesting or enjoyable, but has less impact on listener -With so many happenings, how do we determine what is newsworthy?
4. Newsworthy Elements Proximity – geographical closeness, or the relevance of the issue to the listeners Timeliness – what is happening right now, most recent aspect of the event, immediacy Currency – latest aspect of an issue, or an update on an event that used to be timely Human Interest – emotional impact a story may have, affects feelings and sensibilities Significance/Impact – how many people are affected, how seriously they are affected Oddity – events that are unusual and out of the ordinary, interruptions of everyday events Conflict – clash of opposing sides, Prominence – people of authority, celebrity, popularity, names make news
5. News Values Accuracy – attention to details, do not miss your target Brevity – brief, SVO style, single themed stories Clarity – precise, clear, and simple language Relevance – select most important/meaningful material for your audience Attribution – provide credit to the source of the information Identification – document names, titles, and other descriptions correctly Fairness and Balance – give both sides the opportunity to give their say Objectivity – write in 3rd person, avoid subjective opinion (color) Truth – strive for truth amidst numerous opinions, statements, facts, etc.
6. Newscaster Criteria Credible – professional, accurate, reliable, trustworthy Authoritative – serious, free of accents Unobtrusive – sincerity, proper inflection, proper articulation and pronunciation Educated – knowledgeable on a wide range of news issues, geography, history, politics, current affairs .
7. News Sources Wire Service / Affiliates (Network Indiana) -Have reporters around the state and distribute stories to all member stations (affiliates) -Usually broadcast-ready, but many local stations will re-write for style, corrections, angle, or length Local Newspapers -Utilize this for story ideas and actual stories -Proper news technique would require rewriting the newspaper story and giving credit to the paper Press Releases -Often produced by a public relations firms -Ethical concern of news value vs. promotional value
8. Radio Newscast 2-5 minute report, broadcasts every hour -Stories range from 10 seconds to 2 minutes, but usually less than 30 seconds long -Usually stack all local news stories first unless there is a national or international story of major significance -Kicker story is used at the end (humorous or human interest report)
9. Radio Newscast Employs as many actualities as possible -Sound of the news event or voice of a newsmaker -Ambient noise or nat sound can also be used to add interest and immediacy to the report -Voicers can be used to air a live report from the scene of the event -Must use a tag line
10. Writing Process 1. Find a story 2. Read the story 3. Put the story away 4. Identify essential information (5W/1H) 5. Identify why it is important to audience   6. Write a lead that captures attention/prioritizes information 7. Write other information in bite sized chunks 8. Check for accuracy of information using original story 9. Read out loud for grammar, spelling, style, format errors 10. Revise, save, print
11. Leads The lead tells the listener what the story is about and usually only contains a few facts Hard Lead -Tells what the story is about in absolutely straight-forward manner -Simple stories that are important to the audience work well for this type of lead “The state legislature voted overwhelmingly today to cut back school funding by 20 percent”
12. Leads Soft Lead -Starts with what the story is generally about, or the general impact of the story -Complicated stories work well, makes the easier for audience to follow “School systems throughout the state may have a tough time getting by. The state legislature today voted . . .”
13. Leads Throwaway Lead -Introduce a subject using a short sentence or a sentence fragment -Good for varying the pace, and provide a short bridge between related stories “Trouble for state school systems. The state legislature today voted . . .”
14. Leads Umbrella Lead -Sets up the audience for different aspects of a single story -If a subject has taken several significance actions “The state legislature today passed bills that will raise taxes, lower some salaries and change school funding”
15. Leads -Delayed or Suspense Lead -Entire story is told chronologically, and the punch line or point of story comes at end -Question Lead -Question that is intriguing or that the audience will want to answer in the affirmative -Can become annoying, use it sparingly
16. Leads Figuring Out the Lead -What is the story about? -Say something meaningful -Keep it simple -Start with news -Focus on people, focus on local -Put location in the lead -Be direct and to the point -Save the name, day, and date for later -Update leads -Never go wrong with a main point lead
17. Writing Broadcast News Stories should be appropriate and written in a conversational style -Write the way you talk -Write for the ear and not the eye -Slightly more formal and precise than an everyday conversation -Avoid slang, and incorrect grammar
18. Writing Broadcast News Word choice should be simple and clear Sentences should be short and precise Numbers should be rounded off Abbreviations and acronyms should be avoided unless they are well known Unnecessary words should be edited out Contractions can be used to make the copy short and conversational Accuracy should never be compromised, if you don’t understand it, then don’t write it
19. Writing Broadcast News Attribution should be used at beginning of the sentence to reference the source of a story or statement -“says”, “told”, “reported” – indirect quotes -“in his words” – direct quotes “Alleged” or “accused” should be used to avoid convicting someone before the courts have done so. Quotes should be used only if there is concern over the exact source of the quote -Otherwise, quotes are awkward -Use the term “quote”, but avoid using “unquote” The reporter should remember that he knows more about the story than the audience -The audience only gets to hear your story once
20. Writing Broadcast News Ages and titles should be given before the name Present tense should be used Active voice should be used Time references should be kept close to the verb
21. Writing Broadcast News Slugs should always be used to begin a story -LAST NAME -DATE -TIME -STORY IDENTIFICATION -STORY LENGTH/WORD COUNT Documentation of actualities should include the length and an outcue (last few words) News should be written to time -Read the newscast out loud -4 lines (40 words) = 15 seconds
22. Writing Broadcast News Pyramid organization should be utilized -Most important points of the story are given in a concise lead, then remaining details follow in descending order of importance -Give who, what, when, where, why, and how in short simple sentences that are easy to read aloud
23. Ending News Figuring Out the End -Future ramifications – tells us where the story goes from here -Summary point close – restates what the story was about -Information close – provides a new, related but of information -Opposition point of view close – provide a counter argument -Punch Line – if you used a delayed or suspense lead, must now provide unexpected twist
24. Radio Commercial Forms Straight-Read -Copy is presented with no music or other effects -Depend on quality of one’s voice -Emphasis, Pausing, Inflection, and Rate -Chosen based on tone of voice and enthusiasm
25. Radio Commercial Forms Fact Sheet Commercial -Listing of basic information and characteristics -Announcer must ad-lib the spots -Sounds natural Straight Read and Fact Sheet are difficult because the only tool you have is your voice
26. Radio Commercial Forms Music Bed Commercial -Punches up straight read commercial -Appropriate mood -Not distracting or too loud -Could also use SFX to create a “natural” environment
27. Radio Commercial Forms Donut Commercial -Combination of recorded message and local live copy -Jingle is at beginning and end, local announcer is inserted in the middle -Timing is essential Live Tag -Recorded info comes first and announcer adds a bit of information that connects message at the end
28. Radio Commercial Forms Spokesperson Commercial -Well-known person, owner or manager High Production Value (Dramatization/Slice of Life) -Collection of voices, music, sound effects, singers -Present everyday scenes and insert commercial message -Mini dramas with characters, settings,
29. Structure of Commercial 1. Get Attention -Ask a question -Make an unusual statement -Use a sound effect 2. Create Need 3. Satisfy Need 4. Demand Action
30. Analyzing Commericals Goal -Selling is not the only goal -Also interested in image -What are they trying to accomplish? Mood/Tone -Read it to yourself first -Tone of voice must be appropriate -Understate the tone, don’t be too obvious -Identify changes in the mood
31. Analyzing Commericals Sincerity/Energy -Must attract and hold attention -How should this sound? -Be cautious when using humor Message -What is advertiser trying to get across? -Action, Idea, Urging -Identify key information and emphasize it
32. Analyzing Commercials Intended Audience -Demographics -Listen to everyday conversations -Helps with dramatized commercials -Emphasis -Key words -Mark your copy
33. Analyzing Commercials Timing -+/- 1 sec on target -Pause, Tempo variation, Clarity, Phrasing Hard Sell v Soft Sell Hard Sell – tension and excitement Soft Sell – relaxation and conversational
34. Homework AssignmentDue Tuesday You must use the internet or newspapers to find 7 different up to date news articles. Print them off. Don’t “Google search” for the element. Actually gather updated news. Each article should be a good example of a different newsworthy element (except timeliness) Use the “News Article Log” to document the source and topic of the article. You must also identify any other newsworthy elements present and rank them For example, if you think the article is prominence then write a 1 in that box, but if it is also oddity then write a 2 in that box, and so on for all other elements if they exist Then on the “News Article Explanation” give a brief explanation as to how the article is a good example of that specific newsworthy element