These news teams will make up the weekly broadcast production staff. Students will rotate among these teams throughout the semester, to give each student experience in as many positions as possible.
We will attempt to allocate these jobs equitably throughout the semester, but all jobs must be performed for all programs. Television is a team effort, each program a collaborative project. All positions are crucial.
Technical Staff (STN)
UD's Student Television Network (STN) has agreed to support our class with technical staff for our weekly newscast. STN operates under the advisement of Mr. Carlos Hervas, whose assistant, Chris, will be available for pre-production work in the studio on MWF from 11am-2pm and after 3pm.
- Director/Switcher - Chooses shots during newscasts and directs control room
- Audio - Manages multiple audio sources during the newscast (from studio, tapes, other sources)
- Camera - Operates studio cameras under the direction of the Director/Switcher
Executive Producer (Professor Ralph Begleiter)
- Highly paid
- Minimal responsibilities; sits on his duff while others do the real work
- Expense-account lunches
- Blames others for errors
- Takes credit for others' accomplishments
Production Team (3 students)
Relevant readings: Keller chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10
- Producer
- overall supervision of newscast
- Prepares program rundown, allocates time to stories, segments
- Coordinates with other news teams on each of their responsibilities
- makes all final editorial decisions (including last minute cuts/drops/inserts)
- Works with & instructs technical staff (STN) before & during each broadcast
- During broadcast, manages all videotapes, minidiscs
- overall supervision of newscast
- Assistant Producer
- supervises all graphics, chyrons, video, stills (works with news teams during the week to obtain & develop these)
- manages these elements during weekly broadcast, working with technical staff (STN) to get them on the air
- supervises all graphics, chyrons, video, stills (works with news teams during the week to obtain & develop these)
- Associate Producer
- supervises all scripts & runs TelePrompTer during weekly broadcast
- prepares and assures program is being recorded for posterity
- supervises all scripts & runs TelePrompTer during weekly broadcast
Interview Team (2 students)
Relevant readings: Keller chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 (pp 99-105), 5, 6, 10
- Develop interview topics
- negotiate with Producer for length of interview segment
- Explore & "book" interview guest(s)
- Research interview subject
- Prepare interview notes, questions
- Prepare associated video, graphics, maps, still photos, chyrons for interview segment
- Prepare guest(s) introduction & any appropriate script
- Greet, pre-brief, escort guest(s) into studio
- Conduct interview on camera (1 students)
- Thank & escort guest from studio, provide guest with broadcast date/times info
- Follow up with appreciation call
National-International News Team (3 students)
Relevant readings: Keller chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 10
- Explore national & international news stories of the week
- Watch/screen CNN Newssource incoming feed(s) weekly
- Make editorial decisions which stories to include in broadcast (with Producer)
- View & select video for broadcast, dub to VHS or Minidisc (with STN staff)
- Write scripts for all national/international stories, segments
- Prepare chyrons, graphics, maps, still photos for national/international news segment
- Rehearse anchors
- Prepare "feature" segment, including scripts, video, graphics, chyrons, correspondent (1 student)
Campus News Team (2 students)
Relevant readings: Keller chapters 1, 2, 4 (pp 99-105) 5, 6, 9, 10
- Explore campus news stories of the week
- Make editorial decisions which stories to include in (with Producer)
- Develop video possibilities, determine if video is available
- Develop still photo possibilities
- View & select video, stills, graphics for broadcast, dub to VHS or Minidisc
- Write scripts for all campus news stories, segments
- Prepare chyrons, graphics for campus news segment
- Rehearse anchors
- Prepare "feature" segment, including scripts, video, graphics, chyrons, correspondent (1 student)
Anchor Team (2 students)
Relevant readings: Keller chapters 1, 2, 5, 6, 10
- Assist news teams writing scripts, choosing video and other elements
- Coordinate with Producer on overall scope and contents of program
- Familiarize with news of the week
- Research and rehearse pronunciations of names and places
- Rehearse scripts before broadcast
- Co-anchor weekly newscast