ALT-2 How to become a TV Reporter
A TV reporter is a journalist who fuse words sound and pictures to produce one piece of news. The reporter will report his story whilst viewers are seeing pictures on the screen as well.This is a way of covering events as they happen.In order to be a TV reporter one should know how to blend pictures,voice and natural sound into an informative news.
A budding television reporter should remember that there are no Grey areas in television. A story is either done well or badly.News takes a small amount of direction compared with current affairs and documentaries.The TV reporter should gather facts for the story first.Having done this the reporter must know pictures which are needed to illustrate the story.The location of the story and what interviews are arranged.
After putting this in place the reporter can now record the raw footage.The TV reporter should liaise with the camera operators to tell them exactly what shots will fit in with the vision of the story and how they need to be done.The ideal is to bind the best pictures,words and recorded sound into a smooth story.
The script or commentary, will fill out the story by acting as a running caption to the pictures on the screen.Don't waste words on what the pictures already show.Let the pictures tell the story.Fill in the details that cannot be seen by words.Sentences must be precise and short.Don't use complicated facts.They are difficult for viewers to understand.
Facts should be presented clearly.Don't let your voice fight the pictures.They should be no conflict between what the viewer sees and the commentary.The spoken word should not lose touch with the pictures.The story and pictures should be smooth sailing.
Stick to the theme of the story.Commit your script to telling the overall message of the story.Use the piece -to -camera approach. A piece -to- camera is when the journalist delivers a statement straight down the barrel of the lens.It can be useful when they are few pictures to tell the story and where a report is sent from a remote or dangerous area such as a foreign location to prove that the reporter is at scene.It can also be used where the reporter can make a striking visual point to sum up the story.
The piece -to -camera can also be used to put the reporter,s stamp on a story.It also draws the viewer by making the story more personal.It helps to imparts the information that the journalist know what they are talking about.The journalist should learn his words before hand.When delivering often look to center of the lens and at the end of a statement keep looking down the barrel for at least five seconds for technical reasons.
Practice makes perfect.Above all to be a TV reporter one should know how to write a snap. A snap is brief and to the point.The TV reporter should have a good command of English language and should have an eye for detail.One should have reporting and interview skills.The reporter should be courageous, fearless and accurate.He/ she should be academically sound.
A tv reporter must be fluent in the language to be used for presentation and should have a flare for creativity.Creativity and quick wits is essential for a presenter. One should be able to use the machines used by a TV reporter.Time management is crucial and a prerequisite for an effective TV presenter.
