TV Journalism & Programme Formats229. While the script fora film, programme or television serial consists of the split-page format two columns – one mentions the VO or dialogues, and
the other mentions the visuals, a news script does not follow this format, since it is usually written after,
and not before the shoot, and is also written under severe time constraints. The format of a news script consists simply of text,
and does not usually indicate visuals in a separate column.
3.2 Steps for Producing the Perfect News StoryFind Something to Write AboutJournalism isn't fiction writing - you can't create stories from your imagination.
You have to find newsworthy topics worth writing about. You can get started by checking out the places where news often happens - your local city hall, police precinct or courthouse. Attend a city councilor school board meeting. Want to cover sports High school football and basketball games can be very exciting and provide great experience for the aspiring sportswriter. Or interview local merchants for their take on the state of the economy.
Do Your InterviewsNow that you've
decided what to write about, you need to hit the streets or the phone, or your email and start interviewing sources. Do some researches about those you plan to interview, prepare some questions and make sure you're equipped with a reporter's notepad, pen and pencil. Remember that the best interviews are more like conversations.
Put your source at ease, and you'll get more revealing information.
Choose the Best QuotesYou may fill your notebook with quotes from your interviews, but when you write your story you'll only be able to use a fraction of what you've gathered. Not all quotes are created
equal - some are compelling, and others just fall flat. Pick the quotes that grab your attention, and chances are they'll grab your reader's attention as well.
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