170 likes | 316 Views
Chapter 12. Broadcast journalism: the world’s town crier. Introduction - aims of this lecture are to help you understand:. Some basic concepts of media convergence The ABC Broadcast history Codes of conduct and broadcast regulation Radio and television news reporting Broadcast terminology.
E N D
Chapter 12 Broadcast journalism: the world’s town crier
Introduction - aims of this lecture are to help you understand: • Some basic concepts of media convergence • The ABC • Broadcast history • Codes of conduct and broadcast regulation • Radio and television news reporting • Broadcast terminology
Broadcast journalists • Often start as print journalists • Their enemy is time – stories are short • Adept at matching sound and visuals • Less skill than other journalists – keep it simple? • They often set the day’s news agenda • Broadcast journalists as ‘warmer’/more trustworthy?
The ABC • First radio broadcast in 1932, a news editor appointed 1934. ABC TV in 1956 • Solid growth - 94 ABC radio stations by 1982 • ABA Act 1946 – ABC independent news - journalists expected to be impartial • ABC set the benchmark for journalistic standards, still most trusted media company • Funding issues/alleged bias
Other broadcast landmarks: • ABC’s Four Corners - Australia’s first national current affairs program • SBS launched 1978 • Both public service broadcasters have a self-regulatory code of practice • Cross-media ownership laws introduced in 1987 prohibited newspaper, radio, and television proprietors in the same city from holding more than a 15 per cent interest in each other.
Regulation • Airwaves as public property ‘managed’ on behalf of the broadcasters • Radio & TV licensed by the ACMA, fines of up to $A200,000 can be imposed for breaches • Broadcast & Internet codes • Pay TV has an additional regulator called ASTRA
Chequebook journalism • ACMA has no policy on chequebook journalism • Payment for exclusive stories • Do payments affect objectivity? • The right to know if a media outlet paid the interviewee • Commercial television and women’s magazines the main culprits
News values, television style • Words and pictures compliment each other • Leave a lasting impression (the main pint of the story) – signposting • Presentation affected by audience expectations • News affected by supporting material • Strong images often air first
Audiences • Large audience numbers = high ratings, high ratings = good advertising revenue • ABC runs more ‘serious’ stories than its commercial rivals? • Commercial news/entertainment nexus • Commercial current affairs programs rely on sensationalism and emotion, not in-depth research?
Reporting for radio • Trendsetters for original stories? • Radio reporters make snap decisions about news values and what to air • Intros are very important • Content has to be well edited • Storylines regularly updated – what has happened since first bulletin • Good voice skills required
Common speech problems: • Speaking too slowly or quickly • Emphasising the wrong words • Limited vocal range • Tones that are nasal, or lacking in richness • Stumbling over words • Breathlessness, or breathing loudly • Sounding unnatural
Key broadcast definitions: • Voicer or voice-over – what the reporter writes and speaks, live or recorded • Actuality – natural sounds/voice of interviewee • Grab/soundbite/talking head – comment from an interviewee • Lead – first paragraph, sets context • Intro – summary often read before video • Talent – person being interviewed
Key broadcast definitions: • Throw – introducing the reporter or talent • Sign-off – completes the package • Worder – script read by newsreader, no visuals • Reader copy – script read by the presenter • Wrap – two or more stories packaged together
Broadcast writing style • About three words per second • …indicates a pause • Use capital letters for names of people or organisations • Underline or capitalise for emphasis • Present tense • Write the way people speak • Short sentences, 10 to 20 words
Television terminology • Cutaway – brief close-up • Close-ups/CU/one shot – tightly framed shot of the interviewee • Two-shot – shows both the reporter and the talent • Noddy – a shot of the reporter nodding, as if listening
The newsroom • Television journalists often involved in production process: • they may review recordings and select video footage • Footage time coded and labelled • Digital editing, audio and visual mixing • Radio and TV newsrooms have editing and writing software
The power of television • Television was the twentieth century’s town crier • It influences communities • Combines words and images for maximum impact • Gives journalism a glamorous image? • Embedded journalists • Footage from citizen-journalists