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Television Production & Broadcast Journalism
process and organize the information, and give facts to viewers in the most
understandable way. Viewers then make their own decisions and form
their own opinions.
Visualize This
Today is April 15—Federal Tax Day. A reporter does a story about
people who wait until the last minute to fi le their taxes. Video for the story
includes a long line of cars waiting to get into the parking lot of the post
offi ce, which is completely full. The reporter simply reports that taxes are
due and does a human interest piece with video of people who waited until
the last minute to fi le. Included may be man-on-the-street interviews with a
few drivers commenting on why they waited until the last minute to fi le.
The reporter does not launch into an opinion piece about taxes being
too high, blaming all the ills of the country on the current
administration, and suggesting that citizens rebel by not
paying their taxes at all. It is unacceptable and unprofessional
for reporters to present their own opinion in a news story.