News production tips for journalists

Created on Friday, 02 December 2011

Published on Friday, 02 December 2011

Written by David Brewer

  

The more planning you put into producing a radio news package, the better the finished piece is likely to be. Make sure you know your facts before conducting the interviews, review the material afterwards, ensure you've not missed anything and it makes sense.

The following was written for media trainers at the Media Resources and Training Centre (MRTC) of the University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The MRTC runs various journalism diploma courses including one in electronic media.

If you have any other production tips, please add them to the comment box below

The news production process

1: Planning the story

• What issue are you intending to cover?
• Who is the target audience?
• What questions would they want you to ask on their behalf?
• Who would be best to answer those questions?
• Who should you talk to in order to dig deeper?
• How could you include diverse perspectives?

Time spent preparing could save hours of work later

2: Producing the material

• Have you done your research?
• Where can you find background information? Library, online, newspapers
• What has been said before?
• What questions were left unanswered?
• Be sure you know your facts before conducting an interview
• Draft out an initial script, but keep an open mind for the unexpected
• Try to think through the way the story will work
• Better to have a framework before you start, you can always discard it.

Draft a script, but be alert to any new news angles

3: Setting up the story

• Logistics - who does what?
• Guest bookings - when is the interviewee available?
• Have you briefed the interviewee about the area of questioning?
• Have you got official permission to interview? (applicable in sensitive situations)
• Do you have the equipment ready?
• Take spare batteries if possible
• Is it safe to go where you intend to go?
• Have you told someone where you are going?
• How will you communicate with the office or your producer?
• Let them know when you arrive and when you leave
• Be punctual - make sure you are there when you say you will be there.

Check and double check and be professional in all you do

4: Reporting back and initial quality control

• What material has been gathered?
• Listen to it and make notes
• What news angles have been uncovered?
• What is the headline for your story?
• What is the summary?
• What angles need to be developed?
• Check all facts - is the material accurate?
• Check the ethics - is the material fair, objective and impartial?
• Do you need to approach anyone for a right of reply?
• Did you miss anything?
• Do you need to add any more information
• Does the piece still make sense?
• Has the interview killed the story? It sometimes does and you must be prepared to move on
• Is the material the best you could have possibly produced in the time available?
• Will it inform the public debate, or is it just more noise?
• Is it clear, or is it confusing?
• Have you used simple and short sentences? Remember KISS, keep it short and simple.

If the piece doesn't make sense to you it's unlikely to make sense to the audience

5: Production review

• What worked and what didn't work?
• How could you have done better?
• Where did you make serious mistakes?
• Where did you do really well?
• What would you do differently next time?
• Were you in danger at any point?
• Did you take any unnecessary risks?
• Did you find the exercise rewarding in professional terms?

Jot down your own tips because one day you will be training others

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The text above is available on Slideshare and released under Creative Commons BY-SA-NC, which means it can be downloaded for non-commercial and attribution must be given. Thanks

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Note: The image used at the top of this page is adapted from a photograph taken by Media Helping Media and is one of a set available under the Creative Commons.

  

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