This document outlines 5 basic forms of TV news stories: readers, VOs, VO/SOTs, reporter packages, and donut packages. Readers have no video but may include graphics, while VOs involve voiceovers to accompany video or graphics. VO/SOTs add sound bites to VOs. Reporter packages include video, sound, and narration by a reporter without live interaction with anchors. Donut packages are like reporter packages but involve a live reporter interacting with anchors. Examples of each form are provided. Students will practice identifying these forms by watching news broadcasts.

1. Broadcast Journalism COMM 118
BASIC TV NEWS STORY FORMS:
Chapters 7, 8, & 9

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. IN CLASS EXERCISE
Watch a news broadcast in class
Identify each story as requested as
one of the 5 types discussed today
in class

18. 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. 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)

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

21. LOOKING AHEAD…
Chapters 7, 8, & 9
Writing VO stories
Writing VO/SOT stories
Delivering stories on
camera