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Two things about broadcast news we need to understand

Two things about broadcast news we need to understand. Substance and format. Writing a TV news script: the substance. Writing a TV news script. It’s brief. Writing a TV news script. It’s brief Gotta gather as many facts and video as time permits. Writing a TV news script. It’s brief

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Two things about broadcast news we need to understand

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  1. Two things about broadcast news we need to understand

  2. Substance and format

  3. Writing a TV news script: the substance

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

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

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

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

  8. 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

  9. 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

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

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

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

  13. It’s live and you never know...

  14. Format your story: the style

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

  16. 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

  17. 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

  18. 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

  19. Here’s what we’ll use for WLAF-TV

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

  21. 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

  22. 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

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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. On camera tips • Be ready for the unexpected

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

  28. 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:

  29. 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

  30. 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

  31. 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;

  32. 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

  33. 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

  34. 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

  35. Teams • Sophie & Lucy • Sarah & Bret

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

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