The first question that needs to be addressed when being asked to make a news package is about audience as, after all, where there is no interest; there is no product. Although there was no physical work that I produced during the first few days of the project, from the moment I was assigned the project, I started looking at forms and conventions of any short VT packages that popped up on the television. There are so many different types of news packages that are broadcast all day, every day, on a range of different television channels. With so much variation, it makes it hard to pinpoint many of the different forms and conventions, but as with all types of media, with a certain type of programme/broadcast, comes a certain expectation of what that package will contain.
The most watched news transmissions are those on terrestrial television so, on the basis that the majority of the country are very familiar with these formats, I decided to look at forms and conventions that BBC and how other large broadcasters present their news packages.
Looking at this excerpt from a BBC news package, I was able to deconstruct and analyse the way in which this package was put together. This news story was aired on the 7th August 2011; the package was mostly filmed and edited on the 7th August as well, the morning after the London riots last summer. The package I am looking at is at the top of the show (0:00 – 2:32):
The broadcast begins with the BBC news ident, which is run from the start of the show and lasts 10 seconds exactly. An ident is a crucial part to each news broadcast, because not only does it serve a practical role by giving the presenter a chance to ready themselves while graphics cover the screen, it actually helps the audience to associate with the programme that they are watching and can create a bond between the audience and the channel, helping the audience to associate with something that they see on a regular basis. Often, something as simple as a 10second intro graphic can help the audience to automatically identify with the show appearing on their screens.
As the intro finished, the Anchor is given 20 seconds to introduce herself and the top story. She gives a brief outline of what today’s top story is (at the top of the show) and continues to give key information and various facts about the VT they are about to cut into. This introduction helps introduce the VT, which in turn prompts the audience to prick up their ears and pay slightly more attention - if this is a story they have moderate interest in.
Often, many of the audience can effectively “switch off” physically, or mentally, if the content of the story bears no personal relevance to themselves. This is just an example of why it is crucial to not only have a good, well scripted introduction to the VT, but to (MORE IMPORTANTLY) choose a subject/story that appeals to the wider audience, as television channels can lose large rating if they we’re to consistently produce news stories that are irrelevant to todays culture.
The report starts with a downwards tilt of a burning building being extinguished by a fire crew. The reporter, using a voice over, is describing the scene that is taking place before her. This is very common in broadcast news as it is the simplest way of using audio and visuals to convey a point. The camera cuts, and focuses on her standing behind a police van, on location in Tottenham where the aforementioned fire was previously taking place. As she is still introducing the story, describing the scene during what is commonly known as a piece to camera, the report shows cutaways of the surrounding area, showing crowds gathering. After 3 of these cutaways, the report mentions local residents having their homes destroyed as the camera begins to show a separate interview with a local resident. Again, the reporter and the camera is in sync; as she describes using words what the camera describes using images. This editing technique can be known as “pacing and leading”. This interview lasts 15 seconds and talks about his personal experience, which is not uncommon on street interviews. This is preceded by another street interview with a local resident. It is often important to involve locals in interviews, as it makes yet another connection between the audience and the news report, helping members of the public associate with those on camera. BBC have their own branding for names in interviews. They constantly use the same font, style, graphics and logo to continually remind the audience of the channel/show that they are watching. Their graphics are also a running theme throughout the programmes. This makes it easier for both production roles and audience alike.
During the interview, cutaways are shown of the damage that ensued the London Riots as the editor cuts between shots of the interview and damage. The report continues to switch between shots of different types of criminal damage while simultaneously describing what is being shown on tape. Shots of high street chains are shown, helping the audience to identify with the report. After much evidence of the damage, the editor shows footage of police officers on the beat as the voice over mentions statistics on how many/to what extent police were used to handle the situation. After 3 shots of police, the VT comes to an end and fades back into the studio. This is a 2 minute long VT in which the reporter was able to easily convey their point across using a combination of audio and visual hints. It can be common for BBC to use graphics to convey their point, often showing statistic/graphs/key points.
I decided to look at SKY’s report of this incident the next day to see how the two channels compare in a hope of seeing how the two approaches the same story and see how their broadcasts differ. This is the package sky put out on the 9th August:
After much analysis, I found it hard to pick many differences out between the two VT reports. The main differences were the lack of a reporter on location (a piece to camera), the addition of a phone interview (you can tell by the quality of sound) and the lack of institutional information given by SKY. Despite these minor differences, the package remains very similar. Again, the majority of the package uses the “pace and lead” technique which the BBC used, and the content is very similar, contrasting facts of the story along with opinions of local residents. This exercise has proved to me that the different channels are still using the same codes and conventions I set out earlier. This shows that despite people’s preferences on broadcaster, generally they are viewing the same images using the news medium that has worked for many decades, and does not look to change in the near future. This is why we will be successful if we follow the forms and conventions already laid out by established media.
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