WCC COMM 106 5 basic tv story forms LUTHER

1. Multimedia Journalism COMM 106
BASIC TV NEWS STORY FORMS

2. 5 BASIC STORY FORMS
The READER
The VO
The VO/SOT
The REPORTER PACKAGE
The DONUT PACKAGE

3. THE READER
 Text only – no video, no sound on tape but
may incorporate FULL SCREEN Graphics like
a map or still photo
 Beginning Writers/Producers’ jobs
 Very little production value – you might have
an OTS (Over The Shoulder) Graphic
 Readers are always very short stories
 But are deemed important enough to run w/o
video or sound

4. THE READER (VIDEO
EXAMPLE)

5. THE VO: VOICE-OVERS
The VO: VOICE-OVERS
(videographics – read by anchor)
Any story the anchor reads that also
uses video – the voice is heard
“over” the visuals
Write directly to the visuals – the
anchor talks about what we’re
seeing while we’re seeing it

6. THE VO (VIDEO EXAMPLE)

7. THE VO/SOT: VOICE-OVERS/SOUND
ON TAPE
 The VO/SOT: VOICE-OVERS/SOUND
ON TAPE (video + sound bite(s) – read
by anchor)
 Any story the anchor reads that begins
with visuals but also has a SOT sound
bite(s) included
 SOT/sound bite = brief snippet of an
interview edited to follow a certain
amount of video/visuals/voiceover

8. THE VO/SOT (VIDEO EXAMPLE)

9. THE REPORTER PACKAGE
 The REPORTER PACKAGE (video + sound +
narration presented by reporter but he or she is NOT
present live and does NOT interact with the
anchor(s) even though he or she might be taped in
the studio)
 Always involves reporters and are packaged, fully
self-contained pieces for your show
 Anchors read track for READERS, VOs, VO/SOTs,
and the “lead-ins” and “tags” to PACKAGES while the
REPORTER does the actual package narration
 First story type we’ve discussed that features a
reporter rather than an anchor

10. THE REPORTER PACKAGE
Usually features a “stand-up” –
when the reporter appears on-
camera in the field and delivers
some information/narration
The Reporter’s chance for
face/screen time
The audience can now identify the
reporter

11. THE REPORTER PACKAGE
Complicated and detailed script that
incorporates visuals, SOTs, other
audio and NAT(ural) sounds into
one finished news story “package”
Large job – usually one package per
shift for reporter/producer

12. THE REPORTER (VIDEO EXAMPLE)

13. THE DONUT PACKAGE
 The DONUT PACKAGE (reporter package +
reporter is LIVE on scene or in the studio AND
interacts with the anchor(s) about the story)
 A reporter delivers the Intro and Tag to
package live
 Often no stand-up in a donut piece
 Reporter talks with anchor about the story
before and/or after it rolls
 Involves both the anchor and the reporter
more fully in the story – can be very

14. THE DONUT PACKAGE (VIDEO
EXAMPLE)

15. PRINTED BROADCAST SCRIPTS
All are divided in half vertically
LEFT HALF: TECHNICAL
DETAILS/INSTRUCTIONS
RIGHT HALF ANCHOR/REPORTER
TRACK
The more complicated the story, the
more complicated the script
Many examples found in book

16. PRINTED BROADCAST SCRIPTS

17. 5 BASIC STORY FORMS
 5 BASIC TV NEWS STORY FORMS:
 The READER: (no video but may have full-screen graphics
– read by anchor)
 The VO: VOICE-OVERS (videographics – read by anchor)
 The VO/SOT: VOICE-OVERS/SOUND ON TAPE (video +
sound bite(s) – read by anchor)
 The REPORTER PACKAGE (video + sound + narration
presented by reporter but he or she is NOT present live and
does NOT interact with the anchor(s) even though he or
she might be taped in the studio)
 The DONUT PACKAGE (reporter package + the reporter is
LIVE on scene or in the studio AND interacts with the
anchor(s) about the story)

18. TV STORY IN-CLASS QUIZ
Watch 10 news videos
Identify each story as requested as
one of the 5 types discussed today
in class in this format:
STORY TOPIC
STORY FORM TYPE

19. FUN IN-CLASS EXERCISE
WATCH THIS NEWSCAST
AND IDENTIFY THE BASIC
TV NEWS STORY FORMS
USED

20. LOOKING AHEAD…
TV Story Form
Blackboard QUIZ