Deck 12: Reporting for Radio and Television

Question 1

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-News director

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-Assignment editor

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Answer 2

F

Question 3

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-General assignment reporters

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-Producer

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Question 5

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-Chief photographer

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Question 6

Match the newsroom jobs with their descriptions.
-Technical director

A) Responsible for maintaining portable video equipment, training videographers.
B) They have multiple newsgathering responsibilities, especially in smaller markets.
C) Engineer who directs news program over the air.
D) Oversees news department operation in terms of personnel, budget and policy.
E) Combines everyone's efforts into the station's various news broadcasts.
F) Sends reporters and videographers to cover stories; coordinates work of freelance stringers.

Question 7

Broadcast news reports, designed around sounds and visuals, are unique because they allow listeners and viewers to "go" to an event through aural or visual stimulation and at times involve us emotionally.

Question 8

Because not everyone reads at the same speed, it is a good idea to have the news reader time each sentence, or even phrases, so that video can be precisely edited in a tightly cued visual piece.

Question 9

What is some of the information noted on scripts by airtime?

Question 10

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-Package

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 11

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-Reader

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 12

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-Voicers

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 13

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-SOT

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 14

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-Standupper

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 15

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-B-roll

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 16

Match the newsroom terms with their descriptions.
-Wild sound

A) Most complex piece, where field reporter produces self-contained video package.
B) Natural background, found in fire,accident, rescue scenes.
C) Sound interview stories, shot on videotape
D) News features created by general assignment reporters.
E) Film term for video in package used to illustrate what reporter is talking about.
F) Non-video script, read without supporting visuals
G) Video is shot in the field, read by studio anchor.

Question 17

Broadcast copywriters need to consistently follow the style of their news organization; not to do so could lead to confusion on the part of the producer, anchor or technical director (thus fouling up the newscast!).

Question 18

Sound bites should enhance, amplify, describe and explain; they need to be clear, understandable, free of background noise and devoid of professional jargon.

Question 19

What is the lead-in, and how is it used?

Question 20

What's a teaser?

Question 21

Radio production technology hasn't changed over the years. Radio is radio, with no visuals, no computers, just music, news and, of course, commercials.

Question 22

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-Actualities

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 23

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-In cue, out cue

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 24

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-Tag line

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 25

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-Voicer

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 26

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-Wraparound

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 27

Match the radio terms with the descriptions.
-"New top"

A) Self-contained story taped by the reporter that includes actuality.
B) A concluding sentence tying the piece together before next story.
C) Field produced, telephone or studio sound bites.
D) An updated lead in written to freshen a news story.
E) The beginning and ending words of an actuality.
F) A field report without actuality.

Question 28

What are radio news releases and why are they important, both to radio stations and to public relations practitioners?

Question 29

Television images, especially in times of disaster or breaking news, are particularly powerful. There is no way for the reporter and photographer to plan ahead, however, because good visuals generally just "happen."

Question 30

In order to write well and produce a good broadcast report, you must understand the story. Often, a good deal of preparation is necessary before a reporter can do a field piece on a complex issue. Do your homework; if you don't know something, ask co-workers or a public relations specialist.

Question 31

Video pieces follow a logic all their own in order to draw viewers into the story.

Question 32

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-Establishing shot

Question 33

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-Close up

Question 34

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-Full shot

Question 35

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-Pan and zoom.

Question 36

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-False Reverse

Question 37

Define the terms and explain how they are used in composing a video piece.
-Cutaway

Question 38

Basic video logic is to start with an establishing shot to allow the audience to see the whole picture, then move into the story with a medium shot, then close ups, ending on an intermediate wide shot.

Question 39

Words should explain, supplement and mesh with the pictures, cued as closely as possible to the video on the screen. Writers should use words that complement the picture, timing copy to match what appears on the screen, at times using phrases such as here were see to clearly describe action.

Question 40

Broadcast copywriters should have as their basic goal leading the listener or viewer through the piece with an understandable blending of copy and video, eliminating visual dissonance as much as possible.

Question 41

Reverse questions, a form of cutaway that adds visual variety in an interview, may be rephrased during the shooting in order to clean up grammar or add clarity.

Question 42

Because television is a visual medium, shots should include people engaged in action wherever possible, rather than static, empty shots. Everything should be shot from eye-level, however, to avoid visual dissonance.

Question 43

The first rule for reporters and photographers covering dangerous breaking events is not to become part of the story; don't do something reckless that is going to get you hurt. And don't impede the work of police, firefighters or rescue workers; you have no "right" to be there, so stay out of the way (yet get the news).

Question 44

Public relations professionals ought to be on the lookout for good visual elements in a story involving their organization. If you can put together a way to visually illustrate an upcoming event, you may get the cameras there.

Question 45

If an advertiser threatens to cancel ads because of a news story you've shot, tell him where to go because there are a lot of other advertisers out there; he needs you more than you need him, especially in a smaller market.

Question 46

Three basic principles should guide every TV news reporter: Don't stage events; don't ask someone to do something that otherwise wouldn't have happened; don't put anything on the air that can't stand scrutiny.

Question 47

Today's sports reporting is different from years past because the sports journalist has
to know so much more, although in many respects, good sports reporting and writing is
merely good reporting and writing that focuses on sports.

Question 48

Weather news reporters must convey at-times technical information in accurate, understandable terms to listeners and viewers. Broadcast weather should be more than mere forecasts; listeners want to know why things are happening.

Question 49

What are video news releases and why are they controversial?

Question 50

VNRs are more likely to be used if their news value is apparent, if the story has a local angle, and if it is easy to edit.

Question 51

Now that broadcasting has been deregulated, public affairs programming is on the increase because it's easy to do, inexpensive to produce, and is perceived as a good advertising medium.

Question 52

Why isn't "If it Bleeds, it Leads" good journalism?