Apparently, a lot of producers think that they must showcase how they handle team coverage in order to impress. I am seeing a lot of team coverage newscasts both from potential clients and when judging EMMY award entries. So if you are going to show it off, make sure it is done well, and that you put your own stamp on the coverage in some way. So let’s spell out expectations for team coverage. How to execute team coverage Grab them Spell out each element clearly Do not assume viewers know story Button up, then push ahead Team coverage demands special opens. These do not have to be 30 second [...]
Apr 082013
It’s one of the most commonly asked questions among young producers in TV news – ‘how do I know if I’m ready to work in a big market?’ If your co-workers like your stuff and you have been consistently promoted, the answer is pretty simple. You probably are. Let’s say you’re a grinder. You started in a small market, doing ten different things in the newsroom, learning, absorbing, doing. Then you made a jump to a slightly bigger market. More responsibility, a few extra bucks. Maybe you even jumped again, to a solid station, in say, Albany, Oklahoma City, or Winston-Salem. Now you’re making a decent living and you’re [...]
I have a confession to make. I love great lines! I love them so much, I put them on sticky notes and post them all over my desk. I have a file with some of them. Some I wrote and just can’t believe they came from my brain. The vast majority, however, are from other people. I read them, in awe of what I heard. The best storytellers in this biz, on and off camera, understand the power of a simple understated line. This is their signature. Think about it. When you reflect on the journalists that inspire you, a line they wrote probably pops into your head. A moment [...]
Mar 202013
A big part of my job is coaching, both seasoned and new, journalists. Lately I have been getting DM’s and email from managers asking, “How do you get through? I have no luck, especially getting them to understand the importance of a fact error.” Here are some techniques I used while working in newsrooms. First, techniques for producers and writers. I would print out scripts that I knew had errors. Then I would sit down with the writer and tell them to do a couple of things. First, take these scripts and circle the 5 w’s. Then I would ask them to highlight the facts in the script, and the [...]
Mar 132013
Recently I was struck by conversations I was having with a series of news directors who are looking for morning EPs. Each mentioned, the line “the morning show sets the tone for the day.” No, this isn’t a new concept. Morning producers all over the country are yelling “DUH” to their computer screens right now. But there is a key part to this, that simply doesn’t happen in most newsrooms. Each news shift needs to have a system of checks and balances with all the other shifts. When they do, you return the favor by watching theirs. In Meet My Conscience we talked about having a specific set of eyes [...]
