Common
Mistakes In Student-Produced
Video
News Releases (VNRs)
Updated
15 May 2018
X
Too promotional --
Not
really newsworthy. Lacking a "news hook." A good VNR
takes
a neutral tone that makes it look and sound like any other news
story.
This does not mean that the VNR should not have a purpose: i.e.
to introduce
a new product or create awareness of a new service.
However, like
a any news release, print or video, it will not be used if it
does not
have a perceived news value.
Over-produced --
There
is often a tendency to add chyrons or music in an effort to
"jazz"
up the VNR. That's the opposite of what broadcasters
want.
They want something that is flexible enough to put their own
imprint on,
such as their own graphics package. In short, if they
can't make
it look like their own production, they are less likely to use
it.
Missing key
elements --
A good VNR contains each of these elements:
-
A :60-:90 "rough
cut" package
(minus graphics and special effects) with a couple of
soundbites and an
announcer voiceover with a generic outcue. This
should be
preceded by a billboard chyron which gives pertinent
background information
on the story, the suggested lead-in, the length of the
package, the outcue,
and the name of telephone number of a person who may
be contacted
for more information. If the material is dated and
should be aired
before a specific date, that should be indicated as well.
-
Three to five
minutes of "B-roll."
It may include video from the package, but should also
include additional
video. The video should be steady and
well-framed. Each shot
should be held long enough to give the editor some
flexibility in editing.
When appropriate, a chyron billboard should describe what is
on the B-roll
(the billboard is separate and is not keyed over the
B-roll). This
B-roll should also include any logos or title graphics that
are appropriate.
-
A series of
soundbites.
These bites should run from eight to 20 second in
length. They may
include cuts from the package, but should include additional
cuts, as well.
Each should preceded with a chyron billboard the gives the
name of the
speaker, the set-up to the question, the length of the cut,
and the outcue.
"I forgot" --
By
this, I mean that students have often forgotten or ignored the
basics
of picture composition and continuity they learned in J301 and J560.
The
lessons of good broadcast writing in active voice are
ignored.
Don't "do your own thing." Stick to the basics.
Pictures don't
match the
words -- Because students often do not adequately plan
their video
shooting in advance, they often find themselves trying to
"stretch" in
the editing booth by using inferior or inappropriate video.
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