TV News | Writing and Storytelling for News (26th September 2017)

Good writing is subjective, but journalism requires quick and concise writing.

• Principles of good writing
• Have something to say
• Read books
• Manipulate language
• Use adjectives sparingly
• Plain / simplified / conversational English
• Simple syllables
• Know your medium
• Know the aim of the story is and why it is being told the way it is
• Short sentences (no more than 16 words per sentence)
• Be clear and precise
• Be direct
• PAGEF Test
• Precise
• Use language correctly
• Ensure there is clarity and concision in your words
• Accurate

• Verifiable and impartial sources
• Check your facts
• Ensure information is up-to-date
• Sally Bercow and BBC case study
• Linked Lord McAlpine to child sex scandal
• Ordered to pay £15,000 in damages
• BBC also paid £185,000 in damages
• Germane
• Relevant
• Does not waste time on unwanted elements
• Clarify your thoughts on the story by distilling it to a single topline - the headline which would effectively sell your story
• Equitable
• Balance is key in journalism
• View your story objectively
• Ensure you represent people and subjects with sensitivity and fairness
• Flow
• Walk the viewer through the story
• Tie-writing - use the script to naturally link the story together

• Techniques that can help the 'reading' of your story
• Alliteration
• Avoid repetition
• Word play
• Rule of three
• Similes and metaphors
• Personification
• Exaggeration / emphasis
• Relatable comparisons
• Write in the correct order
• Write the lead-in first, then your package, then your TAG
• Don't repeat the lead-in within your package
• Beware of wordy writing
• Avoid overkill of facts and figures
• 'Leads' and 'tags' brief and to-the-point
• Facts and figures - simple
• How to write a good 'lead' and/or 'tag'
• Attention grabbing
• Clarifies the story and purpose
• Decide whether the topline is relevant and whether they would want to watch the item
• Tease the viewer
• Concise and not overloaded with facts
• Don't weigh down your leads with facts, remember to keep the salient points in terms of their impact
• The best leads are fact-free
• Facts belong in the main body of the piece
• Rule of thumb - one sentence, one thought
• Tell the audience key elements that they want to hear
• Should sound fresh and new
• Be written in an active voice
• SVO
• Subject
• Verb
• Object
• Write about a person's doing, then what they do, then who it would affect
• Be creative
• Conversational in tone
• Use narrative to tell the story
• Don't use 'journalese' - exaggerated or embellished writing which sound uncomfortable and unreal - overly clinical references
• Write to pictures
• Look at the pictures
• Listen to the sounds
• Talk to the picture editor
• 
  
• Deliver what you have written
• Polish
• Don't be too literal
• Writing for live news / studio content
• News anchor
• Script using segue words
• Don't forget the viewer - 'you'
• Headlines and 'coming up's / topline
• Top story - heavy/impactful news
• Know your audience
• Sell your story to the audience - WIIFM?
• Match the headline
• Read out loud
• Tempt the viewer - don't tell the whole story
• Make it easy to read
• The producer is responsible - check with them throughout
• Scripting OOV/SOT
• The studio script must indicate when and where the video is supposed to start and its duration so the director is aware
• Ensure the presenter knows when to stop reading the VO and allow the SOT to take over
• Put the SOT on a separate source to play out so the sound can be mixed separately in the gallery
• When the piece is finished, the presenter should be in vision as they finish the final PTC
• Scripting a news package
• Work out key elements of your film before filming
• Work out a shot list and scripted elements such as the PTC
• Give the reporter a purpose - make them active in the film; doing something relevant, getting them involved, so that the audience is more connected to the piece
• Consider:
• Who is involved in the story?
• What are they doing now?
• What happens next?
• Deciding how to tell your story
• Make considerations for:
• Access
• Time
• Duration
• Angle
• Essentials
• Narrative development
• Typical narrative structures
• Chronologically
• Most up-to-date info and pics first
• Story told through central character
• Answer the 5 Ws - What, when...
• Prepare for the edit