Successful Television News
Case Histories
Many top executives and newspeople have explained their techniques and
theories to The RUNDOWN, the newsletter reporting on local television since 1981. Here are
several of those reports.
Here are selected excerpts that relate to important current subjects.
Classroom
Overcrowding Documented in New York
WABC-TV, New York, won a prestigious duPont-Columbia Award for a documentary about serious
overcrowding in New York City schools. There were youngsters doing their work in the hall
while their teacher worked to keep under control 44 children in one classroom . "We
were reporting on it every day in the newscast, and we decided to take the extra step and
see if we could gain access to a single classroom to follow that class through the course
of the school year," says News Director Bart Feder.
Here is how a
reporter and photographer turned what might have been a routine education story into
award-winning television.
Parental Scholastic Attitude
Test
In 1991, the Parental Scholastic Attitude Test was created at WNEP-TV, Scranton. News
Director Nancy Cope told THE RUNDOWN that even though there were many pressures on
parents, they had to make sure they were doing everything they could to help their
children succeed. A series was produced that asked adults key questions and provided some
advice and answers.
Covering Hurricane Hugo
Covering these storms, newspeople must protect themselves, but simultaneously deliver
the information the public needs to survive.
See also Class Notes on TV News: Covering A Hurricane
Blizzard of '93: Extended
Storm Coverage
Preparation and planning were the keys when snow was so deep that some vehicles
couldn't move. Forecasters called it "The Storm Of The Century." Here's the full
story from the 1993 RUNDOWN.
New Hampshire
Primary: Polling Picks Up Shifts
In 1988, George Bush and Robert Dole fought for the Republican presidential nomination in
New Hampshire. Large blocks of voters were not firmly locked on either candidacy.
Frequent media polling allowed the public to know what the political insiders knew
from their own tracking.
Polls: Does Your Doctor Control
Your Treatment?
Critics charge that the goal of health care today is not better, but cheaper
treatment. Moving beyond the general claims and theories, the news managers at WCVB-TV,
Boston, used two polls to make a specific measurement of what is really going on.
TV, Papers Lose
Fight For Prison Interviews
In 1995, the California Department of Corrections suddenly banned one-on-one inmate
interviews on the grounds that prisoners were supposedly exploiting their notoriety
through the media. In 1997, a bill that would have restored the right of journalists to
meet with the imprisoned easily passed both the State Senate and Assembly. However, it was
vetoed by Governor Pete Wilson. Is this a case of deteriorating respect for the media
resulting in a restriction? If it happened in the most populous state, California, could
it happen elsewhere?
Keys To Successful Television
Fundamentals of writing, reporting, photography and show producing have been discussed
many times in the pages of THE RUNDOWN.
The top executives and newspeople have shared their insights and lessons learned.
This material now fills a massive archive of 6,000 pages --- easily the largest record
of hometown television's activities.
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Since 1981, The Rundown has reported weekly on local television
news, programming, and community service projects.
Do You
Want A Career in Television?
Here's what you need to know. Students or parents studying a broadcasting career path must
be careful and know what they're really getting in for.
Writing in a
Conversational Style
News anchor Ed Sardella of KUSA-TV, Denver explains his approach to newswriting.
Broadcast
Newswriting.
Writing coach Merv Block provides tips about communicating on television.
Enterprise
Reporting.
The Poynter Institute's Valerie Hyman suggests all reporters should work to upgrade every
story they do.
The Lead Story:
Capturing the Viewer's Interest
Here is how news executives select their most important story.
Voiceovers:
Nothing to Take for Granted
The shorter stories are an important part of any news show.
Customer-Centered
News: Setting Up Systems That Work
Broadcast consultant Larry Rickel explains his theories.
Beating
Oprah With News Oriented To Women
Deliver the information that the viewers need and want.
Poll: Story
Interest
A RUNDOWN poll by the Frank Magid Associates asked people to indicate what they want to
know about.
Here are Quick Links to
Television Stations on the Web.
Broadcast Education Association
For more than 40 years, the BEA has helped students and teachers of broadcast journalism
in many ways.
Investigative Reporters and Editors
IRE provides extensive resoruces, including access to The National Institute for
Computer-Assisted Reporting.
National Press
Photographers Association
The central place for the latest photojournalism material .
Journalism Education Association
This organization serves educators with many services.
Television Now
Link to resources that provide you with the latest industry information.
 You can quickly locate information anywhere throughout the public
portion of our site using a full-text search engine.
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