Contest tips - Television news writing

TIPA Rules
Television News Writing
Writing deadline is one hour.

Contestants may cover a news event, witness a situation, view an activity (event, situation or
activity may be live or a video presentation) and/or work from documents and related materials.

Copy will be between 30 and60 seconds, containing a video insert (written verbatim as cue). Must note the time of all copy, including the video insert. Use conventional copy format.

Criteria: Attention-getting lead, organization of story, fairness and balance, accuracy, use of video insert, style, format, correct story length, grammar, good sentence length, etc.

Resources:
Here's an excellent overview of writing for TV

Materials needed : Writing contests may be on either computer (laptop or portable computer with USB) or hand written in blue or black ink. Contestants may use tape recorders with earphones only. Contestants must provide note pad and writing instrument for taking notes. AP Stylebooks, thesaurus and dictionaries may be used.

TIPA 2009 Winning entries

1st Place
TV News Writing
By Blanca Duran
Texas A&M-Commerce

(…PKG…)
Video Audio
SOT SOT
Vice Mayor Belinda K. Cooley in cue: “…its just a bunch of crap!...
out cue: “…control of the media may
actually be a good thing.
VO
(Mrs. Cooley talking to journalist) Vice Mayor Belinda K. Cooley announced
today her idea of licensing media.
SOT SOT
Vice Mayor Belinda K. Cooley in cue:”…its not an unusual idea, other
countries are….”
out cut: “…companies like Univision
who are in favor of licensing media..”
VO
(people raising hands, lady With outrage in the crowd, Mrs. Cooley
infuriated by plan. Mrs. Cooley explains how this indeed plans out for a
explaining) better future in journalism.
SOT SOT
Vice Mayor Belinda K. Cooley in cue: “…get the people who are best
Qualified…”
end cue: “..qualifications like education,
training and testing…”
VO
With her plan, Mrs. Cooley hopes to bring
Back the newspaper, TV and radio
Numbers that aren’t there anymore. By
Enforcing control in media, bankruptcy
Will not have to be a problem again.
Some still disagree as Kasey Smith says..
SOT SOT
Kasey Smith in cue: “..I believe journalists give citizens
Fair information and some journalists
Have different techniques. But it’s the
People’s right to read, watch, and listen
To whatever they enjoy.
Stand up Reporting live #123


2nd Place
TV News Writing
By Lana McCarley
Midwestern State

Anchor:
A bachelor’s degree just isn’t enough
these days. A proposal is in the works that
may require licensing for journalists.
Take VO (50 sec)
SOT (1 sec): (nat sound) “That’s
outrageous!”
VO cont (10 sec)
In a press conference Thursday,
Dallas Vice Mayor Belinda K. Cooley
proposed that journalists be required to hold
licenses to be able to report.
The proposed test would be based on
education and training. Cooley suggests
people like the F-C-C should write the test.
SOT (11 sec): It would be a good way to
weed out the people who couldn’t do a very
good job. This idea has merit, and the idea
of a truly free press can only exists if you
have people who are qualified.
VO cont (19 sec)
Cooley believes that control of the
media might actually be a good thing, and
that the media is not functioning properly.
According to Cooley, the media is no
longer relevant, and attributes that to the
bankruptcy of newspapers and poor ratings
of newscasts
SOT (10 sec): You all are failing because
you’re not doing what you’re supposed to
do… So this proposal would be something
that would allow you to do what you’re
supposed to do.
VO cont (9 sec)
When asked about first amendment
rights, Cooley expressed that this proposal is
beneficial to democracy, and the
government knows better than organizations
and corporations.
Univision is in favor of this proposal.


3rd Place
TV News Writing
By Sommerly Simser
Abilene Christian

ANCHOR READ (:19 SECONDS)
JOURNALISTS MAY HAVE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS TAKEN
AWAY IF VICE MAYOR BELINDA COOLEY GETS HER WAY WITH THE
MEDIA.
COOLEY IS IN FAVOR OF LICENSING JOURNALISTS, TAKING AWAY
WHAT PROFESSIONAL WRITERS BELIEVE TO BE A GUARANTEED RIGHT.
IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THURSDAY MORNING, COOLEY SPOKE TO
COLLEGE JOURNALISTS ABOUT WHY THE PRESS NEEDS TO BE MORE
CLOSELY MONITORED.
SOT OF COOLEY, 1:58-2:04 (:06 SECONDS):
DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE PRACTICING
JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN SCHOOLED IN JOURNALISM?” 1:58-2:04
VO ANCHOR READ/ VIDEO OF PRESS CONFERENCE (:05 SECONDS)
COOLEY THINKS TESTS ADMINISTERED BY THE F-C-C- WOULD HELP
ELIMINIATE BIAS FROM INFLUENCING THE PUBLIC.
SOT OF COOLEY, 4:43-4:56 (:14 SECONDS)
“THIS IS KIND OF IDEA THAT I THINK HAS MERIT IN THAT THE IDEA
OF A TRULY FREE PRESS CAN ONLY EXIST IF YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE
QUALIFIED TO PRACTICE IN A RESPONSIBLE MANNER.”
ANCHOR READ (:12 SECONDS)
COOLEY BELIEVES THE COUNTRY HAS PARTISIAN JOURNALISM FOR
CONSERVATIVES AND LIBERALS, AND SAYS THERE SHOULD BE A
STANDARD WHEN IT COMES TO EMPLOYING JOURNALISTS.
INTERUPTED BY A PHONE CALL IN THE MIDDLE OF HER SPEECH,
COOLEY LEFT THE PRESS CONFERENCE ABRUPTLY, REFUSING TO ANSWER
ANY MORE QUESTIONS.]
TOTAL COPY :56 SECONDS