October 14, 2013 - How do I start a news package? Due: Oct. 28 (Worth 25 pts. summative)

ASSIGNMENT:

You have two weeks to start and finish a news package that should air on the show or be added to the newspaper online. 2 min. maximum amount of time. You are working solo. This can be a sound slide or a video news package. You must clear the subject with Ms. Greer so that multiple people are not doing the same thing AND to see if it is worth our time.

HINT:

*Start with compelling nat. (natural)sound and strong visuals

OR

*Start with a soundbite that draws the viewer in and leads into the story

OR

*Start with a well-written voiceover that sets the stage

In other words, it's up to you, the student reporter, to figure it out. How will you piece the story puzzle together? Since your are the closest person to it, you must decide. However, you can ask other people to listen and watch and give you feed-back, including Ms. Greer.

In the middle, you pretty much include the things you need to report, those facts that add to the emotions or strong reactions in the piece, which come from sound bites.

The last phase of the story is where you try to tie a bow on it with a strong bite, or a well-written voiceover that is fair, and often is open-ended. Or provides a twist that leaves the viewer thinking.

To sum up:

Beginning: Get my attention (sound helps)

Middle: Tell me some things I don't know

End: Leave me with a strong visual and/or soundbite or VO (voiceover)that will stay with me.

Ms. Greer
Silver Spring, Md.