Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing, 6th Edition

Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing, 6th Edition

by Frank Barnas
Released May 2013
Publisher(s): Focal Press
ISBN: 9781136025051

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Book description

Jargon buster: convergent journalism:
?Media convergence is the most significant development in the news industry in the last century. The ability to interchange text, audio, and visual communication over the Internet has fundamentally transformed the way news organizations operate. Convergence has enabled media companies to gather, disseminate, and share information over a variety of platforms. Throughout the history of journalism, it has been common for journalists to study one medium, such as traditional print or broadcast, and to anticipate a career working only in their chosen field. However, the 21st century journalist has fluidity to write and deliver news content in a variety of formats. (source: http://www.convergencejournalism.com/)


Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing presents a solid foundation for any student learning how to become a broadcast journalist ? in today's world of convergent journalism, it is more important than ever that broadcast textbooks cover the most current trends in media. Convergent journalism (the coverage of news across multiple delivery platforms such as the internet, television, podcasts, ipods, blogs, etc) is here to stay ? broadcast journalism continues to morph as newer and more advanced content platforms are hatched and developed, and broadcast journalists must understand how to write, report, and produce for multiple platforms simultaneously. Just one crucial fact remains: students will need training on how to perform successfully in a world in which current events aren't just shown on the ten o'clock evening news.

Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing will be completely overhauled to reflect the trends of convergent journalism on every page. New co-author Frank Barnas brings a multi-faceted perspective of writing, reporting, and producing that allows for multi-platform delivery systems, and shows students with real-world examples the functions and practices of today's media. The new edition will be rewritten and restructured to accommodate common 16-week course modules, and will be divided into four major sections of the news: gathering, writing, reporting, and producing. Sidebars featuring how examples used in the text relate to convergence in journalism help students to draw connections easily between current stories and trends in the industry.

The comprehensive approach of this text brings a multi-faceted perspective of writing, reporting, and producing that is needed more than ever in today's world of convergent journalism. This newest edition is being completely overhauled by the experienced journalist Frank Barnas. New photos and illustrations, a restructuring of the text, expanded end-of-chapter exercises, newer and more relevant examples, and more information on producing all contribute to giving readers what they need most: a nuanced understanding of how the media of today function in a world without news boundaries.

Table of contents

  1. Front Cover
  2. Half Title
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Contents
  6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  7. INTRODUCTION
  8. Part 1 Acquiring the News
    1. Chapter 1 Legal and Ethical Considerations
      1. Introduction
      2. Accuracy
      3. Libel
      4. Defenses
      5. False Light
      6. Boundaries
      7. Hidden Cameras and Microphones
      8. Ambush Interviews
      9. Gratuities
      10. Conflict of Interest
      11. Reenactments and Staging
      12. “Unnatural” Sound
      13. Video Deception
      14. Improper Editing
      15. Jump Cuts
      16. Inflating the News
      17. Will the Real Reporter Please Stand Up?
      18. Cameras in the Courtroom
      19. The Fairness Doctrine
      20. Invasion of Privacy
      21. Online Ramifications
      22. Summary
    2. Chapter 2 Locating the News
      1. Introduction
      2. Assignment Desk
      3. Spontaneous, Planned, and Enterprised Stories
      4. Follow-Ups on Previous Newscasts
      5. The Wires
      6. Local Experts
      7. Social Media and the Internet
      8. Monitoring the Competition
      9. Beat Checks, Cop Shops, and Police Scanners
      10. Press Releases and Future Files
      11. Franking and Political News Releases
      12. Public Information Officers
      13. The Calendar
      14. Production Meetings
      15. Summary
    3. Chapter 3 Developing Stories
      1. Introduction
      2. Advancing the Story
      3. Avoiding the Pack
      4. Localization
      5. Tips
      6. Confidentiality
      7. Accuracy of Sources
      8. Gaining Confidence
      9. Leaks
      10. Trial Balloons
      11. Authoritative or Informed Sources
      12. Background Briefings
      13. Keeping in Touch
      14. Summary
    4. Chapter 4 Collecting Information from Real and Virtual Documents
      1. Introduction
      2. Internet Versus Physical Reporting
      3. Internet Domains
      4. Internet Searches
      5. Social Media
      6. Open Records
      7. Public Records and “Sunshine Laws”
      8. Filing an FOIA Request
      9. The Privacy Act
      10. Collecting Governmental Information
      11. Collecting Information about the Government
      12. Businesses and Individuals
      13. Business Publications and Indexes
      14. Trade Publications
      15. Police Records
      16. Court Records
      17. Law Enforcement Databases
      18. Vital Records
      19. Licenses
      20. Land Records
      21. Financial Records
      22. Tax Records
      23. Public Records
      24. Additional Real and Virtual Documents
      25. Database Services
      26. City Directories, Phone Books, and Reverse Directories
      27. Creating Expert Databases
      28. Summary
    5. Chapter 5 Beats, Spot News, and Reporting Assignments
      1. Introduction
      2. Beats
      3. Spot News
      4. Summary
  9. Part 2 Writing the News
    1. Chapter 6 Newswriting Mechanics
      1. Introduction
      2. Slugs
      3. The Split Page
      4. Punctuation
      5. Rewriting Wire Copy
      6. Conversational Style
      7. Removing Unneeded Words
      8. Reading Your Copy Aloud
      9. Avoiding Information Overload
      10. Looking Ahead
      11. Timing Stories
    2. Chapter 7 Newswriting Style
      1. Introduction
      2. Descriptors and Identifiers
      3. Numbers, Capital Numbers, Punctuation Marks, and Websites
      4. Language—Using the Best Words
      5. Language—Using the Best Phrasing
      6. Verbs
      7. Attribution, Quotes, Time, Transitions, Locations, and People
      8. Transferring to the Web
      9. Summary
    3. Chapter 8 Writing Compelling Leads
      1. Introduction
      2. The Five Ws and H Rule
      3. The “Right” Emotion
      4. The Eight Types of Leads
      5. Updating the Lead
      6. Summary
  10. Part 3 Reporting the News
    1. Chapter 9 Fieldwork
      1. Introduction
      2. Equipment
      3. Setting Up in the Field
      4. Video
      5. Audio
      6. Summary
    2. Chapter 10 Interviewing
      1. Introduction
      2. Before the Interview
      3. Warming Up
      4. During the Interview
      5. Phrasing Questions Carefully
      6. Avoiding Leading Questions
      7. Listening Carefully
      8. The Tough Questions
      9. Keeping Control
      10. Keeping a Neutral Demeanor
      11. Identifying Sound Bites
      12. Checking Facts
      13. Asking Enough Questions
      14. Finishing the Interview
      15. After the Interview
      16. Returning to the Station
      17. Special Considerations
      18. Off the Record
      19. Man-On-the-Street Interviews
      20. The Phone Interview
      21. An Interview Checklist
      22. Summary
    3. Chapter 11 Covering Planned Events
      1. Introduction
      2. Press Conferences
      3. Political Press Conferences
      4. Promotional Press Conferences
      5. Emergency Press Conferences
      6. Covering the Press Conference
      7. Interviewing Around the Press Conference
      8. Finding Workable Video
      9. Meetings
      10. Virtual Press Conferences
      11. Summary
    4. Chapter 12 Reporting Live
      1. Introduction
      2. Organizing Thoughts
      3. Ad-Libbing
      4. The Challenges of Electronic News Gathering
      5. Keeping Cool
      6. Memorizing and Delivering Live Reports
      7. Voiceovers from the Field
      8. Technical Challenges
      9. Summary
    5. Chapter 13 Voiceovers, Packages, and Story Formats
      1. Introduction
      2. Readers
      3. Combining Words and Pictures
      4. Voiceovers
      5. Scripting the Voiceover
      6. Incorporating Sound Bites
      7. The Split Page
      8. The Package
      9. Stand-Ups and Reporter Involvement
      10. Posting Stories
      11. Summary
  11. Part 4 Producing the News
    1. Chapter 14 Producing the Television Newscast
      1. Introduction
      2. Producers—Definitions and Skills
      3. The Logistics and Strategies of Producing
      4. Technical Aspects of Producing
      5. Producing for the Web
      6. Summary
    2. Chapter 15 Producing the Radio Newscast
      1. Introduction
      2. The State of Radio News
      3. Your Audience
      4. Organizing Material
      5. Fundamentals of Writing for Radio News
      6. Writing from the Back
      7. The Lead Story
      8. The Rest of the Newscast
      9. Localizing the News
      10. Story Length
      11. Actualities
      12. Studio Technology
      13. Wraparounds
      14. Lead-Ins
      15. Teases
      16. Headlines
      17. Pad Copy
      18. Back Timing
      19. Convergence and Radio News
      20. Summary
    3. Chapter 16 Delivering the News
      1. Introduction
      2. Appearance
      3. Credibility
      4. One-Way Communication
      5. Getting Help with Your Delivery
      6. Reading the Teleprompter
      7. Dialects
      8. Listening to Yourself
      9. Correct Pronunciation
      10. Pacing
      11. Marking Copy
      12. Characteristics of Successful Anchors
      13. Cosmetics
      14. Before the Newscast
      15. Mic Levels
      16. Virtual News Sets
      17. Online Delivery
      18. Summary
    4. Chapter 17 Careers in Broadcast Journalism
      1. Introduction
      2. Media's Dominance in America
      3. Employment Trends in Broadcast Journalism
      4. Working Environment and Job Descriptions
      5. Future Opportunities in Newsrooms
      6. What You Will Need to Know to Land a Job
      7. Summary
  12. GLOSSARY
  13. INDEX

Product information

  • Title: Broadcast News Writing, Reporting, and Producing, 6th Edition
  • Author(s): Frank Barnas
  • Release date: May 2013
  • Publisher(s): Focal Press
  • ISBN: 9781136025051