Multimedia Minutes: Standups — Avoid this Common Mistake

 

When we test viewers’ second-by-second reaction to stories, interest drops for live from the newsroom.  Viewers believe reporters can do a better job when they see them at the scene, not sitting back at the station.  As one viewer said, “I like reporters who go where the action is.” 

 

An exception is when the reporter just found out something very important and needs to tell viewers.  Or previewing a tomorrow story for the morning news because you just found time to get the information.  When you multi-task, that happens, as you know.  Or your news director or producer asked you to do it.  But remember:  Pictures and sound tell the story best, then standups from the field build your image and make for more engaging TV news.  

 

rtrlive_newsroom

 

Never say never.  You’ll find times you report from the newsroom because that’s the best option.  It won’t hurt your career.  It just won’t advance it.

 

For more Multimedia Minutes, click on the links to the right.

This entry was posted on Sunday, November 1st, 2009 at 7:58 am and is filed under broadcast journalism, Multimedia Journalism, Power Tools for TV Journalists, TV news training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Leave a Reply