Welcome
Television News: The Heart and How-To of Video Storytelling
The Mission
At its foundation, this course asks students to develop critical thinking about journalism, news value, the role of news in our society, and the importance of always getting the facts right. Ethical considerations remain in the forefront of each topic, such as which stories to cover, how to be fair, and how to decide when video is appropriate to include in a story.
At a practical level, the fourth edition of this textbook and the new interactive website present information and skill required for entry-level jobs in television news.
Part I: Chapters 1–8
Part I, “Video Story Fundamentals,” addresses the definition and role of news and use of social media. Subsequent topics focus on finding the heart of a story and writing in broadcast style. Shooting and editing video, plus attention to professional-sounding narration conclude the first part of the book.
Part II: Chapters 9–14
The first three chapters in Part II present more advanced information in reporting, such as developing sources and using public records. Next, students confront the legal issues that reporters and communications professionals routinely encounter. The last three chapters are appropriate for those who are serious about seeking careers in television news, with details about the role of producers, the inside operation of the newsroom, and how to find the first job.
Beyond the Course
For those who do not ultimately pursue careers in television news, the skills from this course can lead to careers in a much wider variety of communications areas. The ability to gather information and write for broadcast is also applicable for work in public relations, marketing, and communications jobs for both corporations and nonprofits. Basic video storytelling skills can lead to creating commercials, corporate videos, or even documentaries and film where small units get combined into longer narratives. Whatever path an individual follows, the broad goal of this book and website is to help students apply their intelligence and talent to careers where they do important, ethical work as professional communicators.
Book Information Complimentary Exam Copy
