10 steps to writing a story

10 Steps to Writing a Story – Broadcast Journalism

1. Find a topic_.
-  eyes and ears open
- timely, major event, local
- interest story
2. Find an angle.
- make it different if it's too broad
- makes it more meaningful
- you choose the angle
3. Collect data.
- find out the five W's
- this adds research
- find out who you can interview, what you will record etc.
4. Conduct the interview.
- interview three people, each three questions
- questions will be based on angle
- interview three experts on your topic
5. Shoot your reporter stand up.
- should appear in the middle of the story
- should be a transition
- be the one time you appear
6. Organize your sound bites.
- a piece of audio that can stand by itself
- open ended questions
- which interview in which order
7. Write transition in your story.
- simple direct small words
- write the segways
- write around the interviews
8. Write the introduction and conclusion of your story.
- create the middle first
- save your best sound bites for the end
- attention getter in the beginning!
9. Write the anchor ins and outs(if necessary).
- have the reporters write starters and enders for the anchor
- helps the flow of the story
- adds pzazz
10. Collect B-roll to add to your story (throughout steps 4-9)
- matching B-roll. interview should match footage
- cut aways add stuff to look at
- be creative with shots, don't just pan!

*Steps 4-8 in your story are called the A-roll. (REPORTING FOR BLAZE WEEKLY I'M ...) tagline