About the Book

Broadcast News in the Digital Age is the go-to guide for undergraduate journalism students and early-career professionals. The authors guide readers through the modern digital TV newsroom with detailed examples of how to become proficient, conversational writers, creative producers, respected anchors, thoughtful and productive storytellers, and ethical journalists both on-air and online. Included QR codes allow the students to click to see and hear examples of the stories they are learning to write.

While most journalism textbooks are theory-based and written in a formal, academic style, this book is written in a conversational, upbeat tone that keeps the student reader engaged. It is a one-on-one conversation that is a practical guide that students may refer to throughout their entire career. It gives specific examples of how journalists worked through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020/2021, and covered emotional and dangerous social injustice stories.

The objective of this book is to help the reader look beyond the traditional who, what, when, where, and why and answer the how and what’s next. The authors provide step-by-step instructions on how to efficiently multitask while staying true to journalist ethics. This book provides a network of industry professionals who mentor students while sharing the lessons they learned, the mistakes they made along the way, and the reasons why they feel privileged to be in this career.

Chapter 1: Meet the Newsroom Team

Before we walk into the newsroom and begin writing, we introduce the reader to all of the jobs related to creating a TV newscast or digital news. Readers will meet the assignment editor, TV news producer, digital content producer, reporter/MMJ, photographer, video editor, news anchor, weather anchor, sports anchor, newscast director, executive producer, and news director. Each news professional mentor will offer tools, anecdotes, and advice based on their years of experience. Throughout the book, these (and more) mentors help the reader better understand the job and expectations of each position and share what they find rewarding about this career. The reader will also get a brief overview of the other departments in a TV station – sales, promotions, human resources, and engineering.

Chapter 2: Finding and Pitching Good Stories

This chapter teaches the reader how to research stories, determine a story’s newsworthiness, look for a central character, find the story focus, and pitch that story in the newsroom editorial meeting. Readers learn about the importance of staying current by reading and watching a lot of different sources of news. It also emphasizes the importance of getting to know your community. This chapter addresses the 5 W’s and focuses on traditional and updated news values, explaining their role in rating the newsworthiness of a story. We go through the step-by-step process of pitching a story and also discuss the power of the ‘sell’ — how to sell your story to newsroom management. Also included in this chapter is an introduction to different types of interviews including the man or person on the street (MOS or POS) interviews, active interviews, and the importance of diversity and balance in stories and interviews.

Chapter 3: Broadcast Newswriting Fundamentals

This chapter introduces the reader to broadcast and digital newsgathering. We begin with a discussion of what news is, why we write as we speak, and how broadcast news writing is different from other genres. Readers will see a lot of examples that show how different this type of scriptwriting is, and why broadcasters write in a conversational style —for the ear. This chapter drives home the importance of working on and meeting deadlines as well as critical grammar and punctuation reminders. We show the specific differences between broadcast and digital news writing with examples of contractions, punctuation, quotes and attribution, active voice, pronouncers, and numbers. Readers will learn about the “now, new, next” mantra. Also included in this chapter is background on the TelePrompTer and news rating periods.

Chapter 4: Tips and Tricks to Good Writing

Words matter. This chapter reviews common errors in style, grammar, and punctuation and provides a list of words that can easily replace passive, jargon-filled words. It also explores literary devices that can help spice up a story, keeping it active and conversational. A brief section of our “No, no, no words-list” will be included including more conversational replacement words. A full list is in the Appendix.

Chapter 5: Real-World Lessons

This section focuses on information that can help students avoid embarrassing or fireable mistakes as they begin their career. Being that journalists must be well versed in a lot of different fields, these lessons introduce the reader to reporting techniques for stories about police, fire, crime, the law, government, the military, politics, and brands.

Chapter 6: Interviewing

Just ‘winging it’ is not the best advice in doing interviews. Instead, the reader learns how to prepare for an interview by researching the topic and the individual. We demonstrate techniques that help interviewers connect with their subjects with style and substance. The reader will learn the power of staying silent, listening, and asking open-ended questions. Mentors in this chapter address challenging interviews and give examples of what to do when interviewing a person in a time of grief, in emotionally charged situations like protests, or when the interviewee is being manipulative or deceitful. More interviews are now being conducted over video chat apps instead of in person, so the reader also learns how to make these memorable and visually appealing.

Chapter 7: The VO

We update traditional broadcast news writing with the step-by-step process of using video to drive the writing and writing to drive the editing. This chapter addresses the importance of having plenty of video and pad to never go to black on-air and how crucial natural sound is to every piece of video. Video is not always available, so this chapter shows how different visuals can be used in storytelling from maps, over the shoulder and full-screen graphics to the use of props.

Chapter 8: The VOSOT

When an interview is added to a story it’s called Sound On Tape. This chapter covers the process of writing a story to include an interview and how to choose the best interview. The reader will get the opportunity to watch examples of these memorable, character-driven interviews through QR codes embedded in this chapter. Writing into and out of these interviews is an exercise in creative yet clear writing. This chapter offers numerous examples on how to do that, as well as examples on how to parlay that interview into a compelling digital story.

Chapter 9: The Package (PKG) and Multimedia Journalist (MMJ)

We detail the process of putting together the fully voiced reporter story from logging, writing, and recording the voice track to editing. Numerous script and video examples will be accessible to the reader through QR codes including links to see how to create a compelling stand-up that can be used on the resume reel. We explain the skills a reporter, MMJ, or solo journalist needs to do the job well including time management, efficient workflow, and a technique known as “back timing the day.” We also discuss the so-called “go bag” and journalist toolbox.

Chapter 10: Shooting and Editing Video

This chapter will give the reader tools for getting quality video and sound–the foundation for broadcast and digital news video stories. Photographs will exemplify the how-to lessons on shooting sequences, the 180-degree rule, jump cuts, framing shots, gathering natural sound, lighting, and putting the microphone on interviewees. This chapter’s mentor photojournalists give examples on how to anticipate the action and the importance of including reaction. They also give time-saving tips on how to organize video and sound to make editing a creative and powerful storytelling process.

Chapter 11: Producing the Broadcast Newscast

Producers are some of the most sought-after newsroom positions. This chapter shows how a producer can and must lead a newsroom, build a rundown that becomes a meaningful textured newscast, inspire reporters and editors to create crucial segments of the broadcast, and work with anchors to create a compelling, conversational newscast. The mentors here share their creative mindset and a few tips and tricks when breaking news changes a whole day’s planning and work. The reader learns the difference between newscasts based on the time they air and how to create a flow between stories. But it’s far more than stacking stories one right after another. This chapter gives examples of how a producer can and should include perspective, community connection, and forwarding information. The reader also gets a lesson in tease writing with examples of effective and wasteful teases and learns the importance of keeping viewers through commercial breaks in markets that use overnight ratings services.

Chapter 12: Producing for Digital and Social Media

Digital and social media producers are also in high demand in this current market. We begin this section with tips on web producing and using social media to drive viewers to a station’s website. Included are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube best practices; and examples of turning a broadcast script into compelling digital packages and web stories. The mentors in this chapter help the reader use OTT (Over The Top) streaming services and social media as a reporting and promotion tool; and create a professional digital and social brand using trends and analytics. This chapter also shows the dos and dont’s of social media influencing – where there’s a journalistic place for it and where it can stain or destroy a person’s integrity in news.

Chapter 13: Storytelling — Taking It To the Next Level

This chapter helps the journalist graduate from the traditional 5 W’s and move into the deeper perspective of character-driven stories for both broadcast and digital. This includes entertainment, sports, and weather reporting that goes beyond basic statistics and digs down to show how an engaging memorable story can be turned in one day. The mentor advice in this chapter comes from two journalists who have over 100 Emmy® accolades to their work and an Edward R. Murrow winning sports reporter who gives step-by-step tips on putting sports stories and sports blocks together. A network photojournalist gives tips on using drones in storytelling.

Chapter 14: Live Reporting

The best live reporters make the job look so easy. Beginners know it is not. This chapter will cover the important process of how to begin and succinctly end a live shot, how to take the viewer on a journey, and know the differences in doing so on broadcast and mobile mediums.

This chapter’s mentors offer tips and tricks to a great live shot as well as a story or two when things did not go so well and how those mistakes offered important opportunities for growth. The reader also learns how to stay safe when reporting live at protests, how to balance personal feelings with professional unbiased reporting, and gets a simple breaking news checklist that can help any reporter know what to say when facts are limited.

Chapter 15: Newscast Anchor

This chapter guides the reader through specific preparation and presentation for being live on-air and online teaching the reader to be interactive, extemporaneous, and adlib confidently and succinctly. This chapter also helps the reader take care of the voice, learn to use proper tone, tempo, and breath while understanding the psychology of on-camera performance. Looks play a part too in on-air performance, so the mentors in this chapter will also give specifics on makeup, hair, clothing, body language, and engaging with the public. Here, too, the power of being an influencer is addressed with examples of how an anchor can be a voice in times of social injustice. Both sports and weather anchor mentors in this chapter also share their advice on how to gather and perform under tight time constraints. Our weather mentor tells of how her quick thinking during a tornado saved lives but made some viewers angry because their favorite TV comedy was interrupted for this breaking news.

Chapter 16: Ethics, Law and Deciphering Fake from Fact

This section guides the reader through the important, ethical, truthful decision-making in journalism. The First Amendment, fake news, open and closed courtrooms, defamation, open record sources, and other speed traps will be covered here with many examples to help the reader clearly see through what can often be an expansive grey area of truth and responsibility. This chapter’s mentors and resources help make what some refer to as a dry, boring topic compelling and useful. A media law cheat sheet will also be included here.

Chapter 17: Getting That Job

Do I need an internship to get a job? What if my social media feed is less than professional? This chapter will answer those questions and explain how to build a professional digital brand and network with important industry organizations. Readers will also learn how to make a demo ‘reel,’ website, and resume that impresses bosses and gets people jobs. They also learn about the next step – the interview and contract negotiating process along with how to start that new career. Mentor advice comes from news directors, talent agents, recruiters, and long-time news professionals. A contact list for networking and journalism organizations and references will be included. All of the book’s mentors share a final thought about what they love about this career at the end of the chapter.

Meet the Authors

Faith Sidlow

Faith Sidlow is an award-winning broadcast journalist and associate professor of broadcast journalism. She worked as a reporter, anchor and producer for the Fresno NBC affiliate for 28 years before transitioning to academia. Her early broadcast career included radio reporter and board operator at KPBS-FM, San Diego; San Diego reporter for KNX News Radio, Los Angeles; and research intern for CBS News in London.

Faith oversees the broadcast multiplatform journalism option at Fresno State including the student-produced TV newscast. She is the faculty adviser for Fresno State RTDNA and 90.7 KFSR. Faith’s students have won regional and national awards from the Associated Press Television and Radio Association (APTRA), Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the Broadcast Education Association (BEA), International Broadcast System and the CSU Media Arts Festival.

Faith’s professional and academic awards include the Provost’s Award for Promising New Faculty, Broadcast Education Association, RTNA Golden Mike, Associated Press Mark Twain, RTDNA Edward R. Murrow, Best of the West, three Emmy nominations, the St. Francis Award, and the California Bar Association’s Silver Medallion. Faith is an inductee into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for making a significant contribution to Northern California television for more than 25 years.

Kim Stephens

Kim Stephens is an Edward R. Murrow and Emmy® award-winning journalist with 33 years of broadcast news experience. She is also a college professor. She began her career in 1988 producing, writing, editing and anchoring the morning news cut-ins at KERO-TV in Bakersfield, California.
After working at WBIR-TV, HGTV, and WVLT-TV in Knoxville, Tennessee, NBC Bay Area in San Jose, California Kim now anchors and reports for the live five-hour morning broadcast Great Day at KMPH-TV in Fresno, California.

In each TV market, Kim also worked as a telethon co-host for MDA, local children’s hospitals, fire departments, U.S. Parks Service and Saint Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She moderates live political shows and special reports, emcees many community events and served as a board member for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) for ten years.
Kim’s been recognized with numerous professional awards including the Governors’ Citation and Governors’ Service Medallion from the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, “Kim Stephens Day” by the CA State Assembly and Best of Fresno by readers of The Fresno Bee. Kim is an inductee into the Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for her distinguished work in the Northern California television industry and community for more than 25 years.
Kim is also an adjunct professor teaching broadcast news writing, on-air performance and broadcast reporting and production at California State University, Fresno.