10 Steps to Writing a Story – Broadcast Journalism

10 Steps to Writing a Story – Broadcast Journalism

1. Find a topic.
-brainstorm on wall (big board)
-heve eyes and ears open
-sports/activities/people


2. Find an angle.
-more focused idea of topic
-meaningful version of topic
-


3. Collect data.
-Who/What/Where/When/Why/How Questions
-Collect information/ Do research
-Find interviewees


4. Conduct the interviews.
-Interview three people, 
-Ask interviewees three questions
-Questions are based on angle
-Questions do not have to be the same 


5. Shoot your reporter stand-up.
-Should appear in the middle of the story
-Validates the story
-Meant to be a transition piece in story


6. Organize your sound bites.
-DEFINITION:Piece of audio that can stand by itself
-Open ended questions 
-Get lots of details and ask What/Why/How Questions


7. Write transitions in your story.
-Reporter is not visible, but is still talking
-Order everything around the interviews
-


8. Write the introduction and conclusion of your story.
-Beginning and ending
-Write what you know
-Attention getter in the intro
-End story with something powerful; best sound bites
-Tagline for story/show


9. Write the anchor ins and outs (if necessary).
-Anchors talk to reporters to get information about the story
-Describe content of story
-Understand the transitions


10. Collect B-Roll to add to your story (throughout steps 4-9)
-Interview before you shoot the B-Roll
-Matching footage/B-Roll (Cut-aways)


*Steps 4-8 in your story are called the A-Roll.