TV NewsMaking Awesome Newscasts

Aaron Wissner

wissnera@wayland.k12.mi.us

www.iammea.org/wayland

www.wayland.k12.mi.us/wms/staff/wissnera/

Please Write Answer on Paper!

• What do you want from me?

• I really need to know so I can tailor this presentation for you.

Introductions - Please Sign Sheet

• Who am I?

• Who are you?

• What do I know?

• What do you want?

• Am I going to tell you?

What is most important?

• Writing?• Narrating?• Cover shots?• News values?• Fun factor?• Audio quality?• Video quality?• Pace?

How to start?

• Why are you doing this?

• What do you want to accomplish?

• What are your goals?

• Get administrative support - GT argument

• Drum up staff & student interest

What is News?

• Interesting Facts about People makes News.

• News Triangle

What makes it interesting?

• Timeliness• Proximity• Impact/Consequence• Sex

• Drama• Oddity• Conflict• Progress

Basic Equipment

Bare Bones• TV• Camcorder

Better• TV• Digital camcorder• Computer• Editing Software

Our Equipment

• 3 Digital Camcorders• 3 Editing Computers• 2 TVs (for monitors)• 2 VCRs• 1 Microphone• 1 Audio/Video Mixer• 6 Headsets• 1 Schoolwide Broadcast Setup

Team Structure

• Meet during last 25 minutes - 2/week

• After school for 1 hour every day - students vary based on schedule

• Team leaders - lunch 2/week

• Rehearsal for 45 min before school 1/week

• Broadcast at end of day

Overall Structure

• Every student learns & does every job

• Rotation all students follow

• Number jobs = Number students

• Students audition

• Students sign a contract

• Every job has a description and checklist

• Live show = more real experience & deadline

Jobs

• Reporter• Editor• Photographer• Slide Show Artist• Videographer

• Tape Tech• Mixing Tech• Host• Newscaster• Videographer

Who are students?

• 8th & 7th grade interested in acting or TV

• Some high level - gifted

• Some outgoing - some quiet

• Occasional special education

• Some experiences in 6th or 5th grade

12 Week Outline

• 1 week of training - writing, reporting, video

• 11 weeks of projects

• New show every 2 days

• 45-50 minutes in class

• Allow extra time for bottlenecks - capturing, rendering, etc.

• Have all projects due 2 days before show

• Rehearsals with only live crew

Sequence

• PowerPoint Intro

• Hosts

• Newscast with Chroma

• Hosts

• Reports

• Hosts

• PowerPoint Credits

Reporter Tips

• Know what your report is about

• First gather all of your facts

• Write the report in a conversational tone

• Have an adult help edit the report

• Write questions for 2 to 4 interviews

• Storyboard for good cover shots

• Record interviews, reports & cover shot

Videographer Tips

• Use a tape log

• Check battery and tape position

• Find a very quiet location

• Get close - don’t film toward windows

• Do not zoom & do not pan

• Record 5 seconds before and after each shot

• Monitor sound level through headphones

Editor Tips

• Capture all video - use tape logs to find it

• ex. 52news0231438pennywars20040310

• First, edit narration/report

• Second, insert good interview clips

• Third, delete/replace reporter with cover shots that agree with the narration

• Have others & an adult listen and look

• Adjust the audio level & Make to final form

Photographer Tips

• Take pics of PEOPLE doing things• Get all different people• Get close• Hold camera very still• Don’t shoot toward windows• Take lots and lots of shots• Load the pics on the computer• Name folders and pictures

Slide Show Artist Tips

• Less is More• One or two pictures• Crop the pictures• One WordArt caption• One to three clip arts or AutoShapes• Make everything very big and bright• Stay positive• Make 12 - 15 slides

Newscaster Tips

• Find new interesting, timely facts

• Prepare news slides for chromakey

• Make script brief and to the point

• Practice, practice, practice!

• Smile, smile, smile!

Hosts Tips

• Smile, smile, smile!

• Be warm, kind, and inviting

• Stay on target: introduce & wrap reports

• Practice, practice, practice with co-host

• Look into the camera

• Be prepared for technical problems

• Make it big! One segment per page!

Mixing Technician Tips

• Practice a lot with an earlier show

• Get comfortable with all the buttons

• Rehearse the chroma key effect

• Press buttons firmly at a steady pace

• Monitor sound through headphones

• Know the sequence

• Don’t jump too early

Tape Technician Tips

• Have all segments in order on 1 master tape

• Practice pausing and un-pausing

• Make sure hosts have same order

• Pay attention to mixer

• Monitor sound level through headphones

• Label all tapes - help update tape logs

Director Reminders

• Test all equipment

• Have music video tape to test the system

• Check for good sound from all sources

• Help mixing tech and other live crew

• Be confident, calm, and warm during show

• Have all recordings ready to go

Webmaster Role

• Takes all segments and edits tightly

• Makes for web

• Makes for DVD

• Takes 3 to 4 hours at first

How to maintain & improve?

• Keep accurate up to date tape logs

• Each student 3 pluses & 3 wishes for each show

• Explain jobs and rotation clearly

• Be very well prepared

• Team leaders to bring issues

Money Problems?

• Use videotaping to make $$$

• Ex. Concert DVDs $9 and Videos $7

• Take tons of Pictures

• Year in Pictures CD-ROM $5

Teaching Tips

• Be clear

• Make it fun

• Know exactly what you want

• Clearly outline the boundaries

• Clearly describe the choices available

What is most important?

• Writing?• Narrating?• Cover shots?• News values?• Fun factor?• Audio quality?• Video quality?• Pace?

TV NewsMaking Awesome Newscasts

Aaron Wissner

wissnera@wayland.k12.mi.us

www.iammea.org/wayland

www.wayland.k12.mi.us/wms/staff/wissnera/