Standups are any on-camera presence by a reporter that establishes credibility and builds a relationship with viewers. They help audiences make sense of complicated topics by demonstrating or substituting for a lack of visuals. Effective standups are planned as an integral part of telling the story. Reporters should know where their standup fits in the narrative, what the audience already knows, and what soundbites will be used before and after. When voicing, reporters should mentally prepare by thinking they are sharing what they learned in a conversational tone. Physically preparing involves relaxing the neck and jaw, taking deep breaths, and warming up vocal muscles.

1. Voicing and Standups
JCM 331

2. Doing Standups
 Definition: Any on-camera presence by the reporter
 Challenge: Make an unnatural act (talking to a camera) look natural
 WHY DO THEM ?
1. Establish your credibility
2. Reporter builds relationship with viewer
3. Help Audience make sense out of something complicated
 KNOW THE FUNCTION OF THE STAND-UP in the package narrative
1. Demonstrate (SHOW), rather than just tell viewer something
2. Transition between locations, characters, time frames or topics (4 things)
3. Substitute for lack of visuals to illustrate a point

3. Doing Standups
 IT STARTS WITH WRITING AND PLANNING
 Know where the on-camera segment will fit in the story
 What will the audience already know before the standup?
 What soundbite will you use immediately before or after?
 Standup should be INTEGRAL TO THE STORY!
 TIP: Don’t memorize
 TIP: Focus on the points you’re saying
 TIP: Do as many takes as possible, have AT LEAST TWO that are good
(in case of technical difficulties)

4. Voicing
 MENTAL PREPARATION
1. Think” I’m sharing what I learned”
2. Like a conversation with one person
 PHYSICAL PREPARATION
1. Relax your neck and jaw by doing neck rolls
2. Take deep breaths through your nose
3. Warm up vocal muscles by reading difficult
parts of the script (i.e. potential tongue-twisters)
 INTONATION – more emphasis on subjects and
objects in each sentence (underline them)
 PACING – pick a pace that sounds and feels
natural