Editorials

• No first person; “we” is often used• Use lots of facts (but they are only facts if

accurate)• Don’t forget the passion• Use closing graf to tie it together

Broadcast news

Broadcast news

• It’s waaaaaaay different than print

Broadcast news

• It’s waaaaaaay different than print• What is “broadcast”?

Broadcast news

• It’s waaaaaaay different than print• What is “broadcast”? To make public by

means of radio or television... and YouTube, podcasts, any new media to come where people watch or listen

What’s different?

• Brevity... seriously brief

What’s different?

• Brevity... seriously brief• A typical news story on TV runs 40 seconds:

four or five sentences

What’s different?

• Brevity... seriously brief• A typical news story on TV runs 40 seconds:

four or five sentences• It would take 28 hours to read a copy of the

Washington Post; the average half-hour local news program has fewer words than one typical newspaper page

But!

How to write for broadcast

How to write for broadcast

• Still gotta get the facts... you are still a reporter, gather as much info as time allows

How to write for broadcast

• Still gotta get the facts... you are still a reporter, gather as much info as time allows

• Work more in collaboration than at print

How to write for broadcast

• Still gotta get the facts... you are still a reporter, gather as much info as time allows

• Work more in collaboration than at print• Fewer defined beats... cover car wreck and pet

adoptions in one morning

How to write for broadcast

• Still gotta get the facts... you are still a reporter, gather as much info as time allows

• Work more in collaboration than at print• Fewer defined beats... cover car wreck and pet

adoptions in one morning• Much of the news is crime and tragedies: “if it

bleeds, it leads...”

How to write for broadcast

• Still gotta get the facts... you are still a reporter, gather as much info as time allows

• Work more in collaboration than at print• Fewer defined beats... cover car wreck and pet

adoptions in one morning• Much of the news is crime and tragedies: “if it

bleeds, it leads...”• Not going to be an expert on any subject, gotta

be a super-quick learner

Writing for broadcast

• “Think fast, boil down to basics, write as tight as you can...”

Writing for broadcast

• “Think fast, boil down to basics, write as tight as you can...”

• Use friendly, conversational tone... like, write the way, you know, you talk... dude

Writing for broadcast

• “Think fast, boil down to basics, write as tight as you can...”

• Use friendly, conversational tone... like, write the way, you know, you talk... dude

• Use active voice: simple and direct

Writing for broadcast

• “Think fast, boil down to basics, write as tight as you can...”

• Use friendly, conversational tone... like, write the way, you know, you talk... dude

• Use active voice: simple and direct• Inverted pyramid is out: every word counts

and you need an ending

Writing for broadcast

• “Think fast, boil down to basics, write as tight as you can...”

• Use friendly, conversational tone... like, write the way, you know, you talk... dude

• Use active voice: simple and direct• Inverted pyramid is out: every word counts

and you need an ending• Use present tense

Writing for broadcast

• Don’t worry about contractions

Writing for broadcast

• Don’t worry about contractions• Attribution before quotes

Writing for broadcast

• Don’t worry about contractions• Attribution before quotes• Use phonetic pronunciations

Writing for broadcast

• Don’t worry about contractions• Attribution before quotes• Use phonetic pronunciations• Avoid abbreviations and symbols

Writing for broadcast

• Don’t worry about contractions• Attribution before quotes• Use phonetic pronunciations• Avoid abbreviations and symbols• Round off numbers and spell them out

Radio

Radio

• “The hours are long, the pay is low, the stress is relentless...”

Radio

• “The hours are long, the pay is low, the stress is relentless...”

• Gather lots of audio... 10 minutes to get 10 seconds

Radio

• “The hours are long, the pay is low, the stress is relentless...”

• Gather lots of audio... 10 minutes to get 10 seconds

• Write strong lede, give basic facts, get to recorded audio quotes

Television

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

• Images rule: “Talking head bad. Video good.”

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

• Images rule: “Talking head bad. Video good.”• You write to the video: lead with your

strongest shots

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

• Images rule: “Talking head bad. Video good.”• You write to the video: lead with your

strongest shots• Don’t overload with facts: let the pictures tell

the story

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

• Images rule: “Talking head bad. Video good.”• You write to the video: lead with your

strongest shots• Don’t overload with facts: let the pictures tell

the story• Engage emotions

Television

• It’s live! And you’re talking, without notes, directly into a camera

• Images rule: “Talking head bad. Video good.”• You write to the video: lead with your strongest

shots• Don’t overload with facts: let the pictures tell the

story• Engage emotions• Look the part

Interviewing on video

• Have subject look at you, not at camera!

Interviewing on video

• Have subject look at you, not at camera!• Select uncluttered backdrop

Interviewing on video

• Have subject look at you, not at camera!• Select uncluttered backdrop• Maintain eye contact with subject

Interviewing on video

• Have subject look at you, not at camera!• Select uncluttered backdrop• Maintain eye contact with subject• Keep asking until you get your bite

Interviewing on video

• Have subject look at you, not at camera!• Select uncluttered backdrop• Maintain eye contact with subject• Keep asking until you get your bite• Shoot cut-aways of you listening and nodding

as subject talks

Terms

• Sound bite: recorded comment from news source

Terms

• Sound bite: recorded comment from news source

• B-roll: video shot at scene used later to illustrate a sound bite or reporter’s audio track

Terms

• Sound bite: recorded comment from news source

• B-roll: video shot at scene used later to illustrate a sound bite or reporter’s audio track

• Stand-up: shot of a reporter at the scene talking into camera

Terms

• Sound bite: recorded comment from news source

• B-roll: video shot at scene used later to illustrate a sound bite or reporter’s audio track

• Stand-up: shot of a reporter at the scene talking into camera

• Live shot: a stand-up shot live

Terms

• Package: a complete story prepared by reporter usually combining sound bites, voice-overs and stand-ups

Terms

• Package: a complete story prepared by reporter usually combining sound bites, voice-overs and stand-ups

• Reader: anchor reads a script while looking at camera; often over-the-shoulder graphic (OTS) identifies topic

Terms

• Package: a complete story prepared by reporter usually combining sound bites, voice-overs and stand-ups

• Reader: anchor reads a script while looking at camera; often over-the-shoulder graphic (OTS) identifies topic

• Voice-over: when the anchor speaks over video

Terms

• Anchor intro (or lead in): The lead that introduces a reporter’s package

Terms

• Anchor intro (or lead in): The lead that introduces a reporter’s package

• Prompter: device that projects news script in front of camera so it can be read

Terms

• Anchor intro (or lead in): The lead that introduces a reporter’s package

• Prompter: device that projects news script in front of camera so it can be read

• Talking heads: a person being interviewed

Assignment 2/25

• You are a reporter for WLAF-TV Action News in Bradenton-Sarasota

Assignment 2/25

• You are a reporter for WLAF-TV Action News in Bradenton-Sarasota

• Your assignment: produce a 1-minute news story on a pet (alternative: you can do a story on a sibling)

Assignment 2/25

• You are a reporter for WLAF-TV Action News in Bradenton-Sarasota

• Your assignment: produce a 1-minute news story on a pet (alternative: you can do a story on a sibling)

• Write a package script with: an opening; voice over action; interviews; and stand-up closer

Assignment 2/25

• You are a reporter for WLAF-TV Action News in Bradenton-Sarasota

• Your assignment: produce a 1-minute news story on a pet (alternative: you can do a story on a sibling)

• Write a package script with: an opening; voice over action; interviews; and stand-up closer

• Record it on your phone or a video camera

Assignment 2/25

• You are a reporter for WLAF-TV Action News in Bradenton-Sarasota

• Your assignment: produce a 1-minute news story on a pet (alternative: you can do a story on a sibling)

• Write a script with: an opening; voice over action; interviews; and stand-up closer

• Record it on a digital video camera or phone or...

Assignment 2/25

• Transfer it to your laptop (or iPad?)• Bring your script and video to class next week

so it can be shown to class

Assignment 2/25

• Transfer it to your laptop (or iPad?)• Bring your script and video to class next week

so it can be shown to class• Carefully study the scripts on p. 171 and on

the links I’ll provide in web update before proceeding!!!