Scripting the Show

News Selection
we've looked at issues such as newsworthiness and audience

what determines which stories make it to the newscast?

 
news judgment

organizational - news director - reporters all may play a role

not only which stories but:

live?/remote?

packaged?

in studio?

how long?

what order?

what is our competition covering?

what makes us stand out? (should we be known for something)

 
Where does news come from?
we've talked about pitch meetings and reporters thinking in terms of stories

feeds - news services

police monitors (and other emergency services)

tips

investigative digging

futures file (and reference sources)

 
After stories make the cut, how should they be ordered?
what should the lead story be?
what fills out the lineup? (stack)
 
general principles:

which is the "biggest" story?

subjective!

sometimes it's obvious, sometimes it's not...

for local stations it's generally local first

grouping like stories (thematic blocking)

develops a flow

what ads are running?

kicker - ending with a positive story (human interest)

 
issues
spot news - a breaking story

can affect the entire lineup

 

pad stories

in case the newscast runs short

 
Ratings influence the lineup
ratings are the key to revenue (delivering audience esp. in key demograpics, to advertisers)

AQH - average quarter hour (any 5 continuous minutes)

strategies - within/across AQHs

teasers

 
sweeps (february, may, july, november)
consultants
 
which demos are most important?

women 18-34 tends to be tops

in general, people 18-49

often leads to "lifestyle reporting" - health, family etc.

 
ratings influence WHO is on-air

voice, presence, likeability, credibility, personality, appearance

 
 

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