Broadcast journalism

Broadcast journalism encompasses radio, television and online forms of media. Broadcast journalists are concerned with the visuals and sounds associated with their medium. Broadcast copy is written for the ear and is usually less in depth then its print counterpart. Broadcast journalists write in the present tense and aim to be conversational. The field has greatly evolved from its start in radio to the development of 24 hour news networks and the recent convergence of web content.

Radio

Most radio is locally produced with talent talking about something between songs. People tune in for the personalities, music and information that affects them. Basic production values in radio news are still driven by sound bites, the natural sound of events, and the on-air personality of the anchor or host. The radio industry has undergone a radical consolidation of ownership, with fewer companies owning more stations. This has resulted in more niche formats and sharing of resources within a cluster of stations.

Television

Television remains the most popular place for Americans to get their news. Local and national newscasts are the primary news source for the American audience. Television is a video-driven industry with short sound bites, fast cuts and graphically interesting presentations. Television viewership has become fragmented with the creation of all-news cable channels such as CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC in the 1990s.

Online Convergence

Originally designed as a supplement to the content provided by news outlets, news web sites have taken off to become a medium of their own. In most cases they offer original content. Broadcast journalists frequently write print stories for the web, usually accompanied by the graphics and video of the original story. Web sites offer the audience an interactive form where they can learn more information about a given subject, see related articles and offer comments. In the wake of a new YouTube generation, networks have encouraged iReporting, which allows people to send in videos and pictures of news they witness.

References

• Associated, Press (2001). Broadcast News Handbook: A Manual of Techniques and Practices. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-7136-3882.