The module provides a foundational understanding of broadcast journalism, encompassing both radio and television. Students will learn the essential skills required to produce compelling news packages, conduct effective interviews, write engaging scripts, and navigate the ethical considerations inherent in the profession. Through practical exercises and theoretical exploration, students will develop the ability to create high-quality broadcast content, from breaking news coverage to in-depth documentaries.

Module timetable:

Week 1: Foundations of news packaging

• Topic: Introduction to broadcast journalism, understanding news values, editorial ethics, and basic news package construction.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on the fundamentals of broadcast news.
    • Practical exercises in identifying newsworthy events.
    • Introduction to the components of a news package.
  • Resources:
    • “Constructing a news package for TV” – This article introduces the basic structure of a TV news package, outlining the essential components such as stand-ups, voice-overs, and soundbites.
    • “Lesson: How to construct a TV news package” – This lesson teaches what is involved in constructing a TV news package and takes students through the process.
    • “Constructing a news package for radio” – This article details the fundamentals of radio news package construction, emphasising the importance of audio clarity and effective storytelling.
    • “Lesson: Constructing a news package for radio” – This lesson teaches how to construct a radio news package.
    • “Why editorial ethics are important” – This article explains what ethical issues journalists need to consider when producing journalism. The article contains links to details pages on accuracy, fairness, impartiality, objectivity, privacy, consent, bias and integrity.
    • “Lesson: Editorial ethics” – This lesson plan sets out the issues journalists need to be aware of when producing journalism with integrity.
  • Assessment: Short written exercise on news values.

Week 2: Scriptwriting and visual storytelling

• Topic: Writing effective scripts for television and radio, and using visuals to enhance storytelling.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on scriptwriting techniques.
    • Practical exercises in writing news scripts for different formats.
    • Introduction to visual storytelling principles.
  • Resources:
    • “Guidelines for reporters writing scripts for TV packages” – This article provides practical advice on writing clear and concise scripts for television news packages.
    • “Lesson: Letting the pictures tell the story” – This lesson highlights the importance of visual storytelling and how to use images effectively.
    • “Writing radio news scripts” – This article details the fundamentals of writing radio news scripts, emphasising clarity and conciseness.
  • Assessment: Scriptwriting assignment.

Week 3: Interviewing techniques

• Mastering the art of interviewing for broadcast, including preparation and execution.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on interviewing techniques and ethics.
    • Practical exercises in conducting mock interviews.
    • Analysis of effective interview examples.
  • Resources:
  • “20 interviewing tips for journalists” – This article offers a comprehensive guide to effective interviewing techniques.
  • “Lesson: Preparing for and carrying out an interview” – This lesson provides a step-by-step guide to preparing for and conducting successful interviews.
  • “Interview tips for video journalists” – This article provides specific tips for video journalists focusing on visual interviews.
• Assessment: Conduct and record a mock interview.

Week 4: Audio and video editing

• Topic: Introduction to audio and video editing for broadcast news.
  • Activities:
    • Practical workshops on using audio and video editing software.
    • Editing exercises to create news packages.
  • Resources:
    • “Editing audio for radio news” – This article provides essential tips for editing audio for radio news.
    • “Editing radio news bulletins” – This article explains the editing process of radio news bulletins.
    • “TV and radio packaging” – This article covers a wide range of tips for producing high-quality broadcast packages.
  • Assessment: Edited news package.

Week 5: Advanced broadcast production and ethics

• Topic: Documentary production, breaking news coverage, and ethical considerations.
  • Activities:
    • Lecture on documentary filmmaking and breaking news strategies.
    • Discussion on ethical issues in broadcast journalism.
  • Resources:
    • “How to make a documentary” – This article sets out the steps needed to plan, produce, and publish a documentary.
    • “Lesson: Documentary making” – This lesson sets out how journalists can create powerful documentaries.
    • “Making documentaries for radio” – This article focuses on radio documentary production.
    • “Lesson: Radio documentaries” – This lesson sets out the steps journalists need to follow when creating radio documentaries.
    • “How to handle a breaking news situation” – This article provides guidance on handling breaking news situations.
    • “Photojournalism and ethics” – This article outlines the ethical considerations for photojournalists and video/TV journalists.
    • “Editorial considerations when a big story breaks” – This article provides editorial guidance when breaking news occurs.
  • Assessment: Ethics case study analysis.

Week 6: Programme Production and Presentation

• Topic: Creating news and current affairs programmes, and developing a distinctive station sound.
  • Activities:
    • Group project: planning and producing a mock news or current affairs programme.
    • Lectures on creating a distinctive radio station sound, and engaging viewers and listeners.
  • Resources:
    • “How to create a news and current affairs programme” – This article provides a guide to creating news and current affairs programmes.
    • “The art of engaging viewers and listeners” – This article covers techniques for grabbing the attention of the audience.
    • “Creating a distinctive radio station sound” – This article provides guidance on how to develop a unique radio offering.
    • “Producing radio bulletins” – This article sets out the essential elements needed for producing radio bulletins.
    • “Newsgathering requirements for producing informative content” – This article looks at systems that need to be in place to run an effective newsgathering operation.
  • Assessment: Group programme presentation.

Summary:

This course is designed to equip students with the practical and theoretical knowledge necessary to excel in broadcast journalism. Over six weeks, students will progress from basic news package construction to advanced documentary production, mastering key skills such as interviewing, scriptwriting, audio and video editing, and ethical reporting. The module emphasises hands-on experience, allowing students to apply their learning through real-world scenarios and projects.

The post Module: Broadcast Journalism first appeared on Media Helping Media.

This lesson plan is based on the article ‘Letting the pictures tell the story‘ which is published on Media Helping Media and which we recommend you read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.

Learning objective

Students will analyse and sequence visual elements to construct a coherent narrative in a television report. They will evaluate the effectiveness of images in conveying the story without relying heavily on verbal explanations.

• Student-facing objective: By the end of this lesson the student will be able to use pictures to tell a story in a TV report, making sure the images speak for themselves.
• Standards: Television reporting involves letting the pictures tell the story wherever possible.

Learning activities

Warm-up

Show students a series of three unrelated images. Ask them to jot down a short story that connects these images. Then, have students share their stories with a partner. Encourage them to discuss how the images influenced their narrative choices. This activity primes students to think about how images can drive storytelling, setting the stage for the lesson’s focus on letting pictures tell the story.

Direct instruction

• Introduce the concept: Explain the importance of letting pictures tell the story in television reporting. Use a real-world example, such as a news segment, to illustrate how images can convey emotions and context without words. Discuss how this approach differs from traditional reporting methods that rely heavily on narration.
• Analyse a news package: Present a short, pre-selected news package that effectively uses images to tell a story. Ask students to identify key shots and discuss their impact. Guide them to consider the sequence, duration, and transitions of the shots. Use questions like: “What emotions do these images evoke?” and “How do the images enhance the narrative?”
• Sequence activity: Provide students with a set of still images from a fictional news story. Instruct them to arrange the images in a sequence that tells a coherent story. Encourage them to think about the opening and closing shots, as well as the flow between images. Facilitate a class discussion on the different sequences created and their narrative effectiveness.

Guided practice

Think, Pair, Share: Guide students through a collaborative activity to reinforce the concept of using images to tell a story.

• Think: Present a series of images from a news event. Ask students to individually think about the story these images could tell.
• Pair: Have students pair up to discuss their individual interpretations. Encourage them to compare their narratives and identify common themes or differences.
• Share: Invite pairs to share their stories with the class. Facilitate a discussion on how different interpretations can arise from the same set of images. Highlight the importance of image selection and sequence in storytelling.
• Feedback: Provide constructive feedback on how well the images were used to convey the story. Encourage students to consider alternative sequences or additional images that could enhance the narrative.
• Reflection: Ask students to reflect on how this exercise has changed their understanding of visual storytelling. Encourage them to consider how they might apply these skills in future projects.

Independent practice

• Image analysis exercise: Provide students with a set of images from a news event. Instruct them to individually analyse each image, noting key elements that contribute to the story. Encourage them to consider aspects such as emotion, context, and action.
• Storyboarding task: Ask students to create a storyboard using the analysed images. They should sequence the images to form a coherent narrative, focusing on the flow and transitions. Encourage them to think critically about the opening and closing shots.
• Peer review: Pair students to review each other’s storyboards. They should provide feedback on the narrative clarity and suggest improvements. Encourage them to discuss how the images could be rearranged for better storytelling.
• Reflection: Have students write a brief reflection on how the exercise helped them understand the role of images in storytelling. Encourage them to consider how they might apply these skills in future projects.

Circulate to observe and support students as needed.

Assignment

Ask students to answer these questions:

1. How did the sequence of images affect the story you created?
2. What was the most challenging part of using images to tell a story?
3. Is there anything you don’t understand following this training?

Here are some suggested answers:

• Suggested answer to Question 1: The sequence determined the flow and emotional impact of the story, guiding the viewer’s understanding.
• Suggested answer to Question 2: Ensuring each image contributed meaningfully to the narrative without relying on text or dialogue.

Teacher resources

Differentiation guide

• Advanced learners: Encourage them to explore more complex narratives by incorporating additional images or experimenting with unconventional sequences. Challenge them to create a story with minimal or no text, relying solely on visual elements. Suggest they analyse professional news packages for advanced techniques in visual storytelling.
• Striving learners: Provide additional support by offering a simplified set of images with clear, sequential cues. Use guided questions to help them identify key elements in each image. Pair them with peers for collaborative sequencing activities, allowing them to learn from others’ interpretations. Offer examples of effective image sequences to illustrate concepts.
• Background reading: This lesson plan is based on the article ‘Letting the pictures tell the story‘ which is published on Media Helping Media and which we recommend you read before adapting this lesson plan for your own purposes.

Notable definitions

• Visual narrative: The use of images to convey a story or message without relying on text or spoken words. It emphasises the power of visuals in storytelling.
• Shot sequence: The order in which images or video clips are arranged to create a coherent and engaging narrative. It involves selecting the right sequence to enhance the story’s flow and impact.
• Stand-up (piece-to-camera): A segment in a television report where the reporter speaks directly to the camera, often used to provide context or emphasize key points in the story.

Required materials

• Images: A set of still images from a fictional news story for sequencing activities.
• Video clip: A short, pre-selected news package for analysis.
• Storyboard templates: Blank templates for students to arrange images and create storyboards.
• Writing materials: Paper and pens for jotting down notes and reflections.
• Projector/screen: For displaying images and video clips to the class.
• Computers/tablets: Optional, for digital storyboard creation and image analysis.

Lesson summary

• Warm-up
• Direct instruction
• Guided practice
• Independent practice
• Assignment

The free teaching tools at the Khan Academy were used in the production of this lesson plan.

Related article

Letting the pictures tell the story

The post Lesson: Visual Storytelling first appeared on Media Helping Media.