Process
"STAND-BY ON THE FLOOR... AND IN... 3, 2, 1..."
PART 1
ACTION STEP 1
At the start of the assignment, your class will watch a two minute clip
from the James L. Brooks film "Broadcast News". Take note of the personnel
featured throughout the clip.
At the end of the clip ponder The Big Question: "What does it take to produce a television newscast?"
Your teacher will divide your class into groups. Once you are in your group, choose a facilitator and a recorder and through informal discussion, compile a list of jobs your group considers required to produce a television news show. You will have 15 minutes to complete this list. After the allotted time, the class will gather together and share the information to create a completed "jobs list".
ACTION STEP 2
After completing the "jobs list", return to your original group and use
the following Internet resources to determine if there are any
additional duties
to add to the list. These sites will help you find current jobs that
are available in the television news industry. Start your work by using the first
resource below (wikipedia) to get a brief definition of news broadcasting. Then use
either the Google or Yahoo search engine as a jumping off point to
complete Action Step 2.
You can begin by simply typing "jobs in news", or something similar. Add other definitions to narrow
your search. Continue searching until you develop a fairly comprehensive list.
www.wikipedia.org/news_broadcasting
Once your team has determined a finalized list, move on to the Action Step 3.
ACTION STEP 3
When completed with Action Step 2, use the following Internet resources to create job
descriptions and duties from your completed job list. The resources
below may identify additional jobs not included on your current list. Discuss
whether these jobs should be added to your list. Also, when writing
your descriptions, make certain they are as accurate and complete as
possible.
Remember, your class stands to collect ten million dollars based on
your work.
www.rtndf.org/
The Radio and Television News Directors Association & Foundation.
This site has links to job services, salary lists, and an excellent
research bank.
www.careerpage.org/
This is a job bank supported by the National Alliance of State
Broadcasters Associations. Search their data base for information.
www.ccnma.org/
The California Chicano News Media Association posts
television jobs currently available nationwide. This link provides a
good idea of “hot jobs”, as well as what minimum qualifications may
be.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalist
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reporter
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_presenter
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_journalist
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Television_director
You may use Wikipedia as a source for generic job descriptions.
Finally, use the resources below to find additional
information about
broadcast news. The first site provides a glossary, the second site
defines various jargon used in the industry and the third link provides
answers to frequently asked questions. The fourth link will give you
information about
Hawaii television and radio stations, as well as links to their
websites. The last two sites will take you to the ABC News website, and
The Weather Channel website.
www.weather.com/aboutus/television/ocms/
Use these three non-electronic resources for additional information. They can be found in your local library or bookstore, or you can purchase them on-line from an Internet bookstore.
If It Bleeds, It Leads
Matthew Robert Kerbel
Westview Press - 2000
ISBN 0-1833-6836-7
Video Production Handbook
Leonard Shyles
Houghton Miffin Company - 1988
ISBN 0-395-71488-5
Television Production Handbook
Herbert Zettl
Wadsworth Publishing Company 1997
ISBN 0-534-26058-6
ACTION STEP 4
Once each group has completed their list of job descriptions, Action
Step 4 commences. Your class will gather as one group. The
facilitator from each group will report on team results while your
teacher compiles a completed list on a classroom
computer & whiteboard. Next, divide the list into four seperate sections.
Save the completed list to the computer. This is the final information that will be used for the publication.
• Section one will include those positions that work behind the scenes to assign, write, and produce the news content.
• Section two will include those positions that create news content and appear on camera.
• Section three will include a complete list of positions who appear regularly on the news-set.
• Section four will include the production personnel required to bring the newscast to air.
"FULL SCREEN GRAPHIC B - CUE TALENT!"
PART 2
ACTION STEP 5
At
this point your class will begin creating the two pieces of "product".
Product one will be the The Television News Information Publication
(TNIP). This publication will be created using Microsoft Word. One
third of the class will work on the TNIP. This team of students must
first choose what roles to assume. Below is a list of the roles and
responsibilities required to produce your publication:
• Lead Developer: to make certain all the work is being accomplished. The lead developer will choose team members and assign work for each team member.
• Layout Artists: will create the overall design and look of the publication. This includes the cover, table of contents, chapters, and the syllabus or glossary
• Copy Editors: will make certain all punctuation, spelling and grammar is corect.
• Graphic Artists: to develop or find graphics or photos to use in the publication.
You may decide to work as one team and not define specific roles,
however a Lead Developer must be assigned to make certain all work is
being performed in a cooperative fashion and on time.
The three resources below will assist you with publication ideas,
templates, and tips on creating a publication using Microsoft Word.
The two resources below will provide some photos and clip-art images to
embed into your publication. It may be better to shoot your own digital
images to include in your publication: a keyboard, mouse, etc. Use your imagination! Your team may want to visit a local
television station to shoot digital stills of reporters and television
crew members.
"READY TO ROLL VTR B SOUND ON TAPE FULL...ROLL
VTR B...3, 2, 1...TAKE B: SOUND FULL! "
PART 3
ACTION STEP 6
Besides the publication, your class is also tasked with the creation of a video documentation (more than one depending on class size). Students not involved with the publication will produce a five-minute videotape featuring
interviews of two to three working professionals in the television news
industry. This videotape will provide you with a "straight from
the source" perspective of the television news industry. Your video team
will consist of 6 individuals (per team) each with a specific duty as
assigned through agreement. These duties include:
• The Producer: who will contact all of the interviewees, request permission to interview them, and set-up a time and date to shoot the interviews.
• The
Director: who will make certain the crew is ready and prepared to shoot
the interview, make certain everyone is at the specified place at the
correct time, make certain all necessary equipment, including videotape,
is at hand during the interview, prepare the talent and confer with
interviewee and crew, and control the entire recording session. Last but not least, the director must obtain a signed release and consent form from the
working professionals interviewed.
• A camera person: to operate the camera/VTR and insure proper exposure, lighting, framing, etc. The camera person will also work directly with the director to obtain ample "b-roll" footage to document behind the scenes footage of a newsroom, perhaps some field work with a reporter(s) and a television studio production team shooting a live newscast.
• An audio recorder: to obtain good, clean, high quality audio.
• A video editor: to work with the director and producer to edit the interviews and "b-roll" footage.
• The talent, who may or may not appear on camera, to write and ask questions on the day of the interview.
Utilize the following resources to prepare for this portion of the project:
www.izzyvideo.com/
Website/blogsite of production tips.
www.theasc.com
American Society of Cinematographers website. Professional Cinematographers Association. Tips, ideas, and rules for filmmakers.
These two non-electronic resources can be found at your local library or bookstore. You can also purchase a copy of either textbook from an Internet bookstore.
Video Production Handbook
Leonard Shyles
Houghton Miffin Company - 1988
ISBN 0-395-71488-5
Television Production Handbook
Herbert Zettl
Wadsworth Publishing Company 1997
ISBN 0-534-26058-6