Right now I am an Associate/Lives Right now I am an Associate/Lives Producer for CNN International. I Producer for CNN International. I started working for them about 2 started working for them about 2

months after I graduated.months after I graduated.

Your class is the only reason that I Your class is the only reason that I was able to succeed as an AP at was able to succeed as an AP at

CNNI without having been a VJ first.CNNI without having been a VJ first.

Out of everything that I learned in Out of everything that I learned in college your class truly helped me the college your class truly helped me the most…Lives producing is extremely most…Lives producing is extremely stressful so knowing how all of the stressful so knowing how all of the different positions work really helped. different positions work really helped. I really can't thank you enough for I really can't thank you enough for everything that you taught me! everything that you taught me! Georgia State needs more classes like Georgia State needs more classes like yours. yours.

Anatomy of a News Anatomy of a News PackagePackage

Kinds of PackagesKinds of Packages

1.1. Complete Package--Self contained. Complete Package--Self contained. AVOID starting with reporter on AVOID starting with reporter on camera!! May have camera!! May have on camera bridgeon camera bridge or or standup closestandup close or no reporter on or no reporter on camera at all.camera at all.

2.2. Donut or Insert Package--Reporter Donut or Insert Package--Reporter starts LIVE at the beginning and/or at starts LIVE at the beginning and/or at the end with the taped piece rolled in the end with the taped piece rolled in between.between.

Anchor Lead in (or lede)Anchor Lead in (or lede)

The anchor will read a little copy to introduce The anchor will read a little copy to introduce the report. This is called the lead in or the the report. This is called the lead in or the ““tostosss”” to the package. to the package.

Sometimes this copy tells the main idea or the Sometimes this copy tells the main idea or the headline of the story. headline of the story.

Sometimes the copy may not and this will make Sometimes the copy may not and this will make the viewer want to stay tuned to learn more.the viewer want to stay tuned to learn more.

Example: There was a lot of shady business Example: There was a lot of shady business going on at the World Congress Center today. going on at the World Congress Center today. Sean Ellis has the story.Sean Ellis has the story.

The Package: The BeginningThe Package: The Beginning

Usually starts with an establishing shot or Usually starts with an establishing shot or wide shot (WS) with your narration of the wide shot (WS) with your narration of the copy.copy.

Can be more powerful by starting with your Can be more powerful by starting with your most visually interesting or most compelling most visually interesting or most compelling shot.shot.

Can also start with natural sound (nat/sot) or Can also start with natural sound (nat/sot) or a sound bite (sot) if compelling enough.a sound bite (sot) if compelling enough.

Example: chain saws busily cutting up fallen Example: chain saws busily cutting up fallen trees in piece about ice storm cleanup. trees in piece about ice storm cleanup.

The Package: The BodyThe Package: The Body

Narration continues…covered with B-Narration continues…covered with B-roll or cover video. Shots of video that roll or cover video. Shots of video that help explain the story. help explain the story.

Static shots will serve you well. Zoom Static shots will serve you well. Zoom or pan only to follow action.or pan only to follow action.

Packages often have graphics included Packages often have graphics included to help explain complicated concepts to help explain complicated concepts of the storyof the story

The Package: The SOTThe Package: The SOT

Narration will be interrupted by a sound bite Narration will be interrupted by a sound bite of an interested party, but your narration will of an interested party, but your narration will need to lead into the sound bite.need to lead into the sound bite.

You can put 2 sound bites together, called a You can put 2 sound bites together, called a butt bite, maybe from the 2 sides of an issue.butt bite, maybe from the 2 sides of an issue.

Make sure you have at least one authoritative Make sure you have at least one authoritative sound bite and one other sound bite from an sound bite and one other sound bite from an involved party.involved party.

The Package: The Middle and The Package: The Middle and the Closethe Close

Narration will pick back up after the sound Narration will pick back up after the sound bite.bite.

Or you can use a standup bridge (reporter on Or you can use a standup bridge (reporter on camera delivering part of the narration or the camera delivering part of the narration or the copy)copy)

Another SOT if you wishAnother SOT if you wish Concluding narration. On camera if you wish Concluding narration. On camera if you wish

or straight narration.or straight narration. Sig out: Andree Grogan reporting for GSU-Sig out: Andree Grogan reporting for GSU-

TV.TV.

How to produce your packageHow to produce your package

First, do as much research on your subject First, do as much research on your subject as you can. Think visually. Think about the b-as you can. Think visually. Think about the b-roll or cover video that can best show the roll or cover video that can best show the viewer what you are talking about.viewer what you are talking about.

Decide whom you want to interview for your Decide whom you want to interview for your sotsot’’s. At least one authority on the subject s. At least one authority on the subject and then at least one person affected or and then at least one person affected or involved in the story. Line up the interviews.involved in the story. Line up the interviews.

How to produce your packageHow to produce your package

Shoot the interviews and the b-roll. Shoot the interviews and the b-roll. Shoot in the best light possible. Shoot in the best light possible. Remember color balance.Remember color balance.

Pay attention to the audio! Wear the Pay attention to the audio! Wear the headphones and listen for good sound.headphones and listen for good sound.

How to write your packageHow to write your package

First, screen your footage and make a log First, screen your footage and make a log sheet of what you have.sheet of what you have.

Note the best footage and the best parts of Note the best footage and the best parts of the interviews.the interviews.

Consider starting with the most compelling Consider starting with the most compelling video or audio or a SOT.video or audio or a SOT.

Write your script, filling in information from Write your script, filling in information from your research around the SOTs. Let your your research around the SOTs. Let your subject emote. You as a reporter report facts.subject emote. You as a reporter report facts.

ExampleExample

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYLiSnemLdM

Your scriptYour script

Video directions

B-roll

(SOT) Joe Schmo, student

B-roll pause for NAT/SOT

B-roll pause for NAT/SOT

B-roll

Narration and SOTs

CELEBRATION WAS THETHEME OF THE DAY AS GEORGIA STATE CONTINUES TO MARK ITS 100TH YEAR.

(SOT)

THERE WAS FREE FOOD…(NAT/SOT)

FREE GAMES…(NAT/SOT)

ORGANIZER MARY SNOW SAYS THE CELEBRATIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE YEAR

Your scriptYour script

Video directiions

(SOT) Mary Snow, organizer

B-roll

(SOT) Jane Doe, student John Doe, student

(SU CLOSE)

Narration and SOTs

(SOT)

GEORGIA STATE WAS FOUNDED IN 1913 AS A NIGHT BUSINESS SCHOOL. NOW IT’S A WELL RESPECTED RESEARCH UNIVERSITY.STUDENTS ARE SHOWING THEIR PANTHER PRIDE.(SOT)

A GEORGIA STATE SPOKESMAN EXPRESSED A HOPE THAT THE STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF WILL JOIN IN AND CONTINUE TO CELEBRATE THE MILESTONE FOR THE COMING YEAR.

JOHN SMITH REPORTING FOR THE PANTHER REPORT.

How to edit your packageHow to edit your package

You can write a rough draft of the script You can write a rough draft of the script before you shoot, but you will need to fine before you shoot, but you will need to fine tune it after you have finished shooting.tune it after you have finished shooting.

Then you should record the audio Then you should record the audio narration. Take the camera to a quiet narration. Take the camera to a quiet place and record yourself reading the place and record yourself reading the script. Use the headphones to determine script. Use the headphones to determine how best to speak into the mic.how best to speak into the mic.

How to edit your packageHow to edit your package

Try to make your delivery interesting by Try to make your delivery interesting by emphasizing certain key words. See emphasizing certain key words. See handout information about narration handout information about narration and standups.and standups.

Then you will digitize that footage into Then you will digitize that footage into a clip. It will be audio and video and a clip. It will be audio and video and you will cover it with B-roll.you will cover it with B-roll.

How to edit your packageHow to edit your package

You will interrupt the narration with the You will interrupt the narration with the sotsot’’s. You may need to s. You may need to ““lead intolead into”” those sotthose sot’’s. s.

Example: Example: ““The dean of students was The dean of students was not amused…not amused…”” then go to the sot of the then go to the sot of the dean.dean.

If the sot goes too long, but you still If the sot goes too long, but you still think it is useful information, you may think it is useful information, you may want to cover it with related b-roll.want to cover it with related b-roll.