An Introduction to the News

1. An Introduction to the News
For this task I watched the BBC News at 10pm (30th
June 2016, BBC One). In the starting sequence
of the news programme it opens with a mid/long shot of Sophie Raworth (48, Female) at her desk
(Duringwhichthe iconicBBC newsaudioeffectplaystograbviewers’ attention) giving an overview
of the big news stories which the footage changes
between different videos relating to these stories. E.g.
BorisJohnson drops out of running for PMof London. The
footage washimleavinghishome thenapressconference
of him announcing it with diegetic audio. The visual has
been shown to inform the audience of what’s happened
with factual proof as
well asthe soundeffectbeingusedtograbthe viewers’attention
and to show them first hand footage of the big news stories.
These have beenusedtograb theirattentionaswell as to quickly
show an overview of the stories for the program. Furthermore,
the Visual changesallowsthe presenter Sophie Raworth to move
across the studio present/talk about the news off camera before the end of the overview of news
stories.
News Story Order
Boris Johnson announces that he will not be running for PM.
Michael Gove announces he will run for PMdespite saying he would not. Then interview with
Laura Kuenssberg.
Theresa May announces and says that she will run for PM
Then Laura speaks about other minor political people who will run/or not run for PM
Governorof the Bankof Englandtalksabouthow the EU referendumaffected the banks and how
it’ll continue to affect them.
JeremyCorbanandhis loss of power in the Labour Party and how the MP’s that left him are now
running for Labour Leadership.
Battle of the Somme Remembrance
Wimbledon Tennis Results/story
Boris and Michael Power battle for PM
Sophie Raworth after the overview is standing by monitors to
show details of the people of the new report (Running for PM
conservatives). She talks about the details about what all 3
potential candidatesare doingthenshe passesonthe story to the
political editorLauraKuenssberg(40,Female) whotalksaboutthe
firstfourstorieslistedabove before the visualscut back to Sophie
Raworthin the studio.She talksaboutBorisJohnsonsgreatestvictory followed by his embarrassing
withdrawal forPM.She thenhands the storyoverto JamesLandell (45,Male) who givescoverage on
the subject. We then go back to the studio where we see Sophie at her desk turn to speak to Laura
(Live feed on a TV monitor). During this Sophie is looking at TV screen whilst Laura is talking to the
camera with the live feed to the studio. (Which it cuts to show full
screen).They discuss the Boris and Michael situation about running for
PM. Before discussinghow theseeventsbenefittedTheresaMay.Aswell
as the DailyMail backingher.Afterthisitcuts back to the mid/long shot

2. of Sophie turningbackroundtoface the camera. To which she then tells viewers that they can find
out the latestnews,storiesandupdatesonthe BBCNewswebsite. Sophie introduces the Governor
of the bankof England before passingitovertotheir business editor Simon Jack (45, Male). We see
a montage of footage about the Brexit event and then the Governor Mark Carney. During the
montage we see some visual effects of graphs. After this story as well as an interview with Simon
Jack. Sophie then changes the story to Jeremy Corban
and his loss of power in the Labour Party and how the
MP’s that left him are now running for Labour
Leadership. After this story has been covered by John
Penial. Sophie then talks about the UK Armed Forces
sending an additional 250 to Iraq to help train troops to
fight Islamic State. Before moving onto the transgender
laws in the US Military. This story is covered quickly
before Sophie talks about the Battle of the Somme Remembrance by passing the story to Huw
Edwards(54, Male) inFrance to talk aboutthe story and how it’s being shown in France and the UK.
AfterwhichHughtalksabout the Mametz woodremembrance.Afterthisstory has been covered by
Huw he passes news back to Sophie in the News Room where she briefly discusses the results of
Wimbledon.Afterwhichthe storycutsto people beinginterviewedatthe Royal NorfolkShow about
the powerstruggle betweenBorisandMichael forPM. These
interviews have been cut to focus on people’s views on the
PMcandidates. After this the interviewer passes the story
back to Sophie in the studio who has another conversation
with Laura about the power struggle for PM. Sophie then
ends the broadcast with the same shot as the opening.
Where she tells viewers goodnight.
The role of a newsreader/presenter during a news broadcast is to talkabout the news story first
followedbypassingthe storytosomeone else atthe place of the story or someone whoaspecilistin
the type of news. E.g. Simon Jack is a Business Editor. Furthermore sometimes they will have long
distence conversationswiththese peopleorinsome caseshave interviewswiththemif the previous
footage was pre-recorded or reused. They are also responsible for opening and closing the news
broadcast.The skills requiredtobe a newsreader/presenterare vital fromearningthe jobplacement
in the first place followed by progression to become a top newreader/presenter who can earn
£150,000+. In orderto be a newsreader/presenter you must be an effective communicator to both
crewand viewers alike whilst being professional and prepared at a moments notice. Whilst it may
not showmuchits alwaysgoodto be passionate forthe job.Finallyaskill thatisimportantisto have
strong written and verbal skills for where you will be working.
Newsorderingiswhere the storiesare presentedbasedonthe amountof people whowantto know
about the story. E.g. a lead/breaking news story will always be at the top whilst news local to one
area or certainpeople wouldhave lowerviewership. As well as how many people it affects E.g. the
EU Refendumaffects millions of people so this became a story that was 1st
in the order of news on
global newschannels.BreakingNewsisthe termgiventostoriesthatare likelyto appears as well as
leadstoriesbeinghighlylikelytobe coveredormentionedsomewhere in the news report. The first
storyis almost likely to always be a breaking news story that affects loads of people as mentioned
earlier or breaking news that is shocking and something that people would want to be informed
aboutif ithappened.E.g.A celebrity passing away or tragic/fatal accident. Also stories are likely to
appear based on the time of day it’ll affect people. E.g. Car pile ups blocking a motorway will be
covered throughoutthe morningfromwhenitfirst happens to inform audiences watching on TV or

3. listeningviaradiothatit’ll affect them. Other stories can appear during the appropriate time when
people would want to hear about it. Music news for exmaple can be reported on all day whilst
events based on certain times will be shown during the best suited news broadcast timeslot. The
information mentioned earlier also affect the order at which stories are shown during a news
braodcast. The skill/ability to to think and react quickly is also vital for being a newsreader as if
theres a breaking story you may have to start broadcasting it minutes after it occurred as well as
reactingto questionsandaskingquestionsduringinterviews. As well as being able to get orgnaised
at a moments notice to travel across the world to cover breaking news. A occurrence that can
happeninthe news industry is a slow news day where broadcasts have to cover small/trivial news
storiesdue tothe lack of big/breakingnewsstoriesduring the day/week.The final storycoveredin a
newsbroadcastisoftenthe story that wascoveredfirstto reinform and to identify to viewers what
the big/breakingnewsis.The termnewsvaluesdefine/determinehow muchviwership, importence
and prominece a story has in the news. This was made as an analysis by J/ Galtung and M.Ruge. A
bigstory forthe Newsworthiness in terms of G+R News Values is defined based on its worth when
comparingitto otherstoriesintermsof relation.Where as Editorial Values is the set of core values
that the industry uses to regualte the news industry.
The bias in the news are oftened caused by the backgrounds and attitudes of the
presenters/broadcasters, ect. Whilst the majoirty of the bias of the news is not deliberate and can
oftengoun-noticedbymostsome editors,presentersectwill be deliberatedlybiasedandsometime
soffensive to draw attention to their story and broadcasting company. The bias that can be within
the selectionandomissionwhenaneditorchooseswhichstoriestouse whenandwhere it they will
use that story can often have some of the
details ignored. This can often lead to giving
the audience/viewers a false opinion and
sometimesaltertheirown based on what was
told.Thisbiased is hard to find as you need to
find as you need to compare the stories from
many news outlets to find that untold story
from one broadcaster. An example of this can
be during a speech in a high powered job
whenpeople heckling could be interpreted as
support if edited and talked about correctly.
The bias inthe placementof a newsstoryisoften where it is printed or placed online.This can alter
someonesthoughtsonitsimportence.Forexampleif aminorstoryin a magazine took up quarter of
a page. If it was the main cover image and headlines on the front cover it would make it seem like
the breaking news within the magazine rather than giving it the appropriate attention in the
contents page. It can be quite often in news and
raio broadcasts when they show the more
appealingstorieslesstoshow the storiesthat will
getthemratings toincrease their viewership and
broadcastingfigures. Anexample of Bias through
placement.

4. The bias through headlines is often when a particular
thought/viewsonthe subjecthave altered the decision
for headlineaswell asthe picture that is attached to it.
These can often be affted by the editors decision as
mentionedearlierwiththe otherbiases.Thesecan also
be accompanied by a bias of how and photo was taken
based on show/camera angle and maybe even
manipulationthroughPhotoshopinga picture to furher
afftectthe viewsandopinionsonthe subject.Aswellas
theirpreceptiononwhatis a truth and lie. An example
of howbothof these are combinedwouldbe thisnewsstoryaboutBarack Obama. The bias through
names,captionsortitlescan be usedto alter someone’s thoughtsonapeople,eventorplace. These
can oftensuggestthatsomeone thinkssomething that is not true or is manipulating a statement to
give a differentopinion. The example forthe previous two biases also applies to this one by saying
that Barack Obama has problemwithpeople of awhite ethnicity.Finally,the biasthroughthe use of
language can also apply to the example above based on the facial expression and body language
featured.Duringanewsbroadcastthiscan also be affected by the tone of voice and words that the
broadcaster uses to inform the viewers about a certain story.