JMSC 6092

1
JMSC 6092

• TV News and Writing for Television Workshop
• Journalism and Media Studies Centre
• Week Three
• September 18-19, 2008

2
This Week

• Pt. 1 - Lecture - a short detour
• Television coverage of China
• The Phoenix Phenomenon
• Foreign coverage of China in advance of the
  Olympic Games
• Pt. 2 - The TV Newsroom
• The basics of package writing
• A take-home assignment

3
China

• The China experience offers lessons in
• International journalism in a challenging working
  environment
• Stark differences between reporting in the print
  versus video based media

4
The Phoenix Phenomenon

• Launched March 1996
• Liu Changle (???)
• Infonews launched January 2001
• Notable anchors reporters
• Luqiu Luwei (????)
• Wu Xiaoli (???)
• the Chinese State Administration of Radio, Films
  and Television (SARFT) (????????????)

5
Foreign TV News China Coverage

• TV has been covering China since the 1970s.
  Very little before then.
• First foreign TV camera permitted in China in
  late 1978. Before then undercover efforts.
• 1979-1989 largely positive
• 1989-2009 mixed, but much negative

6
Olympic Games

• 25,000 reporters photographers (source HRW)
• Games as the peg
• Rules governing international journalists
• Olympic promises
• Service Guide for Foreign Media Coverage
• From June 17 2007 to October 17 2008
• Replaced earlier rules dating from 1990

7
Old Rules and Regulations

• Hong Kong and Macau reporters (hereafter,
  "reporters") must apply to Xinhua's Hong Kong
  Branch 15 days in advance of trips to the PRC to
  cover news. (1990)
• And State Council regulations - Article 16
  stipulates foreign news organisations must have
  approval before hiring Chinese nationals or
  nationals from a country other than their own.
• Article 17 forbids foreign news organisations
  from setting up communication equipment, and
  provides that such organisations must obtain
  approval before entering China's
  telecommunications network.
• Article 19 provides for warnings, suspensions and
  the revocation of licences for reporters or news
  agencies that violate the Regulations.

8
Rules Regulations Updated 2003

• Article 16 Resident foreign correspondents and
  permanent offices of foreign news agencies shall
  rent living and office spaces in accordance with
  the relevant Chinese regulations.Resident
  foreign correspondents and permanent offices of
  foreign news agencies may employ Chinese citizens
  as staff members or service personnel through
  local foreign affairs service departments, and
  employ citizens of their home country or a third
  country as staff members or service personnel
  subject to approval from the Information
  Department.Article 17 Foreign journalists and
  permanent offices of foreign news agencies shall
  not install transceivers or satellite
  communications facilities in China. They shall
  apply to the competent telecommunications
  department of the Chinese Government for approval
  to use walkie-talkie or similar facilities.
• http//www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xwfw/jzfw/3635/Part20
  V/t25155.htm

9
New Regulations Before Olympics

• December 1, 2007 - New regulations granting
  foreign journalists more freedom to report in the
  run-up to and during the 2008 Olympic Games.
  Expire on October 17, 2008.
•    Not necessary to be accompanied or assisted by
  a Chinese officials.
•    "Foreign journalists also no longer need to
  apply to provincial foreign affairs offices for
  permission to carry out reporting in all
  provinces of China ... but need only obtain prior
  consent of the organizations or individuals they
  want to interview.
•    "The regulations have been made following
  international practices
• Source Chinese Foreign Ministry

10
A China reporting sampler
11
BREAK
12
The TV Newsroom

• Standard versus all news television
• Input
• News of Day, forward planning
• News editors, Assignment editors
• Output
• Executive Producers - Line Producers
• Programme Editors

13
Programme Transmission

• The Production Control Room (PCR)
• or Gallery
• Technicians and operators
• Director, Vision mixer, audio, PA,

14
On air versus off air

• Anchors
• Reporters
• Producers
• Cameras
• Video editors
• Support technicians

15
The Broadcast Run Down
16
News Broadcast components

• Headlines
• Teases
• STD VOs
• STD Intvs
• Two ways (live or simsat)
• Readers
• packages

17
The Package

• Minute thirty to four minutes
• Components
• Strong open, strong close
• Sound and context in the middle
• Good clear writing
• Written to picture

18
The Bad and the Good

• Hurricane Rita - September 2005
• Galveston and Houston Texas
• A TVB report using agency video
• A BBC report from the scene
• Compare and contrast

19
The Writing Assignment

• Take home work
• See http//jmsc.hku.hk/blogs/tvwriting2008/basics
  -of-tv-news-writing/
• http//jmsc.hku.hk/blogs/tvwriting2008/18-septembe
  r/

20
Writing Tips

• Use small old words where you can. If a long word
  says just what you want to say, do not fear to
  use it.
• But know that our tongue is rich is crisp, brisk,
  swift, short words. Make them the spine and the
  heart of what you speak and write.
• Short words are like fast friends. They will not
  let you down.