Managing Television News: A Handbook for Ethical and Effective Producing

by Silcock,B. William

• ISBN13: 9780805853735
• ISBN10: 0805853731
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 7/31/2006
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Managing Television Newsprovides a practical introduction to the television news producer, one of the most significant and influential roles in a newscast. Recognizing the need for formal training in this key role, authors B. William Silcock, Don Heider, and Mary T. Rogus have combined their expertise and experience to shape this essential resource on the responsibilities, demands, and rewards of the news producer position. Their book provides a strategic approach to producing newscasts and serves as an in-depth guide to creating quality, audience-friendly newscasts working within the realistic limitations of most newsrooms. It helps the student and the professional producer sort through the various deadline-driven challenges of creating a 30-minute newscast. Filled with real-world examples and advice from news directors, producers, and anchors currently in the business, and photographs illustrating the varied perspectives in the position,Managing Television Newsprovides critical skill sets to help resolve ethical dilemmas, as well as keen and fresh insights on how to win the ratings without compromising news quality. Career concerns are also addressed. This resource is a pioneering book for the professional television newsroom and the individual reader interested in starting or expanding a producing career. It is an excellent text for the college classroom, as its structure fits neatly into a semester schedule, and it is a must-have resource for both seasoned and novice producers, as well as students in broadcast news.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xiii
Chapter 1 WHAT MAKES NEWS?	1	(10)
Why Are We Here?	3	(1)
To Serve	3	(1)
The Public	4	(3)
The Producer's Role in Making News	7	(4)
Chapter 2 WHO WATCHES AND WHY?	11	(18)
Who Is Out There?	13	(2)
Intimate Medium	13	(1)
So Just Who Is Watching?	14	(1)
Why Do They Watch (or Not)?	15	(3)
Why People Watch The News	16	(2)
Reasons Why People Watch Less Local TV News	18	(1)
What Do They Want?	18	(2)
Demographics	20	(6)
Target Audiences	22	(1)
Who Is Available?	22	(2)
Who Advertisers Want	24	(1)
Diversity	24	(2)
Conclusion	26	(1)
Sources	27	(2)
Chapter 3 WHAT MAKES A GOOD PRODUCER?	29	(16)
Got Influence? By Jill Geisler	32	(2)
Moving From The Classroom To The Newsroom By Tom Dolan	34	(5)
What Is In A Name?	39	(3)
Good Producer = Good Relationships	42	(3)
Chapter 4 THE ETHICS OF PRODUCING	45	(26)
RTNDA	47	(1)
The Murrow Tradition	48	(1)
SPJ and the Ethical Influence of Print	49	(5)
Comparing the Codes	54	(2)
Creating Your Code	55	(1)
Getting Beyond the Gut	56	(1)
Audience-Oriented Ethics	57	(2)
Ethical Duty and the Myth of Objectivity	59	(2)
When to Warn the Viewers	61	(1)
Crime Coverage and Family Sensitive News	61	(2)
Coverage Guidelines	63	(2)
A Higher Calling, A Professional Producer	65	(3)
Get Involved in Ethics	68	(2)
Sources	70	(1)
Chapter 5 DEADLINES, DATELINES, AND DECISION MAKING	71	(20)
The Rundown Recipe	72	(1)
The Clock and the Computer	73	(3)
Backtiming The Day—Time Management of Datelines and Deadlines	76	(5)
Jump Starting the Day	77	(3)
Timeliness	80	(1)
Picking the Freshest Ingredients for Your Newscast	81	(1)
Discovering Cupboards of Content	81	(1)
Determining the Lead	81	(7)
The Rundown Meeting	84	(3)
Unbundling the Lead	87	(1)
Breaking News and Live	88	(1)
Story Management	88	(2)
A Most Satisfying Feast	90	(1)
Sources	90	(1)
Chapter 6 THE ART OF PRODUCING	91	(22)
Formats	92	(2)
Building Credible News Blocks—No Stacking and Packing	94	(4)
Pace and Flow	98	(6)
Story Format	99	(1)
Sound	99	(1)
Graphics/Production Techniques	99	(5)
Building News Blocks for Visualization	104	(1)
Anchor Input in the Art of the Lineup	105	(3)
Anchor Blocking	105	(1)
Two-Shots	106	(2)
Weather—Your Best Friend	108	(1)
Sports—Your Worst Enemy?	109	(2)
Newscast Mission Statements	111	(1)
Sources	112	(1)
Chapter 7 WRITING WELL	113	(16)
TV Is Personal	113	(2)
Short Is Better	115	(1)
Simple Is Good	115	(1)
Write Like You Talk	116	(2)
Phone Mom Theory	118	(2)
Clichés	120	(1)
What Goes Where?	121	(1)
Leads	122	(1)
The Middle	122	(2)
Video Referencing	122	(2)
The End	124	(2)
Writing For The Anchor	126	(1)
The Seamless Show	126	(1)
What Makes Good Writing Good?	127	(1)
Becoming a Good Writer	127	(2)
Chapter 8 PUT ON YOUR MARKETING CAP	129	(16)
Types of Promotion	129	(1)
Is It Teasable	130	(2)
It's the Video, Stupid!	131	(1)
Get It Only Here	132	(1)
When, Where, and How Often?	133	(2)
What Are They Watching?	133	(1)
Emotional Rollercoaster	133	(1)
What's Next?	134	(1)
Cross-Show Promotion	134	(1)
Repetition	134	(1)
Let's Write	135	(1)
Context	136	(1)
Reason to Watch	137	(1)
Reason to Watch Toolbox	137	(1)
The Devil's in the Details	138	(1)
Video Reference	138	(1)
Sense of Immediacy	138	(1)
Red Flag Words	139	(1)
Reporter Teases	139	(1)
We're in the Communication Business	139	(1)
News Branding	139	(3)
Ethics of Promotion and Branding	142	(1)
Sources	142	(3)
Chapter 9 LIFE IN THE BOOTH	145	(16)
Getting Oriented	145	(3)
Producer's Role in the Booth	148	(4)
Arrive Early	148	(1)
Married to the Director	149	(3)
During the News	152	(3)
Eyes Go Where?	152	(1)
Troubleshooting	153	(1)
Time Flies, Really	153	(1)
The Big Finish	154	(1)
Professional Demeanor	155	(4)
Talking To Talent	156	(1)
Dealing With Crises	157	(2)
Post Mortems	159	(2)
Chapter 10 MANAGING LIVE	161	(22)
Why Do We Go Live?	161	(4)
Big Money Investment	162	(2)
Audience Response	164	(1)
Producing Live Shots	165	(2)
Breaking News	167	(9)
Preparing for Breaking News	169	(2)
Live Weather Coverage	171	(2)
Disaster Plan	173	(1)
Warning: Don't Be Exploitive	173	(3)
But We Didn't Know That Was Going to Happen!	176	(2)
Know the News	178	(1)
Live Special Event Coverage	178	(2)
Election Night	180	(1)
Conclusion	180	(1)
Sources	181	(2)
Chapter 11 MANAGING PEOPLE	183	(24)
Managing the Viewer	185	(3)
News Gathering Team: The Assignment Editor—Heartbeat of the Newsroom	188	(2)
News Gathering Team: Reporters	190	(1)
News Gathering Team: The Videojournalist—The Faces Behind the Camera	191	(4)
The Talent Team: The Fine Art of Ego Stroking	195	(4)
The Production Team: The Director, the Artist, and the Rest of the Techies	199	(3)
Graphics	201	(1)
Managing Up: The News Director and the General Manager	202	(3)
A Style of Your Own	205	(1)
Sources	206	(1)
Chapter 12 MANAGING SWEEPS: THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY	207	(16)
The "R" Word	208	(2)
How Does Nielsen Count Viewers?	210	(2)
National Ratings	210	(1)
Local Ratings	210	(2)
Local People Meters—The End of Sweeps?	212	(1)
Sweeps Survival 101	213	(3)
The Sweeps Squeeze	214	(2)
Sweeps Specials: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly	216	(6)
The Good	216	(2)
The Bad	218	(1)
The Ugly	219	(3)
Reality Check	222	(1)
Sources	222	(1)
Chapter 13 MANAGING THE BUSINESS	223	(16)
Major Trends	223	(2)
Media Consolidation	225	(5)
Local News Quality	228	(2)
Media Convergence	230	(3)
The Ideal?	230	(1)
Reality	230	(1)
Convergence Models	231	(1)
Converged Consumer	232	(1)
How Convergence Impacts Television News	233	(4)
Newspaper	233	(1)
Radio	234	(1)
Online	235	(2)
What's !Next?	237	(1)
Sources	237	(2)
Chapter 14 MANAGING LIFE	239	(12)
Self Check-Up-Physical Health	241	(1)
Mapping Your Career—Personal Mission Statements	242	(2)
Burnout Factor—Why It Happens and How to Smother It	244	(3)
Encore Anxiety	247	(1)
A Still, Small Voice	248	(1)
Sources	249	(2)
Index	251