Everyone
gets his or her news differently with one common thread being the news itself. In
order to get ratings, you must bring something to the table as a newscast. The
show must set itself apart from others either with the material it presents or
the newscasters themselves. The program I would produce for my friends and I
would cover national as well as local news along with entertainment pieces. It
would broadcast in the morning and at night what with the show being an hour in
the morning and a half hour at night.
Whether
it is online, a phone application, hard copy or the television, news is
accessed everyday. In the modern, 160 character twitter obsessed world,
journalists are having to learn how to “teach to the text message” or rather
learn how to express a long article or news story in a condensed, yet
interesting manner. As a producer, I would recognize that as the future of news
and include that idea in all aspects of the newscast. An advertising team would
be needed to cover all social media outlets. Through social media, our newscast
would be very interactive with our fans. For example, offer free merchandise
advertising the newscast for the first person to respond through social media.
The
stories would be loosely traditional with a reporter delivering the news. The
audience invites the newscasters into their home everyday and trusts them to deliver
their information in a captivating yet informative matter. The audience must be
able to see the reporter as their friend and to remain exciting, they would
need to connect with the audience through public appearances, keeping a neutral
stance on topics and running their own social media program.
The
opinion that all news is bad news may be true but who doesn’t love a good
heart-wrenching story? The influence for choosing stories would be balancing
the happy stories with the sad as to leave the audience with a mixture of
feelings, keeping them thinking but pleased with the program. My newscast would
be composed of mostly shorter stories as to better fit the public’s attention
span. An important aspect of the show would be to include the reporters going
the extra mile. There would only be one reporter “behind the desk” that
addressed the public in a friendly but formal matter. This reporter must become
an icon and a household name. However, the other reporters would need to go out
into the world and experience it before the audience does. It would involve
mostly “lighter” or entertainment pieces because that is what I would want to
see when turning on the television or watching online.
Throughout
history, the general public has found it hard to see famous people including
celebrities or reporters as “real people.” A good way to connect the public to
our reporters would be to show them in a familiarizing light. For example, the
newscast would air a weekly cooking show or a “day in the life of” segment
starring the reporters themselves. During the summer, a rollercoaster review
series would be a fun way to keep the audience entertained and fit the festive
season. The series would consist of a travel journalist (preferably a familiar
face) riding the rollercoasters and then reviewing the ride. For each season
alike, the newscast would produce a series. Furthermore, people are more likely
to watch a story if it involves something risky or shocking. Every night, the
team would air a health story about a new virus or “what your grocery store is
serving you.” This would be a good way to reach people of all ages. As for
local news, we would cover local sports, crime around the town and gas station
prices because in this day and age, who doesn’t love discussing gas prices?
The
problem with present newscasts is what they do not cover. No matter how much
one’s program tries to remain unbiased, a newscast almost always is. A goal
that must be achieved to remain a ratings hit would be to deliver unbiased, unfiltered
news to the world. For example, broadcasting to just a certain demographic
would be only capturing half the audience you could have. If I were to produce
a newscast, the final product would be as neutral as possible so as to appeal
to all. A clear way to remain a respectful newscast would be to always make
sure the sources are credible and the information accurate.
This
newscast is basically traditional because I believe that when people turn on
the news, tradition is what they expect to see. People do not want to be
bombarded with “fluff.” The public just wants to hear their news in an
entertaining format.
EXPERIENCE:
Spring 2012: Intern for The
Sandusky Register – Assistant to the Web Editor
- Some
experience with Final Cut Pro
Summer 2012: Intern for The O&P EDGE magazine (specializing
in orthopedics and prosthetics) –Assistant to the Assistant Editor
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