Have a look at the preparation for the evening news bulletin at BBC:
09.00 First meeting of the day. Around 20 people meet in the office of the managing editor, who talks through the likely stories. 10.00 The editor of the day will _____________(1) stories to around eight producers who have the next eight hours to _____________(2) reporters, _____________(3) cameras, call interviewees and finally, type up the story. There are 200 reporters, 10 London-based camera _____________(4) and the foreign bureau. 10.30 The editor will _____________(5) a phone conference with the BBC’s 13 regions with each area summarising what they are working on. The editor will take any story with national _____________(6). 11.00 Although the stories for the evening programme have been decided, the editor will still receive new stories and decide whether to accept or _____________(7) them. Each story will be _____________(8) an exact duration with the producers having to make their information fit the space (not the other way round!) The structure: The _____________(9) are relatively standardized with a presenter introducing various clips, sometimes providing a _____________(10). S/he speaks from behind a news desk using a teleprompter to give the illusion of looking at the _____________(11). The presenter will occasionally look at typed notes to avoid _____________(12) at the camera too much. Guests may be interviewed (often pre-recorded) and pieces with reporters will be introduced. These pieces may include interviews, _____________(13) action, voiced-over sequences, reporter-to-camera speech or questions and answer sessions with the presenter. The 6 o’clock news concentrates on _____________(14) news, whereas the 10 o’clock tends to look at world news and the activities of leaders and diplomats. There are usually 15 items – far fewer than the early days, and some attempt to give background and context to the stories. The movement towards 24 hr news on digital television will alter this format, although already set times are used within the hour for sport or finance etc. Will news become more chaotic with stories being _____________(15) as they happen or will the opposite occur, with stories being presented and neatly packaged? (www.teachit.co.uk/2001) |
allocated assign audience brief broadcast commentary crews deploy formats home interest join live reject staring |
How is it introduced?
- Type of music used – what does it signify?
- Choice of pictures shown as bulletin is introduced – what do the pictures suggest?
- What do the music and pictures suggest about the content and presentation?
- What information do we get from the headlines?
- Which language elements are used to get the attention of the viewers?
- What sort of graphics are used and why?
- Who presents the news?
- What do the presenters look like?
- Could different people present the news in the same way, or would it bring any change?
- Does the gender of the presenters matter?
- What types of stories come first and why?
- What types of stories come at the end and why?
- Whose viewpoint is presented?
- Who appears in the bulletin?
- Who else could have been included?
- How is balance attempted?
- How is the audience addressed?