Preparing for the News

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Part of the video series: How to Be a News Room Floor Director

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Summary: It's important to have back up scripts for news anchors before the news broadcast begins. Learn some tips for preparing for the news from an ABC53 floor director in this free video.

Views: 300 | Tags: floor, camera, tv, television, room, news, operating, directing, signals, anchor, cues, careers, newscaster

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About the Expert

iwishproductions Brett attended Howard Specs School of Broadcasting in Detroit. He currently works at ABC53 in Lansing, Michigan. He has been a PA for two years. He's run the ... read more

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Video Transcript

Preparing for the News

In this segment we're going to learn to make sure that everyone has everything they need before the start of the newscast. Now, every on-air talent is going to need a backup in case their teleprompter does screw up, or something is written incorrectly. That's why you have their scripts ready. Now, scripts are exactly what's written in the teleprompter, but it's just a hard copy that the anchor can have with them in case, obviously, something does go wrong with the teleprompter. Now, what you want to do is, if it's the scripts for your newscaster, you want to put them on the desk, usually about five to ten minutes before the newscast, just to make sure they're out there. You want to put them in their area, so that way they know it's their scripts. Also, you want to give them a run-down, just like what you have and you've highlighted. You want to give them a run-down. Usually, you don't want to put it right over top of the scripts. You know, give it a little, little bit of a skew off of it, that way they can tell which one's which. Now also, you're going to have your scripts for your sportscaster or any of your reporters. Weathercasters usually don't have scripts. Theirs is pretty much done off-the-cuff, but they do have a lot more work to do. They have to study their maps, and get all their graphics and everything in order. But what you do, then, of course, you take your scripts for your sportscaster, put them in their spot. Now, usually, on our desk, we do have a raised-up front, that way the camera cannot see the scripts too easily. And, of course, you always want to make sure that they've got something to drink out here in case their throat gets dry. And you want to make sure the microphones and IFB boxes are also at a very accessible point, that way they don't have to go looking for it.