Archive for the ‘NewscastTip’ Category

NewscastTip: To name or not to name? A look at pros, cons of options

Many television stations brand one or more of their newscasts with a title rather than the time of day the program is broadcast, but is this a good idea?

The practice of using a title for newscasts is hardly new and can be quite effective if done right.
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NewscastTip: Put cards back in business with new ideas

Business cards, despite being a bit “old school,” can, with some good design and added features, become great branding opportunities for your station’s staffers.

A good starting point is to take cues from your news graphics package. Full color printing for business cards has also gotten very affordable, which is a perfect way to showcase your station logo and incorporate elements from your graphics.
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NewscastTip: Online video production tips ensure legibility

Because Web videos still tend to be smaller dimensions and lower quality, production values for Web newscasts often need to be a bit different.

One of the biggest concerns is legibility. Lower thirds should be simplified and use larger text size and it’s often best to only use one line of text. If a second line is needed, avoid making the text too small; instead use other design techniques to differentiate between tiers. Also consider font choice and color carefully since condensed fonts are often difficult to read.

Text size likely should also be increased for any full screen or OTS graphics. In addition, be cognizant of how images and design elements used might appear when viewed at smaller sizes or if the video quality is a low.
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NewscastTip: News graphics color options span spectrum

Television news come in a varietal rainbow of colors, each with its own advantages, disadvantages and effects on viewers.

Blue is one of the most common color schemes used. It’s a solid choice since blue is a relatively neutral color, is complementary to human skin tones and doesn’t have any strong emotional charge associated with it.

Red is another common base used in news graphics. Red is an active, vibrant color that is a great way to convey a sense of action or urgency. Stations looking to emphasize breaking news or fast-paced coverage may find red to be a good fit, though, if used correctly, red doesn’t always have that effect.

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NewscastTip: Using anchor desk monitors to full potential

Placing monitors on the front of the anchor desk is a popular set design technique, but the monitors are rarely used to their full potential.

While the monitors are useful to individually-brand each show, too often logos are all they end up displaying. Since you’ve spent the money on the flat panel, it’s a shame to not use it for more, so be on the lookout for opportunities.

One common technique is using your monitor to display information such as stock data, lottery numbers or news tip hotline numbers on air in conjunction with wide shots of the set during bumps into commercials. Be aware, however, of the readability of the text fed to the screen - you may find an alternate design is needed or making use of a fade to a full-screen version of the graphic halfway through the shot so that viewers can read it clearly.

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NewscastTip: Good customer service vital to building brand

Everyone knows good customer service is disappearing, even in customer-centric industries such as retail and hospitality, so it may be surprising to think about customer service in the newsroom, but the fact is it can play an important role in boosting your station’s brand and effectiveness as a news organization.

When answering the assignment desk phone, for example, adding a courteous greeting such as “Good morning” is much more friendly than a curt single-word greeting such as “Newsroom.” Tacking on a “May I help you?” at the end of the greeting is also a small measure that can have a bigger impact that you may think.

When dealing with callers, it’s also important to recognize you appreciate their call, no matter how trivial the subject or how busy the newsroom is. Staffers should be encouraged to speak with energy in their voices and provide feedback to callers, even it’s just a simple “I understand” or “Yes, I see.”

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NewscastTip: Field anchoring effective way to enhance stories

Having one or both anchors on the scene of a big story is an effective way to enhance coverage, though it takes a lot of time and planning to do it right.

The first challenge is finding a suitable location for the talent and crew. Obviously you’ll want to find a location that offers a good view of the scene of the story. There’s no point in putting all this energy into a remote broadcast only to have a nondescript building or empty field in the background. If a story doesn’t warrant itself to a good background, consider whether going on the field is necessary. You’ll also need to consider weather concerns such as rain or heat and whether you’ll need to bring along some kind of covering for the talent and crew, as well as address issues such as power and restroom facilities.
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NewscastTip: HD wings prove challenging design balance

HD wings can pose a design challenge in order to meet the demands of incorporating branding and slick graphics into an element that also needs to be subtle enough to keep the focus where it belongs.

HD wings, the narrow, vertical strips that appear on the left and right of 4:30 video that’s displayed on 16:9 screens, will unfortunately remain commonplace on archival footage and video acquired from non-16:9 sources. HD wings can be distracting because they pop on and off screen at seemingly random times during the broadcast, often introducing an vivid splash of color that may seem out of place.

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NewscastTip: Mobile sites need to be easy to find, use

The mobile Web is a like a second layer to the Internet — a layer that can sometimes be hard to find if Web sites aren’t set up to anticipate users.

With smart phones becoming more and more commonplace, the need for mobile-friendly versions of Web pages is increasing and TV news sites need to be primed for this type of traffic since news and weather are in high demand for people on the go.

Mobile-friendly sites feature simplier design and special functionality that reduce download time, bandwidth usage and make pages easier to read and navigation on smaller screens.
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NewscastTip: Twitter tips to launch, enhance your use of the service

Twitter has slowly but surely been sneaking its way into every aspect of our lives and TV news is no exception.

Some stations have started Twitter accounts for the newsroom or individual anchors and reporters, though it’s not always the actual person behind the posts.

Tools like HootSuite (which just came out with a new version) and CoTweet let multiple people manage the same Twitter account, meaning you won’t have to share a password with everyone in the newsroom and risk having your account exposed.

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NewscastTip: Effective anchor hand-offs show consistent look, teamwork

Transitioning from one anchor team to another as one newscast ends and another begins can be awkward, especially if there isn’t a commercial break separating the two shows and you don’t have two sets.

However, if done correctly, the handover can create a consistent, unified feel for the two shows and reinforce viewers’ perceptions of a strong news team.

• Use a standup area or side wall of the set for the last block, allowing for the other anchor team to sit down and prepare themselves. This option may also allow the departing anchor team to walk over to the side of the anchor desk to toss to the incoming anchor team. Other options for broadcasting the final block from include the newsroom, control room or flash cam position.

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NewcastTip: Simple key wall tips for better forecasts

Chroma key walls provide an effective way to present a wide variety of information but there are ways to improve these reports by making some simple adjustments with talent and crew.

The first, and most obvious tip, is to remind talent to keep eye contact with the camera as much as possible and orient their bodies in that direction as well. Profile angles cause a loss of eye contact and limit the amount of emotion that can be conveyed through facial and body language.
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