Welcome to the KRAL-TV Team!

I am so excited to welcome you to one of the most interesting, yet challenging, classes offered at Lake Olympia Middle School! As a 7th and 8th grade television broadcasting student, your task will be to create a daily news program that will air on closed-circuit television throughout the building. In addition, your news program will be seen by all students every morning, uploaded to the Mustang Eveready Players website, as well as running on a loop at the administration building. Your broadcasts and news segments may be entered in local and national competitions and will definitely be shown to students and adults interested in Lake Olympia. Therefore, you have an important job to do in order to represent your school in the best way possible. After all, you will get to create something totally unique within a class environment unlike any other in our school.

Completing a daily television news broadcast is a huge undertaking, and it will require extra effort, patience, understanding, and teamwork to get the job accomplished. As a member of the KRAL-TV news team, you will have the opportunity to work with a variety of people on lots of different tasks. While working with people different than yourself can be challenging at times, you will gain valuable knowledge from the experience that you will be able to take with you for the rest of your life. If there is one thing I want you to learn more than anything else, it is how to be a successful member of a team.

The payoff for all of your hard work is a great sense of accomplishment. Unlike your other classes, where the ultimate goal is a good grade on an assignment or test, in Broadcasting, you’ll be able to show your classmates, friends, and family the work you have done, and proudly say, “I did this…isn’t it cool?!” While the thought of having other people look at your work on a daily basis may seem a bit overwhelming at first, nothing can compare with the sense of pride you will feel in a job well done. This is just one of the many reasons why it is so important for you to put your best effort into everything you do in this class.

I created this manual to help you with becoming the best broadcasting student possible. It is your responsibility to know the information in this guide and keep it updated throughout the year. The KRAL-TV crew you will be working with will be your team, and just like in sports, you will want to have the most successful team possible. In fact, there may even be some friendly competition between the teams, so you will want to come to class everyday “ready to win”. And, like on a sports team, I will act as your coach, helping to guide you along the way so that your team will be unstoppable.

Keep in mind that we are all in this together, and while you might be able to be more independent in other classes, in Broadcasting, everything you do will either help or hurt your fellow classmates. If you’re late to class, if you forget to do an assignment, if you drop the ball in anyway, your team will lose faith in you. Trust me; you don’t want to get “benched” by the rest of your team! However, I’m here to help you, because I love teaching, and I love working with middle school students. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to be! I hope you’ll feel the same excitement I have for Broadcasting, and I want to thank you in advance for selecting this class as your magnet focus. I promise you that it will be a great year!

- Ms. Shoemake

KRAL-TV News Segment/PSA ProposalFocus Statement/Slug: (2-3 word title of segment):

For Mrs. S’s Use:Date Received:

Date Completed:

Reporter’s Name (person responsible):

Photographer’s Name (if applicable):

Points Possible:

Points Received:

Type of Segment: Public Service Announcement (Lake Olympia High Five; School Rules; Lake Olympia Basics;

etc.) Promotional Commercial (Upcoming Event; Club/Activity Promotion; etc.) News Package (Event Coverage; Club/Activity Coverage; Interview; etc.) Sports Package (Game Summary; Season Summary; Coach/Player Interview; etc.) Human Interest Package (“A Day in the Life Of…”; Student/Team Spotlight; Holiday/Observation; etc.) Other:

Your M.V.P. (a longer version of the Focus Statement, the topic of your segment, or the question that you want to answer):

Elements Planning on Using: Narration (Voice Over) Copyrighted Music iMovie Effects/Titles Digital Photographs Imported Video Clips Special FX (Final Cut/Live Type) Internet Images Other:

Equipment Planning on Needing: Video Camera Microphone Tripod Green Screen Studio Time Other: Costumes: Props:

Locations Needed:

Schedule:Anticipated Due Date: Adult Supervision Needed On:

Interviews:Who: When: Where: Request Form Completed & Attached

Who: When: Where: Request Form Completed & Attached

Who: When: Where: Request Form Completed & Attached

Who: When: Where: Request Form Completed & Attached

Who: When: Where: Request Form Completed & Attached

Why is this story important? What makes it newsworthy? What do you want your audience to learn? (In 3-4 sentences, convince your teacher that this story needs to be told!)

Background Information:How did you learn about this story? What type of research have you done about the story? What are some facts, statistics, etc. that you can include with the story?

Telling the Story:Describe how your news segment, PSA, commercial, etc. will unfold. How will you open the segment to “hook” your audience, how will you keep your audience “on the line”, and how will you “reel them in” at the end of the segment? Describe v i s ua lly what will be seen throughout the segment…who will we meet, what story will they tell, etc.

Other Information Ms. Shoemake Needs to Know:

APPROVED AS IS APPROVED WITH THE FOLLOWING CHANGES:

TRY AGAIN…THIS WON’T WORK!

Writing for Broadcast

• The Lead - The lead in broadcast is like the headline in newspapers; it lets the reader know what the story is about. The WHAT is usually the most important of the Ws and H, followed by the WHO; the WHEN should be as current as possible. The lead should not begin with a name. Save the name for the second sentence. Many listeners are doing other things while the news is on and may miss the name if it is mentioned first. You could start with the person’s title, such as “Lake Olympia Principal”, followed by the name.

• Quote s - All comments should be attributed as “says”. Using the present tense makes the story seem more current. Say: “Lake Olympia Principal, Ms. Holloway, says ‘attendance is important for all students’.” Do not use the “quote, unquote method.” The best way to quote someone is to paraphrase, or sum-up, what they said and then use a sound byte for direct quotes.

• Writing style - Use short sentences. Be brief and concise. Avoid using adjectives and adverbs. Stories should sound like a conversation, so the writer should write the story the way he or she would tell it in person. Also, remember to repeat words and significant facts if necessary.

• Use of “our” and “us” - Unlike newspaper reporters, broadcasters are visible parts of the story, and they are a part of the community that they are telling about. So it is permissible for broadcasters to refer to “our” town and “us.”

• Tense – You should use present tense whenever possible, but it is okay to mix tenses as long as the story makes sense. Read it aloud to make sure.

• Abbreviations – Except for Mrs., Mr., Ms., and Dr., avoid using abbreviations. If abbreviated words are part of the story, you should place hyphens between letters and numbers that should be pronounced separately. For example, write: U-S-A, not USA. Write N-double A-C-P, not NAACP. But use 1999 or NATO.

• Numbers - Write numbers so that the announcer can read them easily. Write out numbers one through nine and the number eleven. For 10 and 12 through 999, use regular numbers. For other numbers, use word numeral combinations like: “school goal of one-thousand-eleven”; “123-thousand-552 dollars”.

• Symbols - Spell out symbols. Use dollars instead of $. Use percent instead of %.

• O rd e re d numbers - You should write “st”, “nd”, “rd”, and “th” after numbers used in addresses and anywhere else ordinal numbers might be used: 17th of September; “North of 42nd Street”.

• Round off numbers - Write “just over one thousand” rather than an exact number such as 1,002. Or you can use words such as “around”, “about”, “close to”, “just under”, “just over”, or “nearly”.

• Time and Dates - Avoid the use of a.m. or p.m. Say “this morning” or “this afternoon” as these sound more current. Follow the rules for writing numbers if you are using exact times and dates. Also, use informal time references, such as “tomorrow” or “next Thursday” rather than “Thursday, December 4th”.

• Punctuation - Use only the period, dash, question mark and comma. Three periods indicate a pause.

• Spell phonetically - If a word is unusual and may cause problems for the announcer, spell it out phonetically, or how it sounds, such as using “kit-kuh” for the word “Chytka”.

• Easy Listening Formula - Avoid big words whenever possible…make the story easy to understand.

• Transit ions - Help the story flow smoothly by using transitions such as “for example”, “for instance”, “as an illustration”, “furthermore”, “in addition”, “accordingly”, etc.

• R e ad it aloud - Before giving your copy, script, or story to an anchor, read it aloud yourself to catch problems.

Adapted from High School Journalism by H.L. Hall, and other sources.

THE TOP TEN RULES OF BROADCASTING

Rule #1 – Plan for Everything! Bring a pencil, an extra tape, you name it. There is nothing worse than showing up to a shoot and forgetting something back in the classroom!Rule #2 – Shots are as Easy as 1-2-3! Make sure that for EVERY Wide or Establishing shot you take, you also take TWO medium shots, and THREE close-up or tight shots!Rule #3 – Frame Your Shots! Remember the rule-of-thirds, and add depth to your shots! Rule #4 – Shoot in 3-D! Make sure to shoot as you see the world…don’t just set up thecamera and walk away! Get lots of different angles and shots for the best look!Rule #5 – Remember Your Focus Statement! Don’t forget WHY you are filming. Always ask yourself when shooting, “how does this relate to the topic of my story?”Rule #6 – Have a Conversation! Whether you are doing an interview or anchoring a show, keep your style conversational. No one wants to hear a robot speaking the news or asking questions!Rule #7 – Keep it Simple! Don’t use loud music, special effects, and wacky transitions to make- up for a poorly shot video. The best news segments are simple…just plain simple!Rule #8 – Plan, Plan, Plan! Make sure that before you go out into the “real world” you have planned what you are going to do. Time is precious, so don’t waste it by poor planning!Rule #9 – Make it Your Own! Add your own special twist or flair to a news segment. Or, if you decide to parody something, make sure to add your own creativity to it!Rule #10 – News by Mustangs, For Mustangs! Never forget why we are here! We are producing a daily news program for the Lake Olympia audience, and we should always keep that in mind!

MS SHOEMAKE’S “LITTLE SAYINGS TO REMEMBER”

• Where’s Your Tripod?!• Top of the Head; Top of the Screen• Leave Your Mark. Represent.• 1 Wide, 2 Medium, 3 Close• Hook, Line, and Sinker• Save the Surprise• Accuracy, Accuracy, Accuracy• Add Sprinkles• Everyone Has a Story

• There is No “I” in KRAL-TV• It’s Not About Me• Remember Your Focus Statement• Find a Character• It’s Their Story• Everything is a Sequence• Do Teens Care? Should They Care?

• Tradition Doesn’t Guarantee Success. Hard Work Does

How to write a focus statement

WHAT IS A FOCUS STATEMENT & WHY DO I NEED ONE?!A focus statement gives your news segment direction and sets limits upon what you should tell. Forinstance, instead of doing a story on the “iPhone”, you can instead focus on “New iPhone Apps” or “Teens with iPhones”.

IF YOU CAN’T SAY IT IN ONE SENTENCE, THEN THERE IS TOO MUCH

GOING ON!

A good focus statement is actually only THREE words or less!

Here’s an example of a bad focus statement:

“A MAJORITY OF STUDENTS AT LAKE OLYMPIA DO NOT KEEP

THEIR LOCKERS WELL ORGANIZED.”

Here are some examples of GOOD focus statements:

“DOES THE SCHOOL USE TOO MUCH PAPER?”-or-

“DEALING WITH A MESSY LOCKER PARTNER”

To write a good focus statement, think of an upside down triangle:

What is your topic? What is your story about? What do you hope to accomplish by telling this story?

List two to three major story points… the BIG stuff that your story

is about

TOPIC!

3 main points!

Take your best point, the

easiest to tell, and create a SHORT focus

statement about your story!

Your focus statement!

Focus statements written in the form of a question are really effective!

Creating awesome news packages

The following is a step-by-step guide, created by real television journalists, on how to create an awesome news package that will make you look like an ace reporter and make your subject a superstar.First, and most importantly, know that News Packages have f o u r e l e m e n t s : Video, Natural Sound (NatSOT), Sound Bytes/ Interview s (SOT), and Reporter Commentary (VO). Now, on to the steps:

PRE-PRODUCTION1. Come-up with a story idea or get assigned to a story2. Do some back ground research (so you know what you’re talking about!)3. Figure out who you will interview, the questions you will ask, and complete an I n t er v i e w R e q u e st F o r m 4. Once your interview has been scheduled and approved, prepare to shoot your story by having all

of the technology you will need (the camera, a mic, a tripod, a video tape, etc.)

PRODUCTION1. At the interview, make sure to follow the I n t e r e s t i n g I n t e r v i e w s guide sheet to get the best

responses possible. (Don’t forget to have your interviewee sign the interview sheet when you’re done!)

2. At the end of the interview, get some B - Roll of the interview subject (them at their desk, walking down the hall, talking on the phone, etc.) This is also a great time to get B-Roll of something mentioned in the interview answers. For instance, if the subject mentions the school elevator during the interview, make sure to get some video of it! Check-out the A + B- R o l l guide sheet for some great shooting ideas.

3. On the same day as your interview, have your reporter do their stand-up, which covers the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the story. Remember, you don’t always need to have a reporter on screen. Sometimes you can do it all in the studio when you’re editing! Also, if you do a stand-up, remember the following:

• Make sure the background isn’t too blah (plain white wall) or, on the other hand, too busy• The shot should be centered and fairly close, and the reporter should refrain from

making large gestures or moving a great deal. The only exception to having a centered/close shot would be if the reporter is standing in front of the News Package subject (the elevator, the soccer field, etc.). Then, use Rule- of - Third s.

• Remember to sign-out correctly (“For KRAL-TV News, this is Bubba Gump”, N O T “Back to you in the studio.”)

Finally, add any additional B-Roll that you think might be important. For instance, if the story involves the elevator, you may want to have video of students using the elevator, a close-up shot of someone pushing a button, the doors opening and closing, etc. Remember that it is always better to have more than you need!

post-production1. During editing, figure-out exactly what sound bytes, or S O T, you plan on using. Only use the best

responses that you feel tell the story correctly. Then, write a short lead-in to each SOT. For instance, if Ms.Holloway is talking about the elevator policy in the student handbook, you may say something like, “Ms. Holloway says that when it comes to the rules, every Mustang should take a look at the book.” Then, Ms. Holloway’s sound byte, or SOT, would follow your statement. Remember, that EA CH SOT should have a lead-in.

2. Once you have imported your video, line-up your shots, sound bytes, graphics, and other video in a logical way. Then, decide what you will say (reporter narrative) for each video clip, or which shots could be shown during a sound byte, or SOT. (To have B-Roll video play while a person is talking, you either need to record a VO, or you need to use Final Cut to layer the clips over one another)

3. Make sure that your viewers won’t see your edits! Make your package as seamless as possible, so that

your package tells a story rather than shows just a bunch of random shots.4. Don’t use a lot of special effects. Remember, you’re telling a factual story, not creating the

next Hollywood blockbuster.

Coming up with a story idea for a segment can be really difficult! Sometimes, no matter how many times you brainstorm ideas, you just can’t come up with something that works for the KRAL-TV news. The following are a list of ideas gathered from lots of different sources, including those that students have come-up with over the years.

G E N E R A L N E W S S T O R I E S• How does the school

prepare for standardized tests? Writing tests? How does Lake Olympia rank against other schools?

• How does the food in the cafeteria get selected? How is it made? Who picks the snacks? Who sets the prices?

• Will we ever have a swimming pool at Lake Olympia? An auditorium?

• Why some web sites blocked and others are? Who decides what is blocked?

• Should students be allowed to use cell phones in school?

• Team Feature Stories (5A, 5B, etc.)

• Technology in the Classroom (laptop carts, Smart Boards, iPods, robotics, etc.)

• Behind-the-Scenes at Lake Olympia (Where students have never gone before!)

• Student Led Conferences• Should students be paid to

receive good grades? How should they be paid?

• Getting your life in order - organizing your locker, agenda, bedroom, etc.

• Cheating – Using the Internet to cheat on papers, how many kids cheat, etc.

• Backpacks – how heavy is too heavy? What do the experts say?

• Getting to Lake Olympia – How do most kids get to and from school each day?

• Should there be a four day school week? Should school be all year long?

• The upsides, and downsides, of block scheduling

• Should students pay to be in after school clubs?

• Should Lake Olympia have a dress code? Should students wear uniforms?

S P O R T S S T O R I E S • Lake Olympia Season Sports Previews• Being a student athlete at Lake

Olympia• High school sports coverage• College football, college basketball, etc.• Professional Sports (NFL, World Series,

Re-cap Olympics, etc.)• Fantasy Football – Do teachers play? Do

students?• Extreme or unusual sports students do

(skateboarding)• Should students be able to bet on

sporting events?

T E C H N O L O G Y S T O R I E S • Social Networking - MySpace/Facebook• Do you text more than you call?• How many students have smart phones

(iPhone, Blackberry, etc.)• How many students have their own

computer? Television?• Downloading music from the web – do

you pay or not pay?• Proxies…have you ever used them to

go to blocked sites at school?• What is the OPS firewall? Who is in

charge of it?• Who picks the music during passing?

How does that whole system work?

ENTERTAINMENT STORIES• Coming attractions (movies, music, video

games, concerts, etc.)• Reviews of movies, music, etc.• Fashion previews• Video and movie rating systems – do

they really work?• How much do you get for selling your

video games? Is it worth it?• Book reviews (Reading Rainbow)

HUMAN INTEREST STORIES• New teachers to Lake Olympia• Faculty members on staff that most

kids don’t know• What teachers do when no one is

looking (faculty lounge, weekends, etc?)• Student spotlight (unusual talents, cool

trips, etc.)• How many teachers have other jobs?• What’s it liked being a kid in a divorced

family? Where can you go for help?• Are parents too strict or not strict

enough? How can you tell?

• How long do non-neighborhood students spend on the bus each day?

• Extended families – living with grandparents, cousins, etc.

• Do students spend too much time in the sun? What about tanning beds?

• What are some good after school snacks? What should you avoid?

• What do kids do when there isn’t school? What local places do they go?

• Where have students traveled? Where were students born?

MISC ELLANEOUS STORIES• Mystery Teacher Trivia• Monthly Contests (Photo of the month)• Teacher of the Month• “Ham on the Street” – Interviewing

random people asking the same question• Game show take-offs (Smarter than a 5th

Grader, Jeopardy, etc.)• Upcoming holidays (Halloween, Veterans

Day, etc.)

O T H E R I D E A S

Interesting interviews

Follow these simple steps and you’ll be sure to get awesome interviews on camera regardless if you are speaking with a student or a faculty member.

1. Plan and Prepare the Interview! Do your homework and know what you’re talking about!

2. Know Your Subject! Do some research on the person you are interviewing? Makesure you have filled-out the Interview Request Form or the Permission to Borrow Student form, and your interviewee knows when and where the interview will take place.

3. Spell it Out! Have the interviewee start by saying and spelling their name on tape.

4. Keep it Open-Ended! Try not to use closed questions that can be answered with only one word or a short sentence. Make sure to use simple, but focused, in-depth questions!

5. Break the Ice! Start with an icebreaker to make your interviewee feel comfortable.Ask a funny question, or just start with something simple, like “How’s your day been?”

6. Build it Logically! Don’t just blurt out your most important question. Instead, ask a few basic questions first and then lead into why you are interviewing the subject. Also, avoid OBVIOUS questions that can easily be answered with a little bit of research!

7. LISTEN! Close your mouth and let the person speak! This is probably the most important,and hardest, interview skill to learn. Use FOLLOW-UP questions based upon what your interviewee has said.

8. Avoid Agreement! It is human nature to nod, agree, and comment when someone has said something you like or believe in. However, you should leave your personal opinions “at the door” and let the interviewee speak their mind. DON’T INTERRUPT!

9. Have a Conversation! Don’t sound like a robot reading from a list. The best interviews are done in a friendly, informal manner.

10. Be Professional! Show up on time and thank the interviewee both before and afterthe interview. Remember, your audience wants to hear what THEY say, not what you think of them! Everyone’s time is precious, so don’t waste your interviewee’s time by asking questions you already know the answer to. Instead, ask professional and respectful questions that represent yourself and KRAL-TV in the best possible manner. When you come back to the class WRITE A THANK-YOU NOTE to be sent to the interviewee. And, don’t forget to get their signature on the interview form!

This is Kent Brockman with “Eye on Lake Olympia”. Remember you are not

the subject of the interview. Even though

they rhyme, there is no“y-o-u” in “interview”!

that would just be silly!

The following are the most common camera shots used in the KRAL-TV broadcasting class. This guide is based upon a resource called, “Storyboarding the Simpsons Way”, by Chris Roman.

W I DE S H OT (WS)aka E S T A B LI S H I NG S H OT

Sets-up the scene and mood of a news story. It shows the audience when and where the

story takes place.

ME DI UM S H OT (MS)Most common type of shot,

usually taken from the middle (waist) of a person up.

C LOS E -UP S H OT (CS ) and E XT RE ME C LOS E -

UP (ECU)Focuses on a specific object or thing, like a person’s face

or aperson’s hand writing a note.

I NT E RV I E W S H OT SCan be an Over the Shoulder (OTS), or one shot. Make sure

to angle the subject in front of a natural background to give the

interview depth.

aka NOS E or LE A D ROOMAllow room in front of moving subjects, so that the eye of

the viewer is able to see where the subject is going.

Repo r t e r S ta n d-Up S h o t

Never l e t th e

sub j e c t h o l d

t h e mic!

Over t h e S h o u l de r (OT

S)Graphic News

C r a w l

Lo w e r Third & S t a m p

Upper Third S h o t

S lit Scree n

S h o t Du t c h A n g l e S h o t

Rule of Thirds S h o t

Viewers w a t c h T V left -to -

right; t op - to -b o t

to m(like a “Z”)

1Shooting a+ b-Roll

Shooting A+ B-Roll is as easy as 1-2-3. Establish the scene (the mall) in ONE shot. Focus in on the topic area (doll section) with TWO shots. Draw out the little details (what the dolls look like) with THREE shots. It’s a snap!

23

Remember that you should always have more close-up or “tight” shots than you do establishing shots. This makes the segment more interesting, and adds depth and reality to the news story. NEVER just set-up a camera and call it good! The best photographers will film as they see the world…in 3-D. Get as many different shots as possible, because it is ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to return to the original scene and film extra shots!

This is Kent Brockman with “Eye on Lake Olympia”. I look at shooting in 3-d as

“way more cool”. You should always have wide shots,

medium shots, and close-up shots, making your segment way more cool! Because, that’s who Kent Brockman

is…way more cool!

Don’t pretend you’re not jealous.

Tripod techniques

Okay, you’re ready to film…your script has been approved, your interview questions are awesome, and you have checked-out a camera and mic Now you’re ready for your close-up, right? Not quite! You forgot the tripod! Whenever you plan on filming a sporting event, an interview, or really anything involving a human being, you need to use a tripod. There are some exceptions, however, 99% of the time you will need to have a tripod with you to get the best footage. Besides that, it makes look like a real reporter!

The BasicsIf you study the graphic on the right, you will see that a tripod has parts that are kind of like a human body. A tripod has a head, neck, legs, and feet; and they are all important when it comes to creating great-looking video.

Setting-up the Tripod1. If not already on the tripod, make sure to

check-out a plate from Ms. Shoemake.Attach the camera to the plate befor e you attach it to the tripod. (A spinning camera may look cool, but it ruins the grooves on the camera!)

2. Attach the camera and plate using the plate release lever.3. To adjust the height of the tripod, release the leg locks, extend the legs, and then

lock them into place. Make sure that the feet of the tripod are on even ground (this may be more difficult when outside), and that the legs are extended equally.

4. To pan (move side-to-side) or tilt (move up and down) the camera, don’t move the cameraitself. Instead, use the tripod lever to adjust the camera. This takes a bit of practice, however, the more you use a tripod, the easier it will become!

Some Additional Tips• Make sure that the camera is on the same level as the person you are interviewing.• If you are carrying the tripod a longer distance (like through the halls or to a sporting

event), DON’T carry it with the legs extended. Make sure that the legs are as short as possible when walking.

• NEVER carry a tripod by the camera. Instead, tuck the legs under one arm, and with the opposite hand, cradle the camera. Think of it like carrying a small child that’s worth several hundred dollars!

What if a Tripod Isn’t Available?Sometimes you might get to a shoot without a tripod and then realize you need one. If you don’t have a tripod available, you can use this trick-of-the-trade to get a steady shot.

• First, if you can, brace your whole back against a wall, spread your legs shoulder width apart, and bend your knees a little bit.

• Next, tuck your arms against your body as closely as possible with the camera cradled in both hands.

• Finally, use your entire body to film, by spinning slowly at the waist and moving your arms as little as possible. If moving from one area to another, point your feet toward the secondspot, and slowly twist your body from the first area to the second area.

Glossary

.dv Digital Video – the basic file format required for use in Final Cut

.mov Movie file – the basic file format associated with QuickTime

180° Rule An imaginary line drawn between two objects or actions that isn’t crossed(filming of a sports game is a good example of this)

Advertisement Commercials for products and services, promotions, or eventsAnimation Visual special effect that places still images in fast order to show movementAudience The group for whom media is created forB-Roll Generic video coverage of action; used during sound bytes and voice oversBack Light Light behind the subject to create a sense of depthBanter(sometimes called “ad-lib”)

Unrehearsed, spontaneous act of speaking, performing, or otherwise improvising on camera without preparation.

Bias Prejudice in favor of or against somethingBroadcasting To transmit (a radio or television program) for public or general useCamera Shot Framing a camera to shoot a particular angle

Control Room The room used for importing and exporting video footage; run byProducer/Editor

Copy Another term used to describe a formal scriptCopyright The ownership of a particular form of writing, music, image, or idea

Crawl Text moving right-to-left along the bottom of the screen to be used for specialannouncements or breaking newsCU/Tight Shot Close-Up Shot – Shots away from the action (a person’s hand writing notes)

Cue Signal to begin, end, or change a segment that comes from a director orproducer

Cut Away Shot of something other than the main action; used as a transition from oneimage to another

Director The individual in charge of a creative movie projectECU Extreme Close-Up – Mostly used for dramatic effect

Edit Post-Production process of selecting audio and video to be used in a newssegment

Editor The supervising individual of a news productionExport Compressing a file to a smaller size for use in production or viewing

Feature Story The most important story of a particular news broadcast; top story; mainstory

Firewire Cable used to connect a video camera to a computer in order to import videofootage

Green Screen(also known as ChromaKey)

Process of placing an image behind talent to create a special effect graphic…often used when filming weather segments

Hard Light Direct light with no diffusion (light pointed directly at the action)Hard News Fact-based news; includes politics, economics, national disasters, etc.

Head Room The space between the top of the subject and the top of the frame (“Top of theHead, Top of the Frame”)

Hook Attention getter used at the beginning of a news segmentImport The action of bringing-in a video file into a movie project or timeline

Lead Room The space in the frame in to the right or left of a subject; showsmovement/action

Loosen-Up Zoom OutMS Medium Shot – Basic shot; focuses on the action

NatSOT Natural Sound on Tape (crowds, computer keys typing, doors opening/closing,school bells, etc.)

Padding 5-10 seconds of black space (camera lens closed) before and after thesegment; sometimes with graphics including slug, producer, and time

Producer The individual in charge of the control room during news production

PSA Public Service Announcement; promotes information or non-profitorganizations

Rule of Thirds Four imaginary lines across an image in a “tic-tac-toe” pattern where actionshould be placed along the top line along the right or left side of the frame

Soft Light Indirect light with diffusion using an umbrella, light screen, etc. (backgroundlighting used for highlighting the action)

Soft News(Human Interest)

News about light-hearted subjects; includes funny, touching, or endearingstories

StationIdentification The name of a particular news station. (CNN, NBC, KRAL-TV, etc.)

Sticks TripodStoryboard A comic-like representation of a script; used in creative movie productionSupers or Font Text or graphics on screen identifying the people or places

TagLast thing said by talent in news segment or show (“For KRAL-TV News, this isBubba Gump” or “With photographer Optimus Prime, this is Bubba Gump for KRAL-TV news”)

Tighten-Up Zoom InWS Wide Shot – Establishes the scene; sets the mood