This document provides guidance on how to write a script for a news package. It explains that the script should be written after gathering audio and video interviews and B-roll footage to tell the story. The script separates elements into two columns for video and audio and includes sound bytes, voiceovers, and natural sound to weave the story together cohesively. Tips are given to choose compelling sound bytes, write natural-sounding voiceovers, and notate timing references to aid the editor. The overall goal is to craft a script that is easy for the editor to follow in transforming it into a polished news package.

1. How To Write A News Package
• A news package is an innovative way to convey news to a broad
audience. It is a visual form of news that has a story, characters,
entertainment value, and facts.
• The general population rarely sees news package scripts because the
aspect you see on the evening news are video forms.
• This guide is intended to teach you how to write a news package
script. Whether you are an inexperienced reporter or somebody
interested in public genres, understanding news packages an give us a
more informed perspective of the news we watch daily.

2. The script
• Writing a script should be the final step in creating
an entire news package.
• Long before you sit down to write out the script,
you should be thinking of sound bytes and ways to
structure your story.
• News packages need to have a beginning, middle,
and an end, as well as characters.
• Be thinking of the direction you want it go as you
shoot video and conduct interviews.
• Once you have enough audio and video for your
story, you are ready to begin:

3. Tips
• Separate the script into two columns. On the left
side, write video. On the right side, audio. Because
you are writing for a visual medium, it is vital to
separate out what the audience will see and what
they will hear.
• Choose sound bytes that are emotional, provide an
interesting opinion, or help your story along. As
you choose these sound bytes, mark the time on
the tape next to the sound byte you write out so
the editor can find it easily.

4. Tips
• Write voice-overs that you, the reporter,
will say to push the story along. The voice-
overs should not stick out, but rather sound
natural with the story.
• Weave sound bytes and voice-overs
together to create a cohesive audio section
to your story.

5. Tips
• Find places to put natural sound, which is strongly
connected with video.
• Write down video you have that complement the
audio. You will have a large selection from shooting
B-Roll in the field. Mark times next to the video so
the editor can find it easily.
• Read over your script and make sure it sounds
natural, follows the guidelines of a story, and is easy
to read so the editor will have an easier time editing
it later.
• Once the script is completed you are ready to go into
the sound booth and record your voice-overs.

6. Tips

7. Tips