News Report

Key features of a news report

What is your definition of a news?

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What is news?

News refer to the report of any event or occurrence shortly after it has happened, or fresh information that is not previously known.

Let’s watch this – news broadcast

What are the features of a news broadcast?

• Look at page 31-33 of your TB

News broadcast

Opening Presentation of news stories closing

Opening

• Aims to establish connection with viewers

1)Signature tune and logo

2)Self-introduction and greeting by newsreader

3) Overview of top news stories

Presentation of news stories

• Each news story may be supported by graphics, footage and sound bites.

1)Lead – opening words – highlights the essential facts e.g. who, what, where, when, why and how

e.g. 3,000 volunteers turned up in full force this morning to pack relief supplies at the Red Cross Building for victims of the volcanic eruption in the Philippines.

Presentation of news stories

2) Graphics – information– bar charts, diagrams, graphs, still images or bullet-point summaries

Aim: provide viewers with a better understanding.

Presentation of news stories

3) Footage – live/pre-recorded images and sounds from the scene of an event that is being reported.

Aim: allows viewers to better appreciate the reported event as they can see exactly what has happened.

Presentation of news stories

4) Sound bites – excerpts of an interview or a speech.

Aim: provide viewers with information from eyewitnesses, participants or experts.

Closing

1) Recap of the top news stories

2) Closing remarks

3) Signature tune and logo

Newsworthy

• A news is only worthy when…..

1)Time: when did the event take place? Did it happen recently? Or is it ongoing? If it will take place in the future, is it an important event? (e.g. the next Olympic Games, international conventions)

2)Place: Where did the event take place? Locally/ or it involved locals? Events that take place in other countries.

Newsworthy

• A news is only worthy when…..

3) Effect: Did the event affect or involve many people? (e.g. natural disaster, or news about an increase in the price of rice in Singapore would concern the general public)

4) Uniqueness: Is it an event which is unusual or unexpected?

Watch this video and look at page 34 of your TB

• Video Resource 5.1

Which news is more news worthy?

Why?

Evaluation of news broadcasts’ newsworthiness

News story People affected Impact on the masses

Interest Level

SIA flight that faced a security scare while travelling from Moscow to Singapore

SIA as a company, and passengers of the flight

Positive outcome of the incident assures Singaporeans and travellers from around the world that it is safe to fly with SIA, as it is able to manage security issues professionally and effectively.

High – Singaporeans and travellers from around the world would be concerned about how successfully SIA manages security issues and whether it is safe to fly with the airline, as it is a credible, popular and expensive airline.

Evaluation of news broadcasts’ newsworthiness

News story People affected Impact on the masses

Interest Level

A green minivan was flattened in an accident along West Coast Highway, near Pasir Panjang Centre around noon.

The people involved in the accidnet, as well as users of the West Coast Highway at the time of the accident.

This event does not have a great impact on the masses, as it only affected the people involved in the accident and users of the highway at that time.

Medium – Accidents are quite common along highways. However, this particular one is interesting as the minivan was flattened. It is also interesting to note that another vehicle tried to squeeze through which resulted in another accident and more jams.

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• Watch Resource 5.2 – look at page 35 of your TB – Fill in the table.

Exercise 1News Story People affected Impact on the

massesInterest Level

Police have arrested a man who allegedly robbed a goldsmith shop of $300,000 worth of jewellery.

The goldsmith shop The public is assured that the robber is no longer a threat to their safety

High – People living in Singapore would be concerned about issues pertaining to national security.

A research team from NUS is studying the potential of growing tissues that can be stored and used as needed

Surgeons, doctors, researchers, patients requiring tissue transplant

If the result of the research is positive, patients requiring tissue transplants will benefit from a shorter operation procedure.

Medium – Singaporeans are generally concerned about the quality of healthcare available in Singapore.

Exercise 1News Story People affected Impact on the

massesInterest Level

Retailers in malls affected by the Formula One road closures say they saw a dip in shopper-traffic over the weekend.

The retailers This does not have much impact on the masses as it only affected the retailers in those malls.

Low – the story is only of general interest to the public

Do you agree with the way the news have been sequenced?

Why are we studying this?

• Helps you to write an interesting and newsworthy report.

• Helps you to include important details and know how they can be arranged in your news report.