Chapter 5 Exercises

Find two different national news stories from a wire service and a newspaper and turn each of them into a :25 reader.

Find two different state or local news stories (for example stories about a fire, accident, storm, government action or meeting) from a wire service and a newspaper and turn each of them into a :25 reader.

Listen to a televised speech or press conference by the U.S. President or other head of state or local, national or international leader. Take notes and pull four soundbites, no longer than :10-:15 each, that represent the most interesting, important, best comments presented.

Write a 1:00 speech story by listening to a press conference or speech, pulling soundbites no longer than :10-:15 and using at least two in your story.

Find a local crime, weather or fire story in print or online and plot out visuals needed for a :25 voice-over story for television. Think about the footage needed to best present the visual elements needed to graphically illustrate the story.

Find a local news story that could warrant a reaction piece. Go out and interview at least 10 people, collecting names and contact information, and write a 1:00-1:20  reaction story, using several of the collected soundbites.