Wednesday 9/30- Level 1- News Broadcasts and Scripts
News Broadcasts & Scripts
Click for Power Point on News Scripts
Click for Behind the Scenes Look at Newscast
Click for Behind the Scenes of CBS Evening News
Click to Watch Behind the Scenes In TV Control Room
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TV NEWS STORY FORMATS
A Reader or Copy in television is essentially the same as in radio. An on-camera anchor reads a story with no additional video.
A VO (short for Voice-Over) is a story in which an anchor reads over pictures. There is no additional audio, except possibly for natural ambient sound that the anchor reads over.
A Soundbite is similar to a radio actuality. It is a shortened excerpt of an interview. SOT (short for Sound on Tape) is another name for a soundbite.
A VOSOT (short for Voice-Over Sound on Tape) is a story in which the anchor reads over pictures and then pauses for a soundbite.
A Package is a self-contained story that includes the reporter’s voice-over narration, soundbites, pictures, sometimes a stand-up (a segment in which the reporter appears on camera), and a standard outcue (For example- Cindy Wilkins, Trojan Vision News).
Types of stand-ups: An opening stand-up should never be used in a TV package unless the story is a LIVE piece where the reporter is on the scene to introduce his/her package. Otherwise, an opening stand-up should not be used unless the reporter is the most important part of the story. Chances are likely the reporter will not be the most important part of the story. In other words, if the story is about a house fire, then show opening pictures of the fire, not the reporter’s face.
A bridge stand-up occurs in the middle of the package (these are used often).
A closing stand-up occurs at the end of the story (these are used often). The closing stand-up must include an ending thought and the standard outcue, not solely the standard outcue.
Click for Sample TV News Script
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TV NEWS STORY FORMAT samples
Sample script for VO (voice over)
Earthquake
3/1/10
6pm
Your Name
Anchor on Camera/No video Two buildings are all that remain in Huntsville, after a major earthquake hit the Texas community
this afternoon.
Take Tape— Rescue crews are still searching through fallen
(Anchor VO)
buildings, homes and stores.
Doctors at Huntsville Memorial Hospital say
super: Huntsville, TX
the death toll now is 25-hundred people.
Officials at this hour are appealing for medicine and bandages, saying the supply at the town’s
hospital is running out.
Relief supplies have not yet reached the disaster area because the quake destroyed too many roads.
Total Tape Running Time: 35 seconds
Sample script for Reader
Earthquake
3/1/10
6pm
Your Name
Anchor on Camera Officials estimate 25-hundred people have (No Video)
died following an earthquake in Huntsville
this afternoon.
The quake registered nine-point-four on
the Richter Scale and has ravaged this east
Texas community.
Two buildings are all that remain at this time.
Doctors at Huntsville Memorial Hospital are in dire need of medicine and bandages.
They say the hospital’s supply is running
out.
Sample Script for VOSOT
Bengal Tiger
3/7/08
6pm
Your Name
Anchor on Camera Montgomery’s population has grown by
(No video)
one, thanks to the addition of a new tiger.
Take Tape— Sheeban, a rare white Bengal tiger, was born
(Anchor VO)
this morning at the Montgomery Zoo,
15 seconds
weighing in at 22 pounds.
Sheeban joins her mom, Simba, and three
super: Montgomery Zoo
siblings as the zoo’s latest additions.
Zoo director Kim Summers says the new tiger will feed on milk and small bites of
beef for the next few days.
super: Kim Summers
Montgomery Zoo Director Outcue: “We couldn’t be happier.”
Running Time: 12 seconds
____________________________________________________________________
Keep Tape— The zoo is open daily from nine a-m until
(Anchor VO)
four p-m.
15 seconds
Total Tape Running Time: 42 seconds
Sample Script for Package Lead-In
Courthouse Fire
3/1/10
6pm
Your Name
Anchor on Camera Fire officials may have an answer to what
(No Video)
caused a blaze which destroyed the Pike County Courthouse early
this morning.
(Your name) reports.
Take Tape—-
supers: Troy, AL
Mario Bantini
Witness Total Tape Running Time: 1:23
Steve Carter
Troy Fire Dept. Captain
Your Name
Troy Trojan Vision News
Sample Reporter Package Script
Courthouse Fire
3/4/08
6pm
Your Name
Reporter Voice Track #1:
Construction crews had just finished renovation work on the courthouse building when the fire broke out. Mario Bantini, owner of the
Café Trojan, watched the blaze from his restaurant across the street.
Soundbite (Bantini):
Outcue: “Even before the fire trucks got here.”
Reporter Voice Track #2:
Officials say the building was fully engulfed in flames when they arrived. Fire chief Steve Carter says the building could not be saved.
Soundbite (Carter):
Outcue: “The building didn’t have a prayer.”
Reporter Voice Track #3:
Officials do not anticipate foul play but are not yet certain as to the cause of the fire. They estimate the damage at slightly more than
three million dollars. Your name, Troy Trojan Vision News.
DAILY ASSIGNMENT WEDNESDAY 9/30
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A) Define the News Scripts Terms Below
1) VO
2) Reader
3) SOT
4) VO/SOT
5) VO/SOT/VO
6) VO/SOT/VO/SOT/VO
7) PACK
B)
THERE ARE THREE PARTS TO THIS ASSIGNMENT:
- Re-write a newspaper story (from any newspaper) in broadcast VOSOT style. A sample form is provided for you. Make sure there is at least one quote from a named source in the newspaper article. Write the script according to the sample. Your director’s cues are in bold type and on the left. The anchor’s script is typed on the right side. Make sure you include running times (you do not have to have exact time on this) plus an accurate outcueon the quote. Your lead sentence must be written in present, present-perfect, or future tense. Your story must be written in ALL CAPS and double-spaced.
- Re-write a lead sentence or main idea of another newspaper story (from any newspaper) in broadcast style anchor package lead-in style. A sample form is provided for you. Make sure there are least two quotes from at least two different named sources in the newspaper article. Your director’s cues are in bold type and are on the left. The anchor’s script is typed on the right side. You are the reporter so make sure your name is listed as (Your name) reports. Make sure you include running times (you do not have to have an exact time on this). Your lead sentence must be written in present, present-perfect, or future tense. Your story must be written in ALL CAPS and double-spaced.
- Re-write the same newspaper story (as used in #2) in broadcast reporter package style. A sample form is provided for you. The article must have at least two quotes from two different named sources. Your reporter voice tracks do not have to be written in present, present-perfect, or future tense. They may be written in any verb tense. The first sentence of your reporter package script may not be the same as your lead sentence as the anchor package lead-in script. Your closing on the story must read,Yourname, WBACTC News. Your story must be written in ALL CAPS and double-spaced.