Broadcast journalism

Broadcast journalism is the field of news and journals which are "broadcast", that is, published by
electrical methods, instead of the older methods, such as printed newspapers and posters. Broadcast
methods include radio (via air, cable, and Internet), television (via air, cable, and Internet), and,
especially recently, the Internet generally. Such media disperse pictures (static and moving), visual text
and/or sounds.

Scripts for speaking to be broadcast tend to be written differently from text to be read by the public. For
instance, the former is generally less complex and more conversational. Radio and television are
designed to be seen and heard sooner and more often than is a daily or weekly newspaper.

Broadcast "stories" (articles) can be written in "packages", "readers", "voice-overs" (VO) and "sound on
tape" (SOT).

A "sack" is an edited set of video clips for a news story and is common on television. It is typically
narrated by a reporter. It is a story with audio, video, graphics and video effects. The news anchor, or
presenter, usually reads a "lead-in" (introduction) before the package is aired and may conclude the
story with additional information, called a "tag".

A "reader" is an article read without accompanying video or sound. Sometimes an "over the shoulder
Digital on-screen graphic" is added.

A voice-over, or VO, is a video article narrated by the anchor.

Sound on tape, or SOT, is sound and/or video, usually recorded in the field. It is usually an interview or
"sound bite".

This module will provide you with a thorough overview of all aspects of broadcast journalism including,
journalism skills – reporting and editorial - as wells as technical elements such as camera operation,
sound, video editing, studio practice and production. We work with local media to arrange work
experience placements and other production opportunities. In previous years, students were placed at
the BBC East, Future Radio, BBC Voices, Radio Norwich, Archant and EPIC.

Broadcasting Journalism Overview

Broadcast journalism is a type of news reporting presented to the public electronically or by radio
instead of being published in newspapers. Media in broadcast journalism include television, radio and
the Internet. Broadcast journalism is meant to be dispersed more quickly than older forms of journalism,
including print media, and is meant to be more accessible.
Radio and television broadcasts are designed to get the news out to a wide variety of people in language
that is much less formal than traditional print media. News that is broadcast over the Internet can
update people on events as soon as they happen.
 Radio
Radio was the first medium for broadcast journalism. Many of the first radio stations were co-operative
community radio ventures not making a profit. Later, radio advertising to pay for programs was
pioneered in radio. Later still, television displaced radio and newspapers as the main news sources for
most of the public in industrialized countries.
Some of the programming on radio is locally produced; some is broadcast by a radio network, by
syndication etc. The "talent" (professional voices) talk to the audience, including reading the news.
People tune in to hear engaging radio personalities, music and information they want. In radio news,
stories include speech sound bites, the recorded sounds of events themselves and the anchor or host.
Some radio news might run for just four minutes, but contain a dozen to 15 stories. The concept takes
into account when it comes to running time in construct a radio news bulletin for example, with a
running time of only five minutes in news bulletin, there are not more than 12 to 15 stories selected in
bulletin so that it would not send the audiences’ head into a spin (Fleming 2009).
The radio industry has undergone a radical consolidation of ownership, with fewer companies owning
the thousands of stations. Large media conglomerates such as Clear Channel Communications own most
of the radio stations in the United States. That has resulted in more "niche" formats and the sharing of
resources within clusters of stations, de-emphasizing local news and information. There has been
concern over whether that concentration of power serves the public. The opposition says that the range
of political views expressed and supported is greatly narrowed and that local concerns are neglected,
including local emergencies, for which communication is critical. Automation has resulted in many
stations broadcasting for many hours a day with no one on the station premises.

Local Television
The industry divides television into local (List of television stations in North America by media market) in
North America by media markets. Such television markets are defined by viewing area and are ranked
by the number of audience viewers. New broadcast journalists generally start in the smaller markets
with fewer viewers and move up to larger television stations and television networks after gaining
experience. The larger stations usually have more resources and better pay.
United States stations typically broadcast local news 3 or 4 times a day: around 4:30, 5 or 6 am, 11,
11:30 am or noon, 5 and/or 6 pm and 10 and/or 11 at night. Most of their nightly local newscasts are 30
minutes and include sports television and weather. News anchors are shown sitting at a desk in a
television studio. The news anchors read teleprompters that contain local interest stories and breaking
news. Reporters frequently tell their stories outside the formal television studio in the field, where the
news is occurring, in a remote broadcast setting where Electronic news-gathering (ENG) techniques are
used with production trucks. Daytime television or morning shows include more "soft" news and feature
pieces, while the evening news emphasizes "hard" news.

News jobs
News anchors (formerly "anchormen") serve as masters of ceremonies and are usually shown facing a
professional video camera in a television studio while reading unseen teleprompters. The anchors are
often in pairs (co-anchors), sit side by side, often alternating their reading. Meteorologists stand in front
of chroma key backgrounds to describe weather forecasting and show "graphics" (maps, charts and
pictures). Any of those people can become the most recognizable television personality of the television
station. Reporters research and write the stories and sometimes use video editing to prepare the story
for air into a "package". Reporters are usually engaged in Electronic field production (EFP) and are
accompanied by a videographer at the scenes of the news; the latter holds the camera. That person or
assistants manage the audio and lighting. They are in charge of setting up live television shots and might
edit using a non-linear editing system (NLE) too. The segment producer might choose, research and
write stories, as well as deciding the timing and arrangement of the newscast. An associate producer, if
any, might specialize in elements of the show such as graphics.

Production jobs
Main article: Television crew
A newscast director is in charge of television show preparation, including assigning camera and talent
(cast) positions on the set, as well as selecting the camera shots and other elements for either recorded
or live television video production. The technical director (TD) operates the video switcher, which
controls and mixes all the elements of the show. At smaller stations, the Director and Technical
Directors is the same person.
A graphics operator operates a character generator (CG) that produces the lower third on-screen titles
and full-page digital on-screen graphics. The audio technician operates the audio mixing console. The
technician is in charge of the microphones, music and audio tape. Often, production assistants operate
the Teleprompters and professional video cameras and serve as lighting and rigging technicians ("grips").
On-line convergence
Convergence is the sharing and cross-promoting of content from a variety of media, which in theory
might all converge and become one medium eventually. In broadcast news, the Internet is key part of
convergence. Frequently, broadcast journalists also write text stories for the Web, usually accompanied
by the graphics and sound of the original story. Websites offer the audience an interactive form where
they can learn more about a story, can be referred to related articles, can offer comments for
publication and can print stories at home, etc. Technological convergence also lets newsrooms
collaborate with other media. Broadcast outlets sometimes have partnerships with their print
counterparts.
Course Content and Structure
Students undertake two largely practical modules each worth twenty credits in semester one: Journalism,
Practice and Ethics (which is an introduction to reporting skills and practices) and Online Journalism
(which develops skills for creating content for online media as well as looking at the practical and
theoretical circumstances which have led to the development of this new area of journalistic activity.)
They also take either a 40 credit theory module, Media & Society, which offers a multi-disciplinary
overview of today’s media, or a new module on Essential Law and Public Affairs, for 20 credits. In the
second semester, they all take a 40 credit module in Broadcast Journalism. This develops practical TV
journalism skills.
All students produce a dissertation - either written or by practice - which counts for 40 credits. The
dissertation by practice, if selected, takes the form of a substantial piece of video journalism, which they
research, shoot, edit and present themselves.
During the year, students take one or more optional modules from a range of media-related courses
available within the faculty. These modules, along with a combination of the modules listed above, will
take students' total credit tally to 180.
Those students who plan to work as journalists in the UK are very strongly urged to take as a option the
Essential Law and Public Affairs for Journalists module (semester 1). This equips them to work within the
UK legal system and to understand the functioning of UK politics and government – always a prime
source for stories. Students who see their careers developing elsewhere are encouraged to take the
Media and Society Module.
Media and Society
This module is intended to provide all students studying media related postgraduate degrees with a
broad, current and inter-disciplinary understanding of the media today. The guiding philosophy informing
this module is the belief that in order properly to understand the media, whether as a lawyer, economist,
development studies professional, media studies specialist political scientist or journalist, it is essential to
have a wide-ranging and multi-disciplinary understanding of the modern media. The module looks at the
structure of the media industry today in the UK and globally. It considers, from several different academic
perspectives, how media content is constructed, what factors and influences go to shape content and how
content may be controlled and even censored. The module also looks at the media industry, examining
how it is currently organised and managed, what factors influence its current organisation and how it
might develop.
Journalism, Ethics and Practice
Journalistic practice has come under the spotlight in the UK following disclosures of malpractice at the
‘News of the World’, and the establishment of the Leveson inquiry. This module will enable students to
develop reporting and writing skills while developing their appreciation of a proper ethical framework for
journalism. Students will look at how newsrooms are run, the reporter’s working day and how stories are
found and developed.
Essential Law and Public Affairs for Journalists
With regard to law, teaching will survey the judicial system of England and Wales and journalist’s rights
and responsibilities within it. It will ask how the UK membership of the European Union and the Council of
Europe influences the British judicial system and legislation, where relevant to journalism.
In particular, students will learn how law and legal process impact upon newsgathering and publication for
audio and audio-visual media. They will be made aware that legal precedents established in online
practice (now a core element of multi-platform journalism) are gaining more widespread application.
Practical sessions will include students attending and reporting Magistrates’, Crown and/or Coroners’
Courts. Taught sessions will reflect on the principles of democracy, freedom of the press, freedom of
information and the public interest as these relate to broadcasting regulation.
Public Affairs covers  principal elements of the UK political system, including the electoral process, the
roles of elected members of local authorities, British and European parliaments; the role of civil servants,
politicians, political parties, government communication techniques, contemporary political issues and
government finance.
Students shall be given opportunity to practice the rights, responsibilities, and techniques of journalists in
relation to the British and EU systems. Students will be helped to develop a critical understanding and
familiarity with current affairs, particularly in relation to the reporting of issues such as national identity,
citizenship, cultural diversity, and the role of the media in such matters.

On-line Journalism
Online Journalism is a rapidly expanding field. This module looks at changes within the industry underlying this
development. The module will also give you further practical experience of the issues and techniques of
journalism, within the context of developing content for online news and information sites.

Option - Dissertation (by practice)

The dissertation by practice is an opportunity for you to produce a video project which is both a substantial piece
of journalism, and a demonstration of broadcast production skills. You will also reflect on the development and
practical execution of your project. You will be assigned a member of staff as a supervisor to advise you on the
production and writing up of this dissertation. The format of your practice-based dissertation will be agreed in
discussions with your supervisor.

Description
Focus on researching, writing and producing news and current affairs stories for television and the
internet. You will explore: History of broadcast journalism; Radio and television; The newsroom; The
studio; Writing for broadcast; The line-up; Voice and presentation; Camera and sound; Principles of
interviewing; The edit; The pitch; Story planning and production. You will need to have access to the
internet on a computer with standard modern inclusions (Mic and Webcam).

Broadcast Journalism is designed to extend and develop the skills introduced in second year Journalism
units with a focus on researching, writing and producing news and current affairs stories for television
and the internet. This unit also includes advanced techniques in media presentation, production,
problem solving and the student's critical evaluation of their own performance.

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will be able to display the following skills:

Development of research and reporting skills

Understanding of the medium of Broadcast Journalism.

Construction of effective introductions and presentation of a logical flow of information

Development of a broad understanding of journalistic practices.

Production of basic audio and video content.