NewsTeam Class

Some goals for your packages:

• Start with compelling video and natural sound, and write to it.
• Use NAT Pops – quick “pops” of sound recorded on scene or of people chatting.  Think of short NAT pops as equivalent to commas in a sentence, and longer ones as the period at the end.
• As you edit, select your best shots, properly composed, exposed, and focussed. Use only clips with good audio. Avoid shots that were poorly executed, such as jerky camera moves or bumpy static shots. Also, bad audio will not be accepted under the standards of broadcast excellence.
• Don't start or end with a sound bite unless it is incredibly compelling (or unless you are writing a package for an anchor to voice)
• Don't start with a stand-up! Before you shoot the standup have a clear idea of your story structure so that you will know where it fits in the story. The standup shouldn’t repeat the obvious. Usually, stand-ups work better as bridges between one part of the story and another. See more about stand-ups.
• Try for a good balance of natural sound, narration, and sound bites. Like any other element, NATS should move the story forward and not just interrupt the flow.
• Sound bites should be a seamless part of the story. Avoid clunky lead-ins that don’t add anything. E.g., “Witnesses couldn't believe what they saw,” not “witness Jane Smith had this to say.” 

NewsTeam Package "Mechanics"

• The package intro and your reporter script are on separate formats. For the reporter script, follow the example for "Package Script" in the news formats. You might consider going into Word and creating a Table with 2 columns and one row. 

*Note: Write out the sound bites and your standup word-for-word. Keep in mind that the anchor intro shouldn’t be written as an after-thought. Make it the first thing you write for the story. It will save you time...focusing your story.

• If possible, include at least :02 of natural sound at the beginning of the package, before the first audio (e.g., reporter track) starts. The narration should NOT begin at the same time as the video! NATS help set the scene.
• After the out-cue (sig-out - see below), include :10 of video pad. This padding should be a continuation of the ending shot rather than another shot.  If the last shot is not long enough to get 10 seconds of padding, then freeze it by making a freeze frame.  Usually, it is better to have moving video rather than a freeze-frame. 
• When you time the package for the anchor lead-in page, the time starts with first video (:00) and ends with your outcue or whatever other sound you want to be the last thing on the air.  This means: 
•             Do not give the time code time;
•             Do not include the pad at the end as part of the 'Pkg run time'
•             CG’s: CG each person once on the anchor intro page and on the        CG sheet. (On the reporter script, indicate who it is each time they talk.)  Only CG a person when they talk for 5 seconds or longer.
•            Always sign off (sig out) with our standard outcue: 'Your name, NewsTeam Boulder.'

• Make sure your package has a slate with the story slug (title), the total running time (TRT), the names of the people who worked on it, and the airdate.  
• Do NOT include a countdown for NewsTeam packages. The slate should be followed immediately by the first video of your package.