STORYTELLINGSTORYTELLING

AND WRITINGAND WRITING

FOR BROADCASTFOR BROADCAST

““The heart of what we do is writing. The heart of what we do is writing. We have pictures, but they don’t We have pictures, but they don’t matter unless you have a matter unless you have a cohesive narration to go with it. cohesive narration to go with it. Anybody can string a few facts Anybody can string a few facts together, but not everyone can together, but not everyone can tell a story.”tell a story.”

– –John Antonio, WABC-TVJohn Antonio, WABC-TV

StorytellingStorytelling

Modern-day broadcast reporting Modern-day broadcast reporting boils down to telling a story.boils down to telling a story.

The underlying process of The underlying process of storytelling has changed little storytelling has changed little in thousands of years.in thousands of years.

Preparing to WritePreparing to Write Be sure you understand the Be sure you understand the

informationinformation Be sure the audience understandsBe sure the audience understands Put yourself in the listener’s seatPut yourself in the listener’s seat Make the story clear and simpleMake the story clear and simple Be sure the audience caresBe sure the audience cares

– Will they listen? Will they listen? – Why should they care? Why should they care? – Connect the story to the audienceConnect the story to the audience

Preparing to Write, Preparing to Write, continuedcontinued

Identify the charactersIdentify the characters

Personalize the storyPersonalize the story

Use the “diamond effect”Use the “diamond effect”

The Diamond EffectThe Diamond Effect

One child and the long drive to school

because of the closed bridge.

The more general story, i.e., numbers affected, reasons for closure, effects on others.

Same child as beginning—on the drive home from school—

looking to future.

Preparing to Write, Preparing to Write, continuedcontinued

Review the five W’sReview the five W’s– Who, what, when, where & whyWho, what, when, where & why

Boil it down to three wordsBoil it down to three words– WHO did WHAT to WHOM, or WHO did WHAT to WHOM, or – WHO did WHAT to WHAT?WHO did WHAT to WHAT?

Find the appropriate storytelling Find the appropriate storytelling style & pacestyle & pace

Preparing to Write, Preparing to Write, continuedcontinued

Determine an angleDetermine an angle Keep it simple Keep it simple Prepare information for the ear Prepare information for the ear Write in short, declarative Write in short, declarative

sentencessentences

The LeadThe LeadThe first paragraph in newspaper The first paragraph in newspaper

stories/the first sentence in stories/the first sentence in broadcast storiesbroadcast stories

Must draw viewer’s/listener’sMust draw viewer’s/listener’s attentionattention

Sets the tone for the storySets the tone for the story Includes many of the basic factsIncludes many of the basic facts Determines whether a story will Determines whether a story will

bebe heard/watchedheard/watched

The Hard LeadThe Hard Lead

A straightforward first sentence that A straightforward first sentence that begins giving information begins giving information immediatelyimmediately– Most common leadMost common lead– Preferred by reportersPreferred by reporters– Used for serious, breaking storiesUsed for serious, breaking stories

U.S. forces are striking Taliban targets in U.S. forces are striking Taliban targets in Afghanistan this morning.Afghanistan this morning.

The Soft LeadThe Soft Lead Gives listeners only a general idea what Gives listeners only a general idea what

the story is aboutthe story is about– Five W’s follow the leadFive W’s follow the lead– Used for features, not hard newsUsed for features, not hard news– Can provide an interesting angleCan provide an interesting angle

Americans are sipping their coffee this Americans are sipping their coffee this morning and forming opinions about morning and forming opinions about last night’s air strikes against last night’s air strikes against Afghanistan.Afghanistan.

The Throwaway LeadThe Throwaway Lead Entices the viewer to listen further Entices the viewer to listen further

without giving away any real without giving away any real informationinformation– Does not reveal the subjectDoes not reveal the subject– Teases the viewer into learning the Teases the viewer into learning the

detailsdetails– Could be eliminated without affecting Could be eliminated without affecting

viewer understandingviewer understanding

Several area businesses shut down last Several area businesses shut down last night but no one is complaining.night but no one is complaining.

The Umbrella LeadThe Umbrella Lead Introduces more than one subject or Introduces more than one subject or

different parts of the same storydifferent parts of the same story– Includes a lot of informationIncludes a lot of information– Encourages viewer to listen/watch to Encourages viewer to listen/watch to

see how two parts of story fit togethersee how two parts of story fit together– May include five W’sMay include five W’s

Military leaders are deciding the next Military leaders are deciding the next course of action in Afghanistan, while course of action in Afghanistan, while refugees are flooding out of the refugees are flooding out of the country.country.

The Question LeadThe Question Lead Asks viewers a question at the beginning Asks viewers a question at the beginning

of the story that helps involve them of the story that helps involve them – May not introduce real subjectMay not introduce real subject– Use sparingly; may irritate audienceUse sparingly; may irritate audience– Audience should care about the answerAudience should care about the answer– Be certain to answer the questionBe certain to answer the question– Most effective in stories about debatable Most effective in stories about debatable

subjectssubjects

Are the streets in our town safer for our Are the streets in our town safer for our children and for our police officers children and for our police officers tonight?tonight?

The Suspense LeadThe Suspense Lead Establishes anticipation & Establishes anticipation &

expectation for a resolutionexpectation for a resolution– Facts often told in chronological orderFacts often told in chronological order– Payoff comes at end of storyPayoff comes at end of story– Payoff must be worth the waitPayoff must be worth the wait– Should not be overusedShould not be overused

Israel’s new political stance might Israel’s new political stance might signify trouble for a group meeting signify trouble for a group meeting this week in Washington.this week in Washington.

Developing the Story: Developing the Story: Chronological OrderChronological Order

Recounts events as they unfolded, Recounts events as they unfolded, in the order they actually in the order they actually happened. happened.

Can be dramaticCan be dramatic Can tempt writer to includeCan tempt writer to include unnecessary detailunnecessary detail

Developing the Story: Developing the Story: Main PointMain Point

Begins with the main point (or Begins with the main point (or turning point) & then adds turning point) & then adds supporting detailssupporting details

More effective than More effective than chronological orderchronological order

Developing the Story:Developing the Story: Present, Past, Future Present, Past, Future

Looks at the present, reviews the past Looks at the present, reviews the past & then looks to the future. & then looks to the future. – Here’s where we areHere’s where we are– Here’s how we got here (may include a Here’s how we got here (may include a

sticking point or problem)sticking point or problem)– Here’s what is expected to happenHere’s what is expected to happen

Also works for lighter story or featureAlso works for lighter story or feature– Here’s where we areHere’s where we are– Here’s how it became a storyHere’s how it became a story– Here’s why we’re interestedHere’s why we’re interested– Here’s what is expected to happenHere’s what is expected to happen

Sound BitesSound BitesA short segment of a taped interview that A short segment of a taped interview that

is edited into a news package. is edited into a news package. Adds credibility—source of information Adds credibility—source of information

is believableis believable Adds emotion or opinion reporter can’t Adds emotion or opinion reporter can’t

provideprovide Adds varietyAdds variety Usually around 10 secondsUsually around 10 seconds Can prevent viewer from gaining insight Can prevent viewer from gaining insight

into the individualinto the individual A story may have one sound bite or A story may have one sound bite or

several interspersed throughout.several interspersed throughout.

The “How do you feel?” The “How do you feel?” QuestionQuestionA predictable question & answer can be A predictable question & answer can be

irritatingirritating

Viewers object if reporters make subject Viewers object if reporters make subject uncomfortableuncomfortable

Each expression of suffering is uniqueEach expression of suffering is unique

Audience remembers story if they can Audience remembers story if they can relate to the victimsrelate to the victims

Victims often want the audience to hear Victims often want the audience to hear their feelingstheir feelings

Exercise care in probing for emotionsExercise care in probing for emotions

Write to the Sound Write to the Sound BiteBite Choose the sound bite as the first Choose the sound bite as the first

step in writing the storystep in writing the story Provide lead-ins to sound bitesProvide lead-ins to sound bites

– Introduces the person speakingIntroduces the person speaking– Helps establish qualifications of Helps establish qualifications of

intervieweeinterviewee Avoid echo lead-insAvoid echo lead-ins Inform with lead-insInform with lead-ins

Write to the VideoWrite to the Video

Tell the story in a way that Tell the story in a way that makes best use of videomakes best use of video

Don’t directly describe Don’t directly describe understandable picturesunderstandable pictures

Writing & video may tell more Writing & video may tell more than one story at a timethan one story at a time

Ending the StoryEnding the Story Tell what happens nextTell what happens next

As many as 20 additional arrests are expectedAs many as 20 additional arrests are expectedin the next 24 hours.in the next 24 hours.

Provide a summaryProvide a summary

So . . . police believe almost half the city’s drug So . . . police believe almost half the city’s drug dealers have been put out of business.dealers have been put out of business.

Tell the other sideTell the other side

Those charged could face up to 25 years in Those charged could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted. For tonight, jailers are trying prison if convicted. For tonight, jailers are trying to accommodate the first full house in history.to accommodate the first full house in history.

Ending the Story,Ending the Story, continuedcontinued Include a bit of interesting informationInclude a bit of interesting information

Police have seized four cars and will sell Police have seized four cars and will sell them to finance future drug stings.them to finance future drug stings.

End the suspense created earlier with End the suspense created earlier with the suspense leadthe suspense leadLead:Lead: A telephone call began and ended A telephone call began and ended a dangerous evening for area police.a dangerous evening for area police.

End:End: The night ended with officers The night ended with officers calling home to assure family members.calling home to assure family members.