News Production -- Package Production

News Production: Learning Quests:

        Quest 1: What is a News Package?

• • Watch an episode of the local evening or noon news.  

    • Document the content of a news package.  Usually, it is comprised of the following:

      • Toss to the reporter in the field: after a brief introduction to the story, the anchor says something like: "Here's Jane Doe with the story."

      • The story will start with some sort of standup.  Sometimes this is a live shot where the reporter is standing in front of the location giving the lead and the broadest details of the story.  The reporter's stand-up introduces the recorded materials.

      • The pre-recorded and pre-edited materials might include interviews, b-roll, and reporter voice over.  These materials tell the story so that the audience feels like they understand all sides of the issue/subject.

      • Once the pre-recorded/pre-edited portion of the package has rolled, the reporter presents another (sometimes live) stand up that closes the story.

      • The reporter tosses back to the anchor.  And the anchor moves to the next story.

  • Make a list of the subjects of the news packages contained in the broadcast.  Make a special note of any package that does not use the above sequence.

  • Turn in your written or typed list to Ms. Kramer to document that you've completed this quest.

Quest 2: Learning about the news

• • Required: Read this document to learn more about News Packages and what you'll be creating.

  • Optional/Additional: 

    • Thousands of sample stories: https://www.youtube.com/c/landof10000storiesthecompletecollection 

    • Check out the helpful guidelines at PBS' Student Reporting Labs: https://studentreportinglabs.org/tutorials/

    • Watch this excellent review about how to film an interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyUnTBZyfqU&list=PLCK43jblpn0EaRYebhpFF3zHGdv5FvhAT&index=5&t=0s

    • Explore the FREE course materials at Poynter University (please note, some materials are not free and you should not select these for your studies in AMP/AVP).

      • Five Steps to Multimedia Storytelling: https://www.poynter.org/educators-students/2016/five-steps-to-multimedia-storytelling-using-video/

      • Building Blocks of News: https://www.poynter.org/shop/self-directed-course/news-sense-basic-reporting/

      • Telling Stories though Sound: https://www.poynter.org/shop/self-directed-course/telling-stories-with-sound/

      • Cleaning Your Copy: Grammar, Style, and More: https://www.poynter.org/shop/self-directed-course/cleaning-your-copy/

    • After completing the course of study, please share your insights and growth in a blog post.  (At the end of your post, please cite your sources, posting authors, titles, and links to the sources you find.)

    • Your studies in this quest should take about 3-5 class periods (somewhere around 2 hours).  

    Quest 3:  Learning through Production

• • Apply your new understanding to the planning of your production.  Your production should demonstrate the incorporation of the new knowledge developed through your research.

    • Some project ideas include:

      • Creating a group of news items.  Think in terms of one of the following:

        • two or three news packages (between 1:15 - 2:00 in length), each containing at least two interviews in the final edit.

        • one or two features (between 2 - 4 minutes in length), each containing at least two interviews in the final edit.

      • Alternatively, consider collaborating with other classmates to produce an episode of a news broadcast, including several news packages and several anchor voicers with b-roll.  Here's an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9R-7jIktqk

  • Create / Plan

  • Produce

  • Self-Assess / Track Alignment to AVP Standards

    Quest 4: Screening and Reflection

• • Post video by doing BOTH of the following:

    • Uploading exported video to Multimedia Server (multimedia.mtlsd.net)

    • Uploading exported video to the "Gertie" Server (click on galaxy, then type Command-K, connect to the smb://multimediafiles/HSTVStudio server, and upload)

  • Reflect on the final product  

    • Respond to the work

      • Complete the blue reflection form (available in links on left side of this page); make your own copy of the document; complete in your Google Drive, then share completed reflection with Ms. Kramer.

      • Create a blog post (http://blog.mtlsd.org/MediaArts/) that demonstrates your reflection.  As appropriate, please consider discussing the following:

        • How the production ended up being the way it is.

        • Strengths you see in the final work.

        • Weaknesses you hope to address in a revision or in future work.

        • Connect your work to other artists and other works

  • Screen the work for the class, sharing your insights and what you've learned through the process of producing the work.  Moderate a discussion of your peers' positive comments and constructive criticism.

    Quest 5: (Optional) Revise and re-release

• • Using your reflections and your peers' reviews and comments, create and plan a revision of the work.  Your revision must represent a major rethinking and/or reshooting of the project.

    • Minor changes are welcomed and encouraged on your submitted works; however, they will not qualify as a full revision.

  • Produce the revised work.

  • Screen the revised work in class (please note: you will not screen the revision on a regular screening day).

  • Connect: work with peers to discuss the improvements and recognize new strengths and possible weaknesses.