TELEVISION MEDIA

Functioning of news channels

Editorial hierarchy
Chief Editor / Executive Producer

CE is akin to a Managing Editor in a publication EP is like an Editor of a publication Management issues and policies are determined by CE EP is the operational and Editorial head

Editorial hierarchy
General News Input Editor
National Assignment Desk Chief

All COBs Assignment Desk Senior Reporters and Reporters

Editorial hierarchy
General News Output Editor
Chief News Producer

Bulletin Producers Copy Producers Anchors Copy / Package Producers

Editorial hierarchy
All Programming Chief Producer
Senior Producers

Associate Producers Assistant Producers Copy / Package Producers

Who assigns stories?

City specific stories are assigned by CoB Generally, each news bureau has to file story list which

is discussed at length by Input Editor and Chief of Assignment Desk The respective CoBs are then given directions on which stories are to be given priority

How is a story covered?

TV crews move in teams to cover stories A team comprises the reporter, whos the team leader,

cameraman, camera attendant (a diminishing breed) and the driver All team members are equally important for news coverage!

Any preparations?
In case of a breaking story a good amount of

preparation is required to be done by the reporter Its frenzy of activity in case of a breaking story!

Any preparations?
In case of breaking story
The reporter calls CoB, leaves for the spot CoB becomes the pivotal person for the story He alerts the Input Editor and National Assignments

Desk, lines up a phono with reporter Simultaneously orders for the OB van/s to leave for the spot

Any preparations?
In case of breaking story
Breaking News flashed CoB also rushes additional reporting teams to the spot

and all other strategic locations for reactions and footage The studio calls the reporter for the phono first phono is done with the very basic information

Any preparations?
In case of breaking story
The reporter takes about five minutes of the footage on

reaching the spot and immediately uplinks them from the OB, if his camera cant be attached directly to the OB cable The other reporting team which reaches almost simultaneously starts reporting LIVE from the spot

Any preparations?
In case of breaking story
The footage goes on air directly as it is up-linked from

the OB You are watching this first exclusively on this channel! The phono or LIVE reporting continues with the latest visuals

Any preparations?
In case of breaking story
The other teams rush to police HQ, Secretariat,

Hospitals etc Other OB vans are rushed either to the spot or any other strategic location A fully orchestrated mechanism is put in place to take care of all developing aspects of such a story / event

Reaching the Edit Bay

If breaking news, immediately For stories which do not have any immediate deadline,

reporter generally reaches office and either gets the story edited personally, or hands over the script to the copy / package producer Edited story is then up-linked and the Output desk decides where and for how long to air it

Do all stories get edited?

All stories may not be edited or packaged into a news

story with proper voiceovers and bytes Many stories that are not considered very important, by the output desk, may just be run as Anchor-OverVisuals or a VO package item in a news bulletin

LIVE? Not always!

The TV jargon: Deferred LIVE Simsats

Provides a great opportunity to showcase our clients in important shows even if they cant make it to the studio / location for LIVE Also helps TV channels as they can have an exclusive LIVE with a celebrity even in his absence!

Lets see how

Scenario 1: Brad Pitt visits preview theatre at Film City couple of days before release of Hey Ram Live coverage is not possible OB vans were a scarce resource in 2000 But Zee News got Brad Pitt LIVE in their programme the same evening!

Lets see how

Scenario 2: You fix a LIVE studio interaction for a client with NDTV Profit at 08:00 P.M. Something unavoidable comes up and the client cant make it You come to know this in the morning Simsat will come handy, and your client can still keep his LIVE date with Profit

Tickers
A one line summary of important news across all genres

/ categories in the text format News which cannot be immediately cut into packages Company announcements, results etc. A source of information for various user-friendly news like train and airline schedules etc.

Who is a rider / runner?

The person who runs around the city exchanging blank

tapes for footage tapes from reporters With increasing use of OB Vans, this too, is a diminishing breed

Production Control Room

PCR
PCR is the hub the nerve center from where the

final TV signals are up-inked The final ON AIR product goes out of the PCR Managed by the Studio Director who gives all technical commands

PCR The core team

Studio director
Technically speaking, the most crucial position in the

news channel Like a seasoned music conductor of any philharmonic orchestra, coordinates and commands all technical tasks in the PCR

PCR The core team

Chief News Producer
Is always in touch with the Anchor For any breaking Chief producer whispers the

information into the ears of the anchor The anchor has to understand the issue and announce it on air This is generally followed by phonos, LIVE etc.

Who should be contacted?

For general news CoB and beat reporter For business news Business CoB and beat reporter Feature stories the respective Programme Producer

Invitations and follow-ups

The best way is to send at least four invitations One each to the beat reporter, the CoB, the

Assignments Desk and Chief cameraperson Follow ups can be done with the CoB and the Assignments Desk

Dos and Donts

Think visually!
Television is about visuals But for pure business channels, every general news

channel requires visuals For company profiles, a corporate film is generally expected to run the visuals as part of the story

Dos and Donts

Organise electronic press kits for all major press conferences / events whenever possible
In case a camera team lands without the

reporter YOU must be his substitute! Dont forget news channels while preparing the venue for any major press conference / event

Dos and Donts

News channels will love if you can provide them with

direct output from the sound console Unless your are sure, dont promise exclusive interviews at events/press conferences Ask the reporter if his team has had the refreshments

Thank You!