Sometimes, it's the little things that make your stories special. Too often, reporters spend too much time looking at the big picture and not enough at the small details. Funny, when you look back, it always seems to be the little things that people remember.
Today, depending on how the Mets do, may be the last game ever played at Shea Stadium in New York. It is hard to believe it has been 44 years since my dad first took me to the park when it opened in conjunction with the 1964 World's Fair. Shea is the site of my best childhood memories. I got together with some old high school buddies this summer, and it brought back memories of the numerous times we'd spent in the upper deck at Shea. Back then you could go to a game for $1.30 (yes, one dollar and thirty cents) and bring a picnic basket. Or could could get a free ticket for ten coupons you clipped off milk cartons.
A few games have been burned into my brain, and apparently I was not alone. We went to a 14 inning game in 1969 in which Juan Marichal pitched the entire game for the Giants only to lose. Twenty years later I ran into Mets outfielder Cleon Jones, mentioned that game, and he recapped the entire thing for me, down to the smallest detail.
The Jets used to play at Shea in their early days, and I saw Kenny Stabler bring the Raiders back with 28 points in the fourth quarter. Years later I met the Snake, and he too was able to recap the game as if it had happened the day before. Down to the smallest detail.
In both cases these two sports guys told such rich stories, not just hitting the high points, but using every tiny detail to bring the story alive.
Shea Stadium has many such memories for me, all rich in details. I remember how my dad taught me to bribe the ticket seller with a folded up dollar bill so that we'd get better seats. I remember how the salted in the shell peanuts tasted, and how ice cream used to come in a wax cup. Ah, Breyers at the ballpark. We would peel the lids off the cups and try to scale them, like tiny frisbees, onto the field. If you could actually get one on the field and interrupt the game, the crowd would cheer. One night we were in the upper deck and my buddy Frank scaled his lid, only to have a gust of wind take it and plant it on the shoulder of a very scary looking man, who then peeled it off with disgust as he watched chocolate and vanilla ice cream run down his leather jacket. He then turned around, glared at us, and walked toward us only to sit behind us the rest of the game. Of all the classic sports moments I'd seen at Shea, Frank's lid incident ranks as my number one memory.
OK, I'm getting nostalgic here, but I want you to keep an eye out for those little things that make a story special. Sometimes they're lurking in the background, sometimes you have to dig for them. But keep your eyes open and prove that you don't miss a thing when telling a story. Every story has its main theme, but it is the little things, the bells and whistles, that make it different.
That bring a story alive.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Homework assignment part two: Be a better writer
OK, this may sound like it is just for reporters, but producers can get in on this as well.
I want you to use natural sound to "write" part of your story. You can write "into" or "out of" a piece of nat sound, but you have to tie your copy into the sound.
Examples:
(writing out of a nat break)
Nat sound: people screaming on roller coaster
Copy: "...You'll be hearing a lot of that at the state fair this weekend."
(writing into a nat break)
Copy: "This is what's waking people up in the middle of the night...."
Nat sound: train roaring by, blowing whistle
For producers, instead of just writing vo's or vo-sots, try making nat sound part of your copy.
Remember, for those of you who have trouble writing copy, the more you use sound to "tell" your story, the less you have to write!
I want you to use natural sound to "write" part of your story. You can write "into" or "out of" a piece of nat sound, but you have to tie your copy into the sound.
Examples:
(writing out of a nat break)
Nat sound: people screaming on roller coaster
Copy: "...You'll be hearing a lot of that at the state fair this weekend."
(writing into a nat break)
Copy: "This is what's waking people up in the middle of the night...."
Nat sound: train roaring by, blowing whistle
For producers, instead of just writing vo's or vo-sots, try making nat sound part of your copy.
Remember, for those of you who have trouble writing copy, the more you use sound to "tell" your story, the less you have to write!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Politicians are avoiding the media... can you blame them?
Ugly guy walks into a bar. Sees a spectacularly beautiful woman across the room. Doesn't approach her because he knows he doesn't have a prayer of getting her phone number, even though he's a nice, decent guy.
Politician walks into a room full of biased journalists. Passes them all to talk to the people because politician knows he doesn't have a prayer of getting objective coverage.
What's the difference? There isn't one. When you know the outcome, why bother?
If you're wondering why so many politicians might be giving you the cold shoulder these days, it's because of the perception of media bias. And let's be honest, it's not even a perception anymore. It's very real. You may be the most objective reporter in the world with a big "J" on your head, but politicians might not trust you. They think we're all playing the gotcha game, waiting in the bushes to spring out with obscure questions.
So now we're going back to the days when Ronald Reagan decided he was better off talking to the people instead of the media. Had he been President during these days of the 24-hour spin cycle, he might have never left the Oval Office.
How do you fix this?
Well, I'd say it has to be fixed from the top down, but that's not gonna happen. So it's up to you, the local reporters who have to deal with politicians every day.
As sleazy as some politicians might be, you still have to earn their trust. You must strive to be fair, to keep your personal feelings out if the story. Once you do that with one or two politicians, you'll eventually get the reputation as a fair reporter. Politicians, in their own weird way, respect reporters who actually dig up stuff rather than just inject bias.
Be firm but fair. Put yourself in the politician's place: if you were running for office, how would you want to be treated?
Trust me, if you treat someone in public office fairly, word will get around, and these people will start calling you.
Instead of avoiding you.
Politician walks into a room full of biased journalists. Passes them all to talk to the people because politician knows he doesn't have a prayer of getting objective coverage.
What's the difference? There isn't one. When you know the outcome, why bother?
If you're wondering why so many politicians might be giving you the cold shoulder these days, it's because of the perception of media bias. And let's be honest, it's not even a perception anymore. It's very real. You may be the most objective reporter in the world with a big "J" on your head, but politicians might not trust you. They think we're all playing the gotcha game, waiting in the bushes to spring out with obscure questions.
So now we're going back to the days when Ronald Reagan decided he was better off talking to the people instead of the media. Had he been President during these days of the 24-hour spin cycle, he might have never left the Oval Office.
How do you fix this?
Well, I'd say it has to be fixed from the top down, but that's not gonna happen. So it's up to you, the local reporters who have to deal with politicians every day.
As sleazy as some politicians might be, you still have to earn their trust. You must strive to be fair, to keep your personal feelings out if the story. Once you do that with one or two politicians, you'll eventually get the reputation as a fair reporter. Politicians, in their own weird way, respect reporters who actually dig up stuff rather than just inject bias.
Be firm but fair. Put yourself in the politician's place: if you were running for office, how would you want to be treated?
Trust me, if you treat someone in public office fairly, word will get around, and these people will start calling you.
Instead of avoiding you.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Mailbag: Why are there no sports jobs?
Grape,
I'll be graduating next year and my first love is sports. I did an internship this summer and it seems as though everyone at the station told me to focus on news reporting instead, that there were no sports jobs and that there is a shortage of male news reporters. What, in your opinion, is the future of sports on local TV?
-Highlight Reel
Dear Highlight Reel,
Well, I hate to tell you this, but I agree with the people who gave you advice during your internship. While there are sports jobs and always will be, there has always been a glut of people who want them. When you factor in the fact that half the network jobs are either taken up by ex-jocks or sons of famous announcers (Joe Buck, Chip Caray) that makes things even harder.
Then you're fighting the consultant wars. About ten years ago consultants said that true sports fans get their sports from ESPN (I am and I don't) and that local sports should be totally local... and be presented so that it appealed to women. (If any consultant can tell me how to get my wife to watch sports, I'm all ears.) Then it became acceptable for a woman to deliver a sportscast, and that was long overdue. But then stations started canceling sportscasts, as consultants told them people were tuning out after weather.
But here's a real telltale sign. In the past year I have had two of my friends who were the primary sportscasters in major markets switch to news. They see the handwriting on the wall.
Can you make it in sports? Sure, but it will be tougher than making it in news. There is a shortage of male reporters and that will probably continue.
Hey Grapevine,
Just curious, but what happens to old resume tapes since they don't get returned?
-Green Reporter
Dear Green
Years ago stories were shot on 3/4 inch tapes, and those were used for resume tapes as well. Some stations returned them, but many used them as tape stock. I had one friend who told me that whenever his station was running low on field tapes, the ND would run an ad to replenish the stock. Nice, huh? And VNRs on 3/4 tapes never hit the air... they were grabbed and used as resume tapes by reporters. (You see, my generation was green long before it was in vogue.)
But fear not, the landfills are not overflowing with resume tapes. They are often used by the sales department, which has to bring copies of commercials to clients. Sometimes they are just put into a box and the staff can take what they wish, and use them at home to record stuff.
If anyone knows how to recycle DVDs, I'd sure like to know, cause these things are piling up in my office.
Grape Man,
What does the term "closet live shot" mean?
-Newby
Dear Newby,
A closet live shot is one shot at night in which the surrounding area is so dark you can't see anything but the reporter. The old saying is that "you could have been in a closet and the viewers wouldn't know" applies to this phrase.
You can see one almost every night in most markets.
I'll be graduating next year and my first love is sports. I did an internship this summer and it seems as though everyone at the station told me to focus on news reporting instead, that there were no sports jobs and that there is a shortage of male news reporters. What, in your opinion, is the future of sports on local TV?
-Highlight Reel
Dear Highlight Reel,
Well, I hate to tell you this, but I agree with the people who gave you advice during your internship. While there are sports jobs and always will be, there has always been a glut of people who want them. When you factor in the fact that half the network jobs are either taken up by ex-jocks or sons of famous announcers (Joe Buck, Chip Caray) that makes things even harder.
Then you're fighting the consultant wars. About ten years ago consultants said that true sports fans get their sports from ESPN (I am and I don't) and that local sports should be totally local... and be presented so that it appealed to women. (If any consultant can tell me how to get my wife to watch sports, I'm all ears.) Then it became acceptable for a woman to deliver a sportscast, and that was long overdue. But then stations started canceling sportscasts, as consultants told them people were tuning out after weather.
But here's a real telltale sign. In the past year I have had two of my friends who were the primary sportscasters in major markets switch to news. They see the handwriting on the wall.
Can you make it in sports? Sure, but it will be tougher than making it in news. There is a shortage of male reporters and that will probably continue.
Hey Grapevine,
Just curious, but what happens to old resume tapes since they don't get returned?
-Green Reporter
Dear Green
Years ago stories were shot on 3/4 inch tapes, and those were used for resume tapes as well. Some stations returned them, but many used them as tape stock. I had one friend who told me that whenever his station was running low on field tapes, the ND would run an ad to replenish the stock. Nice, huh? And VNRs on 3/4 tapes never hit the air... they were grabbed and used as resume tapes by reporters. (You see, my generation was green long before it was in vogue.)
But fear not, the landfills are not overflowing with resume tapes. They are often used by the sales department, which has to bring copies of commercials to clients. Sometimes they are just put into a box and the staff can take what they wish, and use them at home to record stuff.
If anyone knows how to recycle DVDs, I'd sure like to know, cause these things are piling up in my office.
Grape Man,
What does the term "closet live shot" mean?
-Newby
Dear Newby,
A closet live shot is one shot at night in which the surrounding area is so dark you can't see anything but the reporter. The old saying is that "you could have been in a closet and the viewers wouldn't know" applies to this phrase.
You can see one almost every night in most markets.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Homework assignment: Be a better writer
I'm often asked if great writers are born with talent, or simply worked hard to hone the craft. Well, you might say it's a little bit of both. There are hundreds of stories about great writers whose manuscripts were rejected dozens of times before they were published.
News writing is a different animal, of course. Words are at a premium when you have a story that runs ninety seconds, or a voice over that runs fifteen. Every word counts.
So today's exercise may sound like a simple one, but it is one that helped me years ago when I was breaking into the business.
Take a bunch of scripts and re-write them. However, you cannot use the words "is" "are" or "was" in your copy.
Consultants are always telling people to use action verbs, so here's your chance. You might be surprised at how difficult this is, especially if you're a producer writing an entire show. But it will force you to stretch your imagination and vocabulary so that you end up with copy that is more interesting and hopefully exciting.
We'll have more exercises in the weeks to come. For now, try this one and drop me a line to let me know how things turned out for you.
News writing is a different animal, of course. Words are at a premium when you have a story that runs ninety seconds, or a voice over that runs fifteen. Every word counts.
So today's exercise may sound like a simple one, but it is one that helped me years ago when I was breaking into the business.
Take a bunch of scripts and re-write them. However, you cannot use the words "is" "are" or "was" in your copy.
Consultants are always telling people to use action verbs, so here's your chance. You might be surprised at how difficult this is, especially if you're a producer writing an entire show. But it will force you to stretch your imagination and vocabulary so that you end up with copy that is more interesting and hopefully exciting.
We'll have more exercises in the weeks to come. For now, try this one and drop me a line to let me know how things turned out for you.
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