RTV Practicum Week 2 Cell Phones Off and Put Away How do you tell a story? It’s about writing … and about the connection with the storyteller and audience. A quick overview of some things you learn about in classes you may not have taken yet…so you can get some practice now.

We’re creating content… Why do we tell stories to people? – Share human experience and understanding – Think about TV shows, movies, etc. Not just reporting: A good story reveal someone’s goals and actions as they unfold sequentially, along a timeline. ‘Tell stories through people’ Reports commonly emphasize just the facts.

Storytelling basics Just as audio serves to draw audiences into the environment of a real-life event, listeners and viewers become more deeply and more tangibly involved if you allow them to see, and feel, and smell, and touch, and taste that moment. Old Time Radio – ‘mental pictures’

Storytelling basics What is a ‘story’? Who, what, when, where, why and how. Entertain, inform, persuade. Remember—a story needs to be a 2-way communication process: sender / receiver Think of your target audience

Storytelling issues Culture impacts perception Plan the story – ‘theme’ / focus statement / structure The best stories convey a sense of progression Find sounds that convey a clear story focus You’re looking for what ‘tells the story’ you want to tell when you capture sounds, write words and decide how to assemble them

Storytelling issues Do Reportorial Editing: the process of previsualizing the story, including the senses, the sounds, the words, and and transitions – Like a movie director

Story structure tips BUILD IN SURPRISES KEEP SOUND BITES SHORT ADDRESS THE LARGER ISSUE CHALLENGE YOUR FOCUS STATEMENT – “so what?” The ‘actuality’ is ‘reaction and commentary’ from someone involved with the story Almost never start or end story with one

The story structure The lead – Types of leads The main points – Prove points visually The close – Nothing else can top it

Lead-In: If you want to lose weight and become healthy for life, you’ll never need a fad diet again. In fact, you never did. You learned the secret in elementary school. (Reporter) has the story.

Body Main Points Lead / intro (:10) Main Point 1 (Voice, :15) – Supporting facts, comment (:10), transition Main Point 2 – Supporting facts, comment, transition Main Point 3 – Supporting facts, comment, transition into conclusion Story content close, SOC

WRITE THE CLOSE The close makes it obvious to your audience the story is ending. Without a strong close, the story will stop but it will not end. As soon as you start your story, begin your search for a close. Lazy reporters sometimes end stories on interviews or just the SOC, but such endings resemble unsigned letters.

Basics of News Timeliness, Proximity, Conflict, Prominence, Human Interest (and others - - ‘what makes it news?’) Spot News, hard news, routine news (note news releases and VNRs), soft news, features, investigative Types of TV stories – Package, Vo-Sot/VSV/VOB/AB, VO, reader

Basics of News Types of radio stories – Reader – Voicer / voice report – Voice-Actuality Report – Scener – (Live Report)

Sources of News AP Reporters What you see every day – pay attention Tips Stringers News Releases (MarCom) Entities web sites Walk through buildins Google

Coming Weeks The first half of the semester is for training and improving your ability to cover and report a story. Upcoming weeks: Story 2: Topic submission due by sign up here by 2/10. Script due in your Google Drive by 2/14. Story due by 2/19. Story 3: Topic submission due by sign up at link below by 2/24. Script due in your Google Drive by 2/28. Story due by 3/4. Week 8: You will be assigned to work on either a radio or TV newscast for practice. After Spring Break: We will continue to do newscasts using all student story submissions.

Continuing TRAINING: Everyone must be trained or demonstrate proficiency on JVC and Canon cameras, Adobe Audition and Final Cut Pro. You must sign up this week for training in one of these you have not done yet. Sign up sheets posted by PA Room. Missed this week’s – still due – see Practicum Outline online

Safety & Legal Issues Where can you go to cover a story? – Public/private, permission, libel & privacy Informing people you are coming Making interview arrangements Tell them you’re with Mane media News No opinions in stories / clear attribution of facts People want publicity about what they’re doing – Help them get that publicity and provide what others need or want to know about Representing US and YOURSELF around campus