A checklist aimed primarily at broadcast journalists and visual storytellers

1. The Ten Point Checklist for Writers
Michael Castengera

2. #1 - First – The Lead
• Grab Their Attention
• Make Them Want to Watch
• Make Them Want to Listen
• Make Them Want to Read

3. #2 – Second –
The Opening Shot
• Again – Grab Their Attention
• Make It Real
• Make It Come Alive
• Establishes the Story
• Storyboard

4. #3 - – Third
The First Words
• They Must Match What the Person
Is Seeing
• They Must Reinforce the Image
• In Broadcast, What They Hear is as
Important as What They See
• Again - Storyboard

5. #4 - Fourth
First Soundbite / Interview
• It Must Be A “Real” Person
• NOT An Official
• Look for the Emotional
• Connection
• Makes Them Want to Stay

6. #5 - Fifth –
Create Visual Flow
• Make The Pictures / Video Connect
• Follow the ‘Old Rule’ –
o WS – MS – CU - ECU
• It Helps The Story Line
• Storyboard

7. #6 - Sixth –
Match Words and Video
• What You Say Must Be What They
See
• Viewer Sees One Thing and Hears
Another – There is a Disconnect
• They Lose Attention. They Lost
Interest.
• Applies to Graphics / Pictures too

8. #7 - Seventh –
Other Soundbites - Quotes
• Must Be Emotive
• Not Fact Statements
• You Tell the Facts
• They Tell The Story
• Storyboard

9. #8 – Eighth
Natural Sound
• Gives them a Sense of Being There
• Underneath All The Time
• Up Full Sometimes
• Also Provides Transition

10. #9 - Ninth –
The Closing Shot
• Gives A Sense of Conclusion
• Brings The Story to An End
• Doesn’t Leave Them Hanging
• The Classic --

11. #10 – Tenth
The Last Words
• Again – Gives A Sense of Conclusion
• Brings The Story to an End
• They Echo What the Viewer is
Seeing
• Fulfills – Beginning, Middle, End

12. The Ten Point Checklist for Writers
Michael Castengera

13. The Ten Point Checklist for Writers
Michael Castengera