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.

Broadcast stories are written in packages, readers, voice overs and sound on tape. A package is an edited set of video clips pertaining to one news story that is commonly used in television news programs. It is typically narrated by reporter. It is a story with audio, video, graphics and video effects. The anchor usually reads a lead in before the package plays and may conclude the story with additional information, called a tag. A reader is delivered by the anchor without any accompanying video or sound. Sometimes an over the shoulder graphic is added. A voice over, or VO, is when the anchor reads the copy over video. Sound on tape, or SOT, is sound and/or video usually recorded in the field. This usually takes the form of an interview or soundbite.

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. Large media conglomerates like Clear Channel Communications own most of the stations. This has resulted in more niche formats and sharing of resources within a cluster of station, deemphasizing local news and information.

Television

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.

Local Television

Local television is divided into markets. Markets are divided by viewing area and ranked by the number of TV households in a given area. Broadcast journalists generally start out of college in the lower markets move up with more experience. The higher markets usually have more resources and better pay, making them more desirable.

Local stations typically broadcast 3-4 times a day: 5:00 & 6:00 in the morning, Noon, 5:00 & 6:00 in the evening, and 10:00 or 11:00 at night. Most nightly local newscasts are 30 minutes in length and include sports and weather. Anchors sit at a desk in a studio and usually rely on a teleprompter to deliver their copy. Reporters frequently tell their stories through live shots from locations out in the field. Morning shows aim toward soft news and feature pieces while the evening news delivers hard news.

News Positions

Anchors usually read copy on a teleprompter in a studio. Co-anchors are when two anchors host a show side by side, often alternating reading. Meteorologists forecast weather and make graphics for their presentation during a show. They are frequently the most recognizable faces from a station. Reporters gather information in a variety of ways and write their story or edit it together in a package. In broadcast outlets, reporters are usually accompanied by a photographer in the field. Photographers handle the technical aspects of a video shoot, including audio and lighting. They are in charge of setting up live shots and depending on the outlet, are involved in editing. The producer is the is involved in researching stories and writing copy as well as the timing and layout of the newscast. Depending on the station size, they have an associate producer who may specialize in the creation of elements of the show such as graphics.

Production Positions

The director is in charge of pre-production details including assigning camera and talent positions on the set, as well as selecting the camera shots and elements used during the production. The technical director operates the video switcher which controls all the elements of the show. At many stations, the director and technical director roles are performed by the same person. A graphics person operates a character generator that produces the name keys and full page graphics. The audio technician operates the audio board. The technician runs the talent's microphones as well as any music or sound of tape throughout the newscast. Production assistants usually perform teleprompter, camera operator and grip positions.

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.
• Cyber College - Television Production
• Portal to Nielsen Media DMA ranks 2007-2008
• Atmospheric Science Data Center - Meteorologist