Real-Life Communication
Television producers have to be able to process information quickly
and effectively.
You're a producer for a major television news program.
While the noon newscast is on the air, an urgent message comes over the wire
service. There's been a report of an Air Elbonia jet, en route from Chicago
to San Juan, crash landing in the Rockies. The 737 was carrying 99 passengers
and four crewmembers. Investigators are on their way to the site.
Another
wire service says the crash of AC-350 was witnessed by a motorist. Roger Voyeur
saw the plane flying low over the mountains above Route 495-A before it disappeared.
"It
was real funny to see the jet flying so low. Then it kind of turned and went
behind a mountain. Then I saw a big orange glow," said Voyeur. The wire service
says unconfirmed reports suggest flight AE-350 left late from Chicago after
the plane had problems with its landing gear.
You contact an affiliate
station in San Juan. The station has sent a crew to the site by helicopter
and is hoping to have some video back within two hours. You won't have video
in time for this newscast but it will be in for the next news at 6:00. You
decide to insert a 30-second piece of copy in the newscast to let viewers
know what's happened.
Remember, you're writing so someone else can
read your script. This is big news!
Before you start, just a note on
writing for TV:
Broadcasters write in short sentences. A good rule
to follow is to put one thought in one sentence. Also, use active phrases
instead of passive phrases. Instead of, "There was a plane crash in the Rockies,"
a broadcast journalist would write, "An Air Elbonia jet has crashed in the
Rocky Mountains."