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Television Production & Broadcast Journalism
Finding Stories
It may be difficult to imagine how reporters can fi nd stories to write
about day after day. Whether in a small town of 1000 people or a metropoli-
tan area of 2 million people, local television stations manage to run news
programs with new stories several times a day. Stories are out there for a
reporter to fi nd. In determining if a story is newsworthy, ask yourself:
• Is there some conflict in the story to sustain viewer interest?
• Is the story unusual?
• Is someone well-known involved in the story?
• Is there a segment of the audience that will be impacted by the story?
• Can the story be brought “home” to the local audience?
• Does the story include emotion or human interest aspects?
Reporters have a well-rounded base of general knowledge, are particu-
larly aware of their immediate surrounding environment (local government
and politics, locations and geography, various agencies, current issues affecting
the local population), and understand which topics of public interest motivate,
excite, worry, and concern the audience. Reporters listen, read, watch, and ask
questions. Remember: Who? What? When? Where? How? A reporter should
always be thinking, “What is the story?” Anytime there is a lively conversa-
tion in the reporter’s vicinity, he should be alert to the topic and recognize it as
a possible story idea. It doesn’t matter if people involved in the conversation
are arguing, laughing, sharing, or discussing; if those people are interested in
talking about something, it is a potential story. Also, any story or program on
television is a possible springboard for a local story.
Production Note
People are often somewhat self-centered—interested only
in what they are interested in. An effective reporter must be
interested in what other people are interested in, and be able to
recognize and develop those topics.
Figure 10-1. A reporter must manage the entire process of writing a news story.
Find the
Story
A local retail
plaza
prepares for
the first
official day of
holiday
shopping.
Edit the
Story
Produce the
completed
story
according to
the script,
with reporter
track, primary
video, and
B-roll.
Write the
Script
Write and
record
reporter track.
Organize shot
sequence.
Note big As
and little As in
footage.
Log Video
Comments
from:
• Retail plaza
manager
• Retail store
manager
• Temp staff
members
B-roll with nat
sound.
Identify the Angle
Hiring temp staff for
sales, security, and
maintenance with hope
of increased holiday
spending.
Research
• Seasonal staffing
increase statistics.
• Holiday sales history.
• Post-holiday layoff
statistics.