1. Writing, Shooting and Editing a package for a TV Newscast
Broadcast News
Writing, Shooting and Editing a package for a TV Newscast

2. What is News? news judgment/bias/facts & objectivity
hard news, spot news, features, evergreens, live shots
timeliness, proximity, conflict, prominence, human interest
information people want or need to know about (vs. entertainment)
news sources—reporter, wire, furnished, futures file, beats, beat check, other media, stringers, viewer tips (legal issues of copyright)

3. Planning for covering a story & Newsgathering
What is news? What is newsworthy?
Reader, VO, VO-SOT (variations) or Package?
Reader / Voicer / Voice-Actuality / Scener
Make contacts, get permissions
Public vs. private property / legal issues
Fact sheets for each event:
Contact person(s)
who, what, when, where, why, how, affects who, costs how much?, etc.

4. Think about the production
production stages, target audience, story type
Leads and content--lead of the story, lead-in, nat sound, sound bite, b-roll, stand up (incl. where),
WS/MS/CU, etc., , shooting sequences, time/date content of a story compared to newscast date
Blueprint of a package:
Lead-in, lead, focus, b-roll with VO, SB, b-roll with VO, SU, b-roll with VO, SB, b-roll with VO, close
Cut-ins, cutaways, sound bites, 2-shots, cross shots, etc.
Blueprint of a Voice-Actuality:
Lead-in, lead, focus, Voice Main Point, Actuality, Voice Main Point, Actuality, close, standard outcue

5. Video Shooting Points shoot at eye level
keep essential information near the center of the frame
get fleeting pictures FIRST
always edit in camera but shoot to edit -- 4:1 ratio
have visual balance and emphasis
leave ‘look space’ /nose room
set correct ‘headroom’
Objective / subjective / presentational POV options

6. More Video Shooting Points
watch for distracting backgrounds
avoid pans and zooms
keep a shot sheet
have guest ‘cheat to the camera’
reporter gathers and reports facts—interviewees provide reaction and comment
get nat sound on all visuals

7. Look to get these shots 2 shots of reporter and guest
O/S shot reporter to guest; X/S for editing
reverse angle shots of reporter
shots suggested or brought to mind during interview
“people” shots & comments—not objects
other B-roll—cutaways
stand-up(s)

8. Other points in getting going
Planned news vs. features
Spot news, investigative news differences
Can not wait until the last minute—use shooting and editing time wisely
You must be ready to get the event shot -- shoot advance interviews or start of event, get shots of event, come back with editable b-roll and sound bites
Dress appropriately in your story
One person band -- do your own work
No moving SU, no shared materials

9. Shooting B-roll and shooting interviews
Interview in someone’s office—sign for door, phone, etc.
Interview outside – background and shot composition
Sound of an event – good audio how
Lighting –always check and think
Don’t get in the way of the event
Use the tripod
Cutaways—something the speaker refers to, supports your VO
Cut-ins: master shot.. insert a close-up, reaction shot, POV

10. What are our goals?
Newscast to be proud of / competitive news stories and newscast (NBS, BEA Festival)
Find out about and report on what’s happening
Learn to be a good writer, producer, reporter, and journalist
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