Table Of ContentThird
EdiTion
T
H
e
e
l
e
C T H e
T
THe eleCTrOnIC rePOrTer has become r e l e C T r O n I C
a staple for tertiary journalism students in Australia.
O
The expanded and updated third edition explores the way
broadcast journalism has changed in recent years and what
n r e P O r T e r
we can expect in the future as web-based and social media
transform the way news is created, delivered and consumed. I
C
The new edition takes a comprehensive look at how
electronic news is gathered and packaged and has r B r O a d C a s T J O u r n a l I s m
practical and authoritative advice on how to write and
e
interview for the electronic media, record sound and I n a u s T r a l I a
shoot video, construct news and current affairs stories P
and compile news bulletins for radio and television.
O
it also covers legal and ethical issues in electronic news,
safety while working and includes helpful tips on
r
finding work in the industry.
T
e
r
a B a r B a r a a ly s e n
l
y
s
e T h i r d E d i T i o n
n
journalism/ media studies
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T H E
E L E C T R O N I C
R E P O R T E R
BARBARAALYSENis a senior lecturer in Journalism at the
University of Western Sydney. She was previously a
reporter and producer in commercial and public-sector
radio and television and is co-author of Reporting in a
MultiMedia World (2nd ed. 2012). She is the recipient
of a Carrick Institute Citation for Outstanding
Contribution to Student Learning.
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T H E
E L E C T R O N I C
R E P O R T E R
B R O A D C A S T J O U R N A L I S M
I N A U S T R A L I A
B A R B A R A A LYS E N
T H I R D E D I T I O N
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A UNSW Press book
Published by
NewSouth Publishing
University of New South Wales Press Ltd
University of New South Wales
Sydney NSW 2052
AUSTRALIA
newsouthpublishing.com
© Barbara Alysen 2012
First published by Deakin University Press 2000
Republished by UNSW Press 2002
Second edition 2006
Third edition 2012
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose
of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the
Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without
written permission. Inquiries should be addressed to the publisher.
National Library of Australia
Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Author: Alysen, Barbara.
Title: The electronic reporter: broadcast journalism in Australia/by Barbara Alysen.
Edition: 3rd ed.
ISBN: 978 174223 317 8 (pbk.)
Notes: First ed: Geelong, Vic.: Deakin University Press, 2000.
Subjects: Broadcast journalism – Australia.
Television broadcasting – Australia.
Online journalism – Australia.
Dewey Number: 070.1950994
Design Ruth Pidd
Cover Design by Committee
Printer Ligare
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Contents
Abbreviations xiv
Acknowledgments xvi
1
Introduction 1
A changing profession 1
The relationship between journalists and audiences has changed 2
There’s an app for that 2
News (and current affairs) on demand 3
One story, many versions 3
One story, many tasks 3
Doing more with less (or the same) 3
Can we do that live? 4
Distance is no barrier 4
News is just another program 4
News resources are shrinking 5
Talk is cheap 5
Chasing the market downhill 6
The future 6
2
The newsroom 9
Newsroom staff 10
News director 10
Chief of staff 11
Bulletin producer 12
Associate producers 12
Foreign editor 12
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vi • The Electronic Reporter
Reporters 12
Camera operators 14
Editors 15
Graphic artists 15
Library staff 15
Unit manager/accountant 15
Studio director 16
Newsroom automation systems 16
The news day 16
Assigning stories 17
News conferences 18
Shaping the rundown 18
Approaches to stories 19
The news day in smaller newsrooms 20
Competition for news 21
The presenter 22
3
Sources of news 24
What makes news 24
News suppliers 26
The day file or diary 26
Official proceedings 26
Wire services 26
Newspapers 27
Other radio and television 27
In-house programs 29
Follow-ups 29
Niche media 29
Media releases 29
News conferences 30
Stakeouts 30
Reporters’ contacts 31
Emergency services 31
Tip-offs, social media, amateur vision 32
Foreign news 32
International news feeds 34
Foreign correspondents 35
Sending stories from remote locations 37
The role of foreign news in different services 37
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Contents • vii
News and PR 37
Video news releases 39
Lobby groups and PR 40
Hoaxes 41
4
News packaging 42
Story formats 42
Types of broadcast news story 43
The building blocks of broadcast news 44
Script layout 45
5
News gathering 58
Gathering information 59
Prerecorded reports 60
Recording at locations with background music 61
The piece to camera 61
Presentation of the PTC 61
Working to tight deadlines 64
Reporting live 66
Working safely 67
Conducting a ‘live cross’ 68
Our reporter on the scene 69
6
Interviewing for broadcast news
and current affairs 71
Different outcomes, different styles 71
Soundbites 73
Editing out questions 73
From interview to story 73
News interviews: techniques and styles 74
News and current affairs: different approaches 77
Documentary-style interviews 79
The questions 79
Open-ended and closed-ended questions 79
Providing questions in advance 80
Dealing with ambiguities 81
Interviewing checklist 82
Opening questions 84
Follow-up questions 85
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viii • The Electronic Reporter
Unsustainable assertions 87
Using statements as questions 88
Unexpected reactions 88
Dealing with grief and trauma 89
Levels of information 90
The usual suspects 91
Studio interviews: live, prerecorded, remote 92
Working live 92
Satellite and microwave links 92
Simulated satellite 93
Competing agendas 94
The soundbite syndrome 95
If you want to read more ... 96
7
Broadcast writing style 97
The elements of broadcast style 97
Different services, different styles 99
Guidelines for broadcast news writing 103
Write copy to be spoken 103
Use the active voice 104
Use the present tense 105
K.I.S.S. 108
Write the intro first 109
Put the attribution before a comment 110
Use contractions, but with care 111
Write exactly what you mean to say 112
Round off complex numbers 114
Keep dates as simple as possible 115
Titles before names 115
Honorifics are not necessary with full names 115
Write for the audience 116
Write for the rhythm of speech 116
Read your copy out loud to check it 116
Try to make the intro as self-contained as possible 117
Think about where you place key details in a lead 118
The voicer/voice-over needs to have its own coherent beginning 118
A story for broadcast needs a conclusion 119
Spelling and punctuation matter 119
Take care with the placement of time references 120
Pronouns can be confusing 120
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Contents • ix
Quoting other people 121
Throwing to a soundbite 121
Telemation 124
Quoting in indirect speech 125
Balance and fairness in scripting 125
Over-dramatised copy 125
People like us … 125
Avoid clichés 127
Common errors 127
Avoid poor taste 129
Writing for online delivery 129
Headlines 130
Opening pars 130
If you want to read more ... 130
8
Constructing the story 131
Writing to time 131
Sequencing events in a broadcast story 132
Different ways of telling a story 132
Writing with sound and pictures 133
A picture medium 134
Scripting techniques 135
Library pictures 138
Sound effects 139
Using effects with archival pictures 141
Reenactments and reaction shots 141
Overcoming the restrictions of single-camera coverage 142
Seeing is believing 142
9
Narrating and presenting 144
Copy layout 145
Tips for improving delivery 146
Pronunciation 147
Common pronunciation errors 148
Common speech errors 148
Different presentation styles 149
Voicing and presentation tips 150
Looking after your voice 151
Dealing with errors 151
