BBC Three 60 Second News1st March 2015

www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkMeZ1OryBo

The 60 second news report begins very quickly with only a slight sound from the title sequence to mark the start of the bulletin (this is an effective use of sound on tape (SOT)). We are introduced to the presenter with a mid-shot and at first sight we can see he is dressed

very casually and is relatively young – this is effective in drawing in the target audience of young people as he fits in with the stereotypical description of them (males and females approximately 16-30). On screen, we can immediately see the BBC Three logo in a bug on the top right hand corner of the screen (following typical conventions of a news report/bulletin) and also we can see the ticker at

the bottom of the screen. The depth of focus in this mid-shot of the presenter is relatively shallow; as we can see him very clearly meanwhile the montage of stock images on multiple screens in the background are blurred. This is effective as it focuses our current attention on what the reporter is saying. There is a clear house style here as the 60 second report contains a majority of purple/pink

colour (which matches the BBC Thee logo) and perhaps connotes a relaxed, modern type of news as it is less serious than BBC News; yet has a modern and young edge to it.

After a very short and fast 3 second introduction to the news bulletin, the camera cuts swiftly to a breaking news of the day; the French Alps plane crash. We are shown a mid-shot of another report and also stock images and footage of the crash – some of

the images being picture feeds which the BBC have used from previous news reports earlier in the day; thus beginning the news belt of BBC Three. Showing these as well as having sound on tape with an out of vision shot helps to speed up the report whilst being able to report effectively with enough information for the target audience to understand the subject. Also notable, we see

the ticker begin to subtitle what the presenter is saying on the sound on tape; helping to superimpose the news story for the audience.

The next news subject is again quickly transitioned through a cut to two different mid-shots shots displaying another worldwide breaking news subject. Again, the BBC has used picture feeds to help deliver the news story as effectively and efficiently as

possible. With the sound on tape in the out of vision shot continuing, the presenter is talking us through the news story alongside the ticker delivering a different news story to us, as there isn’t enough time in the 60 seconds to deliver both through the presenter. This is a very clever technique as all of the news of the day is delivered to the target audience within the fastest time frame possible. Also, the news including stock footage and picture feeds are being presented in animated picture frames

of modern media technologies – such as mobiles and tablets – displaying clear technological convergence, as well as connecting with the target audience as the younger generation is associated with advanced technology such as iPhones and

tablets.

With the same pattern being followed, the camera cuts to another news story based in the UK. The ticker has also changed to another subject – this time being football – again, helping the target audience to take in as much of the news of the day as

possible without taking up too much time. The shot is again a sound on tape following an out of vision as the presenter delivers the news on screen to us, The ‘bug’ logo of BBC Three at the top right hand corner of the screen has a clear timer travelling

across the top of the screen; making it clear to us how much of the report has been delivered and how much is let to come. Thus, it’s clear that the reporter is delivering the news effectively and quickly, and that he is running to time. In this still, we also see a

name super of the reporter on the picture feed and also a link to twitter and social networks, therefore widening the target audience.

The camera cuts to the final story that we see; which is a light hearted, funny story to end the report on a light note as BBC Three is an upbeat and not a particularly serious channel – this helps to regain the light hearted and comedic mood by countering the serious topics from the beginning (as it is a break from the animated comedy show ‘Family Guy’ and they wouldn’t want to lose their target audience). The running order here is interesting, as the more serious and perhaps upsetting or dramatic stories are aired first which also follows Galtung and Ruge’s theory of news values by ranking the stories in order of significance. As we can

see, the picture feeds of stock footage is shown in the bigger tablet frame in comparison to the stock footage of the mid-shot of a different news reporter – this is effective as we can focus on the sound on tape voiceover from our BBC Three presenter whilst

also viewing the stock footage of the actual news story in an easier, comfortable view.

The news report ends and rounds off by cutting back to the news reporter in a mid-shot. Re-emphasizing his image; he is dressed smart-casual, which suggests that BBC Three is delivering important (and sometimes serious) world news, however the target audience for this 60 second news broadcast is more relaxed and hence the time of the report is very limited to adapt to the preferences of the young target audience. As well as this, the presenter has an inviting image as his body language is warm

and welcoming (especially with his direct mode of address whilst smiling). The BBC Three logo in a bug is again clear; re-emphasizing the brand identity as well as bringing to our attention the timer – the target audience can clearly see that the news bulletin is running to time. The ticker at the bottom of the screen also rounds off, by finishing the sentence of the last news story

and reminding the target audience of when the next 60 second report is.

The final images of the BBC Three 60 second bulletin is rounded off with a cut to a full title sequence with both sound effects and the 60 seconds logo (as well as the BBC News logo). The flashing timer around the ‘60’ is eye-catching and effective, as it

flashes in sync to the time at which the sound effects are played. The mixture of purple colours in the logo is also intriguing as it catches the eye of the target audience as well as matching the house style of ‘BBC Three’ being purple; a less formal colour

without carrying too many childish connotations and it’s also a gender neutral colour, which is very fitting for the target audience.