Weaving words, sound and moving images: writing for broadcast

Image by Ron Porter via Pixabay

By Aliya Karimjee, Nov. 21, 2022

Hey gossip readers, today’s tea is on TV reporting. By the end of this blog post, you can become the people’s source of great news! First, what is a TV report? It’s a packaged report of one minute and a half to three minutes focused on telling a story. To make a great news report, you need to start with a human level to draw in the viewer with easy-to-follow visuals. Some of a TV report’s visual characteristics are interviews and b-rolls (visuals with a voiceover.) To help you create effective TV reports, format your script divided into three columns; timing, visual and audio. That way, you can comfortably report the news! Keep in mind that viewers want to be connected to the story, so gesture, pronounce well, and make this the most straightforward watch you can!

Let’s analyze a newscast together to better understand how a TV report works. CTV News Saskatoon at Six produced a TV report on Oct. 27, 2022, reporting on Colin Thatcher attending the Throne Speech. This clip from 0:52-3:13 is about this man who murdered his wife and ironically attended this session on family safety. First, it’s CTV’s job to make the reports flow. This is why this was the first urgent story, followed by more government-related stories, such as the NDP’s Nathaniel Teed calling for the closure of government liquor stores ten months before being sworn in. Next, the clip starts with a shot of the reporter talking to the camera and introducing the subject. In this story, Allison Bamford presents the 5 W’s and passes it to someone else for the reports.

To make an exciting newscast, you need engaging visuals, such as different types of shots. Notably, there are twelve b-roll shots, three still images of Colin Thatcher, one graphic with a quote from Saskatchewan Party MLA Lyle Stewart and two quotes from Jo-Anne Dusel. There are also five interview clips, two of them being with Jill Arnot, Executive Director, U of R Women’s Centre, during the b-roll video discussing how tone-deaf the MLA was to invite Colin Thatcher. More clips with Jim Farney, a political scientist, Carla Beck, NDP leader and Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan. You need this type of variety to keep the public’s interest.

As previously mentioned, visuals are crucial to convey the story. Therefore, interviews, b-rolls, still images, graphics and quotes were used to enhance the viewers’ experience. The packaged report also shows that some things may be challenging to visualize, such as the killing of Thatcher’s wife, so the b-roll included his arrest rather than the former wife. In addition to visuals, there is audio of various voices; the reporter and the interviewees. Always tell the story with appropriate energy, emotion and authority.

By now, you all are experts in analyzing TV reports. Now, I want to challenge you to write a TV script! First, I’ll start you off with the basics. Then, separate your script in the three columns previously mentioned, and focus on telling a story. Finally, I’ll show you an example. Start by finding an article you want to make a TV report from. Here’s an article I’ve written for CanCulture Magazine; Healing with pottery: How an all-women studio is hand-moulding a strong community. With this article, I made a TV report script below:

As you can see, this organized script allows an easy filming process. At first, adjusting a text-based article to work as a TV Report was challenging, especially since it’s my own article. To adapt this article, I explained to my friend what the article was about, and by speaking, I discovered this is some content I should be writing. If I had to collect the audio-visual materials to make this report, my biggest challenge would be to get the shot from The Good Work Art Market, as I only took selfies with my friend rather than the actual event. In conclusion, if you want to create a compelling TV news report, plan ahead of time. Now go out and report stories, gossip readers!