Reporting on Local Television News Since 1981
Reporting on Local Television News Since 1981
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by Bob Dotson Bob Dotson is an Emmy award-winning correspondent for NBC News with more than thirty years of experience in the field of broadcast journalism. He shares tips and lessons he has learned that can help make your stories sharp, even under the tightest deadlines. |
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Seven Habits of Highly Effective Storytellers |
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Author Dow Smith outlines the seven roles of a Power Producer: --- Journalist. --- News writer. --- Production expert. --- Promotion writer. --- Team leader. --- Researcher. --- Lawyer/ethicist. |
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| Chapters cover ratings and research, ethics and decision-making, and more.
The appendix has information about helpful web sites, publications, training opportunities
and career advice. Smith gives producers and aspiring producers practical information they can use at once, to further a career in producing or to help them decide if producing is the right career choice. Published by the Radio-Television News Directors Association, 154 pp., paperback, $27 RTNDA members, $30 nonmembers. To place an order, download the order form here, or call membership services directly at 800.80.RTNDA. |
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An excellent resource on producing techniques is the work of Alice Main, a newsroom manager and producer at several stations. |
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| The Producer This is a forum for TV news producers to share information. |
The
Producer, the book Collected, sequenced pieces from Alice Main's producer's newsletter. |
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Promotion plays a
critical role --- if you want someone to watch your work! |
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by Michelle Mccoy and Ann Utterback Here's advice for students aspiring to work in the broadcast field or executives and spokespersons representing their companies on camera. Michelle McCoy is an Assistant Professor at Kent State University's journalism department. Ann S. Utterback, Ph.D., is the broadcast voice specialist. |
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| Latest edition of Investigative Reporters Handbook is available at amazon.com | |||
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The newest version of this indispensable reference has been updated. It includes examples of local investigative reporting and easy to find Internet address lists to help in computer-assisted investigations. | ||
| Authors: Brant Houston, Len Bruzzese and Steve Weinberg. |
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| Tell clearer, stronger stories | |||
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Aim for the Heart is designed to be a guide for TV
reporters, producers and photojournalists who want to learn how to tell clearer and
stronger stories. This is practical material, real world techniques. Al Tompkins is currently at the Poynter Institute. He spent 25 years as a reporter, producer, photojournalist and news director. |
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| Broadcast Newswriting | |||
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Veteran writing coach Merv Block provides tips about communicating on
television. Here are excerpts from one of his books. More from Merv Block Check here for analysis of broadcast writing with specific examples. |
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Bob Baker's Newsthinking
A
dummy's guide to the hard-core print basics
A veteran print journalist offers excellent advice for any reporter or writer. This
article gives practical ideas on how to produce good stories without wasting time. Here
are ideas about sharpening the focus, energizing your lede, and keeping it rolling.
Write clearly on
deadline
Identifying the story and possible elements, and constantly writing pieces of it, enables
you to have your material ready to go and ready to be changed at the last moment. The
writing coach for the Omaha World-Herald, Steve Buttry, outlines a "real
world" approach to daily reporting.
THE RUNDOWN has debriefed many television newspeople and documented their specific advice. Is there a subject that you would like us to add to this online archive?
Since 1981, The Rundown has reported weekly on local television news, programming, and community service projects.
TV Jobs
Online talent service opens to
non-represented talent
Collective Talent, the online talent resource by Michaels Media, has opened its service to non-represented talent.
When the service was first unveiled, it was designed to be supported primarily by
talent agents.
That approach made sense because the majority of talent in larger markets are represented
by agents. The biggest agencies can represent several hundred people.
Subscribers Only
Be Ready:
Hostage Takers
and Barricaded Men
One of the most sensitive emergencies that police deal
with is when armed, distraught individuals hold and threaten hostages.
There are many important decisions to be made by newsroom managers. Coverage could
conceivably impact the lives of the hostages, police officers and innocent bystanders.
Anything and everything you do could be second guessed by police commanders, town
officials and others.
Subscribers can review here
online several tough situations where news executives shared with us how they handled key
decisions.
When Writing Mattered
Charles Kuralt began his career by winning a baseball writing contest when he was 12.
Vanderbilt
TV Archives
Three decades of network news shows cataloged and recorded.
Collegiate Broadcasters Inc
CBI is an educational media organization with stations and student members.
TV
and Politics:
Covering the Candidates
Politicians put their best spin forward, and reporters supposedly tell their public what's
really going on.
Newspaper Interviewing 101
From the Detroit Free Press, tips for beginners on conducting
journalistic interviews.
Tips To Improve Your Writing
Writers and editors at the Providence Journal share their reflections and lessons
learned about reporting and writing. Here
are detailed articles that are well worth reviewing by anyone seriously interested in
reporting today.
Strunk's Elements of Style
Fundamental writing guide from Cornell professor and E. B. White. Strunk's suggestions are online from Columbia . If you need
a new copy in print, amazon.com has
it.
Be The Best Writer
That You Can Be
Polish Your Grammar
Here is a collection of Web resources that offer help and advice about writing, grammar,
spelling and usage.
The Tongue
Untied
A guide to grammar, punctuation and style for journalists. This was developed
at the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon.
Guide to Grammar and Style
Prepared by Professor Jack Lynch of Rutgers University.
Syracuse University
Style and Usage
Have a question on a phrase or word? Check it out.
Writing
Mistakes from harvardnews.org
Check out these examples of writing that has actually been published. Any of us
might have made the same mistake --- on a very, very bad day.
Understand Ratings
Here's an FAQ explaining how the major rating service, Nielsen, does it.
There is also a clear overview at
howstuffworks.com.
Could you
suggest
another valuable resource?
AP Stylebook
Amazon.com
has the updated edition that is the guide for many newspaper writers.
Writers
Write
A professional resource for journalists and writers with job listings, writer's
guidelines, chat, links, message boards, news, book reviews.
C-SPAN
in
the Classroom
Comprehensive coverage of important public issues.
Broadcast Journalism
Course Outline
Introduction to TV and radio news.
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.
The Working
Reporter
Valuable sources are categorized so you can quickly find resources that might work for
you.
Political Reporters
Resource Roadmap
Here are many links and resources nationwide.
Bob Baker's
Newsthinking
A veteran print journalist offers
excellent advice for any reporter or writer. This article gives practical ideas on how to
produce good
stories without wasting time.
Here are ideas about sharpening
the focus, energizing your lede,
and keeping it rolling.
Frank van
Riper
on Photography
Commentary from a Washington-based commercial
and documentary photographer
and author.
The Poynter
Institute
Helps journalists seek
and achieve excellence.
How to Keep Informed
Advice on staying current
by Wayne Danielson,
The University of Texas at Austin.
American Women in
Radio
and Television
AWRT's mission is to advance
the impact of women in
the electronic media.
You can quickly locate information anywhere throughout the public
portion of our site using a full-text search engine.
Subscribers can also access the
Rundown Archives.
The Rundown (ISSN:0035-9912)
has been published weekly (50 times a year) |
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| We always welcome your comments
and suggestions about ways to improve our service. Copyright © 2007 Standish Publishing Company. |
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A top reporter explains how
to produce memorable stories in an age of shorter pieces and live breaking news emphasis.