These news teams will make up the weekly broadcast production staff. To give each student experience in as many positions as possible, students will rotate among these teams throughout the semester. This page describes each position, based on actual TV newsroom roles. A separate schedule will assign specific students to each position.

Relevant readings in the course text are highlighted at each position.

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. Every position is crucial.

Technical Staff (STN)

UD’s Student Television Network (STN) will 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.

• Studio set-up/tear-down (lights, audio, sets)
• Control room set-up
• Operate recording decks, assure program is taped & transferred to STN for broadcast
• Assist “Broadcast News” course students with audio, switcher, prompter, cameras, etc.
• Audio - Manages multiple audio sources during the newscast (from studio, tapes, other sources)
• Camera - Operates studio cameras under the direction of the Director/Switcher
• Students in COMM427/327 are required to participate in setting-up and breaking down the studio before and after each of our newscasts.

Executive Producer (Professor Ralph Begleiter)

• Highly paid
• Minimal responsibilities; sits on his duff while others do the real work
• Expense-account lunches
• Critiques others’ performance
• Blames others for errors
• Takes credit for others’ accomplishments

Production Supervisor Team (4 students)

• Relevant readings: Tuggle, Carr & Huffman ("Broadcast News Handbook")
  chapters 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

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:
  • supervises all aspects of the program and control room, calls shots

Assistant Producer

• assists Producer in overall supervision of newscast
• takes assignments from Producer for coordination of news team activities
• coordinates equipment availability, etc.
• During broadcast:
  • Operates video switcher - implements shots called by Producer

Associate Producer (Graphics)

• Collects and creates graphic elements for broadcast
• learns operation of the Character Generator (“CG”) computer
• supervises all graphics, chyrons, video, stills (works with news teams during the week to obtain & develop these)
• During broadcast:
  • manages graphic elements, using Character Generator (“CG”) and working with technical staff (STN) to get them on the air

Managing Editor

• Supervises all writing assignments, collecting all scripts, stories before broadcast
• Read all scripts for editorial content and flow, makes changes in scripts
• Write transitions between stories, as appropriate
• During broadcast:
  • make final changes in all scripts & operates TelePrompTer

Interview Team (2 students)

• Relevant readings: Tuggle, Carr & Huffman ("Broadcast News Handbook")
  chapters 5, 9, 11
• Relevant readings
• Develop interview topics
  negotiate with Producer for length of interview segment
• Explore & “book” interview guest(s)
• Research interview subject
• Prepare interview notes, questions
• Use field camera equipment to secure video, conduct interviews
• Use editing stations to “package” recorded interview(s)
• Prepare associated video, graphics, maps, still photos, chyrons for interview segmen
• Prepare guest(s) introduction & any appropriate script
• During broadcast:
  • Greet, pre-brief, escort guest(s) into studio
  • Conduct interview on camera (1 student)
  • 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: Tuggle, Carr & Huffman ("Broadcast News Handbook")
  chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
• Explore national & international news stories of the week
• Watch/screen/record CNN Newssource incoming feed(s) weekly (learn newsfeed recording equipment)
• Make editorial decisions which stories to include in broadcast (with Producer)
• View & select video for broadcast, dub to VHS or Minidisc (with STN staff)
• View & select video for broadcast, copy to VHS or DVD (with STN staff)
• Use field camera equipment to secure video, standups, interviews appropriate to these stories
• Use editing stations to create news “packages” from elements shot
• 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)
• During broadcast:
  • 2 students operate cameras, audio, video switcher
  • 1 student broadcasts “feature” segment, if “live”

Campus News Teams (4 students - two teams of 2)

• Relevant readings: Tuggle, Carr & Huffman ("Broadcast News Handbook")
  chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9
• 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
• Use field camera equipment to secure video, standups, interviews
• Use editing stations to create news “packages” from elements shot
• 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)
• During broadcast:
  • 3 students operate cameras, audio, video switcher
  • 1 student broadcasts “feature” segment if “live”

Anchor Team (2 students)

• Relevant readings: Tuggle, Carr & Huffman ("Broadcast News Handbook")
  chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10
• Assist news teams writing scripts, choosing video and other elements
• Coordinate with Producer on overall scope and contents of program
• Participate as a third Campus News Team (see above)
  • Use field camera equipment to secure video, standups, interviews
  • Use editing stations to create news “packages” from elements shot
• Familiarize with news of the week
• Research and rehearse pronunciations of names and places
• Rehearse scripts before broadcast
• During broadcast:
  • Co-anchor weekly newscast