News Producing “Stacking the Show” News Producing “Stacking the Show” ...not from our book Overview now / more later

Producing Across Technologies News broadcasts formatted with three segments - news, weather, sports Balance of world, national, state, local news “Floating” formats used today Start newscast with most important story, regardless of category - “float” given stories anywhere in the newscast Radio, TV, Internet generally have same news content Technology dictates that delivery is slightly different Which does the most ‘journalism’?

Producing Across Technologies Television Local newscasts are usually scheduled around the national network newscast Image of station with local news / competition Lead in issues ‘Newscast of Record’ Cable news is now offering a variety of news YNN (News 8 Austin) TXCN News talk shows Sports news Financial news News vs. editorial

The Television newscast Choosing the lead Three definitions This is: First story in the newscast (First sentence of a story) (Idea for a story) Before the newscast, always investigate the lead story Can it be done? Who should be contacted for info? Is the story still timely? Are there ethical concerns? Is it hard or soft news? What would be a good story to follow it? / Sidebar?

The Television newscast Choosing the lead The most important story of the day Save other important stories Side bar PKG, VO, VSV, READER Change VSVs Re-Write stories for time

You’re the Producer Who else? AssIgnment Editor News Director Executive Producer Associate Producers Reporters Shooters Newscast Director & Production Team Traffic Department – it’s not …

Stacking the Show 9 minute A Block 9 minute B Block How to open How to go in & out of spots Billboards and teases 3 minute WX 3 minute sports For us, PKG: 2nd before break

Stacking the Show PKG RDR VO VSV Etc.

Stacking the Show Add tags to some packages ‘hard news’ News judgment

Stacking the Show Make the rundown Copy and paste the story scripts in that order (submitting stories: attachment to rtv_news@yahoo.com Producer: collect scripts from there (Google Docs formatting problems) Write in teases, tosses, etc.

Stacking the Show Creating the prompter file – all one file, import as White Text, change font size Creating server playlist, check each story Creating and saving CG file (new CG) Printing out prompter file for anchors and director Print enough rundowns for crew (10+)

The Television newscast Writing the Lead story The average broadcaster delivers 16 lines per minute Using the standard two-column script format, about 5-6 words per line ‘read rate’ Always write for time rather than space

The (television) newscast The Script Split-page format Left column gives instructions for producers and the control room Right column includes the story being delivered on air

The Television newscast The Visuals Video Nat sound from the scene Graphics Weather maps Charts Names of people, locations to appear on screen with video Still photographs FSG / lower-thirds

The Television newscast The weather map as an electronic image projected on screen Interactive software programs -- contracts “The most important part of a newscast” Technology change to monitors

Weather and Sports Auditions this week – ask Weather content & chromakey Sports content and chromakey

The Television newscast The Line-up (as we progress) Stories chosen from day’s news plus wires and network (‘look live’) A few stories chosen for “pad” (to be used if extra time at end) Lead stories selected Stories “blocked” around commercial breaks according to basic themes “Thematic Blocking” Stories pre-read for content and pacing Last two stories are timed so anchors know exact amount of time after last commercial If time remains, “pad” stories used

The Television newscast Anchors should read through all stories before going on air For a professional delivery, learn to “chat” with audience instead of “announce”

Producing the newscast: 16 steps Determine the news hole Half-hour news is only 29 minutes, with an actual news hole of 15-18 minutes Stations use capsulated summary stories to give the illusion of a lot of information ‘billboard’

Producing the newscast Block the newscast Considering the news hole and budget of stories, visual stories are blocked into logical segments, separated by commercial breaks

Producing the newscast Fill in the newscast format sheet The “rundown” or “line-up” is an evolving schedule of people, times, video showing, plus length of stories and order Commercial stations use producing software like NewsCenter and ENPS, AvStar (desktop editing)

Producing the newscast Organize the newscast Number each story/item consecutively Organize the blocks and identify by letters: A-1 A-2 BREAK B-1 B-2 Decide story order Generally the biggest story goes first If a breaking story has no visual element, it may not lead the newscast A good reporter/producer will recognize the news value and work HARD to get a visual so the story can lead the newscast

Producing the newscast Pace the newscast Segment length is estimated by dividing the news hole by the number of segments Commercial breaks are set around the news flow A break should not be moved more than a minute from its position Each segment should be treated like a mini newscast by ending with an uplifting story Determine the visuals Decide the visuals to be used with “Anchor Read” stories done live

Producing the newscast Insert commercial breaks Commercials are placed where they least interfere with news continuity AVOID breaking the flow of news or airing a commercial in conflict with the previous story Working with Traffic and sponsorships & billboards Assign copy to writers The producer assigns maximum length to each story being prepared during the day As line-up is determined and news hole filled, some story formats are changed

Producing the newscast Script “teases” before commercial breaks “We’ll have more news in a minute…” “Tune in as we show you how city council is working to clean our streets” Use a bumper graphic between news and commercial (or billboard) Prepare hand-off transitions No need to “script” transitions from news to sports and weather but good idea to consult with other newscasters about stories so conversation hand-offs appear natural

Producing the newscast Time the newscast Front- and back- timing needed so the newscast can end exactly on time Generally, new anchors are timed in how fast they read copy and that speed is factored into a computer program Just an estimate for producers putting together a newscast Front and Back timing still necessary for checking if the newscast will work Producer blocks the newscast by noting beginning time and adding the exact time of each news item Anchor speed is factored in for transitions Pad is left at end for evolving changes

Producing the newscast Stack the newscast script Pages of script are physically stacked in consecutive order Hard copies are still used for back-up if the computer and teleprompter shut down Assemble visuals in order Visuals are completed late in the cycle and must be put in order Proofread and time the final script Once “actual” times are entered, back-timing is done to identify the last moment an item must begin for everything to be on time

Producing the newscast Rehearse, Adjust the newscast Two schools of thought: Rehearsal polishes and builds confidence Rehearsal destroys energy Us, vs. commercial Regardless, need to be prepared Breaking stories / dropping or floating

Other terms Crosstalk Live shots / look lives Upcutting / timing the show Cold open Backdoor open Traffic department News Director, EP, Producer, Associate Producers, Assignment Editor

Other Discussion Gatekeeper “Theories of the Press” Social Repsonsibilty -- an obligation to act to benefit society at large. This responsibility can be passive, by avoiding engaging in socially harmful acts, or active, by performing activities that directly advance social goals Libertarian -- News is what happens; short of violating the violent overthrow of the government, everything should be covered PA: Robert “Budd” Dwyer (1987) Authoritarian, Soviet-Communist, Developmental Public Service Journalism ###