Conventions Of A News Package

Conventions

Underneath is a video made by myself, Raees and Sam as we explore the different conventions needed in a news package outlining the four different sub genres being;

Studio News Readers and Anchors

Mode of Address to Viewer

Interviewing Experts and Witnesses

Report Structure

We tried to outline as many points as we could showing the viewer how we done which was wrong and how it should be done. All points we did not cover in the video I will then go on to discuss in more detail.

Studio News Readers or Anchors

News Readers or Anchors for news packages generally are white middle age and are from the middle class. All News Readers and Anchors have specific requirements and these are;

Costume: Most males would be wearing suits and most females would be wearing something this helps to create a smart look making the news readers/anchors look intelligent. For females they are not allowed to wear a lot of make up or jewellery as they need to look plain so it does not throw the viewers of and jewellery comes across as very distracting. Wearing make up can make a female look unintelligent especially if wearing a lot which will question the viewers and might not believe you when presenting the news. So a news readers costume helps with the audiences belief on the news and they trust it.

Framing: As a news reader their body language needs to be side on and not directly towards the camera as this can make them seem intimidating. The framing helps the audiences belief in the news beings serious.

Choice of presenter: The choice of presenter links to the typical news reader I spoke about, the choice of presenter generally needs to be middle age and look clever because as an audience if someone young(teenager) was to present the news the viewers would probably not believe the news because someone young will not know as much as someone else who has been living for longer. Also teenagers do not get taken seriously so they would not fit into the choice of presenter for such a serious news package.

Body Language: The body language links back to the framing as well it is important that the news reader or anchor does not have poor body language because they could come across again as not very intelligent and it could almost make them seem like they don't want to be there especially if they are not sitting up straight.  

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Mode Of Address to Viewer

Tone of Voice: For the news reader and anchor to be taken seriously their voices need to have a serious tone as they are presenting serious cases. If they're presenting the news and laughing the audience will not believe them and think they are just taking everything as a joke.

Accent: As a news anchor and reader it is very important that they do not have a regional accent because this can throw the viewers of because they will not understand what they are saying. For example in my news package video I was presenting the news as a news reader and typically I would not be the right choice of presenter as I have a very strong regional accent.

Language: The language the news anchor and reader would be using would be formal terminology but not big words that everyone will understand because news packages are for everyone those from the working class and middle class. They would not use slang because this again will question the viewers about if the news can be trusted.

Eye Contact: It is important that the news reader and anchor look directly into the camera from a side angle to connect with the audience creating a meaning this helps the audience trust the news reader and anchor. If they do not look into the camera the seriousness of the situation gets lots which can be seen in our video where I am presenting something but not looking into the camera.

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Interviewing Experts and Witnesses

Camera Techniques: The camera techniques will generally be very simple so they can just focus on getting all the information from the witness there would sometimes be close up shots of the witnesses to see their reactions to the situation.

Location: When interviewing the location is very important for example most of the times when news packages interview experts they are normally in their office because this helps them to look smart and people for sure will defiantly them. 

Status of interviewee: The interviewee would most normally being someone who is just normal and happened to of seen what happened so they give their opinions. 

Graphics: Graphics help to tie in with certain situations for example if some footage is beings shown and you see the graphics 'Live' it all mosts helps the viewers to believe the news.

Questioning technique: In most news packages when you see the interviews you do not normally see the interviewer asking the questions normally it is just edited to the answer. They do this to just show the most important parts of the interview because they don't want it to be too long plus the questions are not needed.

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Report Structure

Order of start of show (use of graphics, music, images): A report structure normally starts of with an opening sequence whether it is a montage of what will be spoken about in the show or a sequence of graphics relating to the news package. There is usually music at the start of every news package before it goes to the studio and this is to show the audience that the programme is serious and this is explored through the use of music choice. Within the opening sequence there maybe images included.

Links to o.b/on location reports: The links from the studio to on location is normally presented through the news reader saying ''and now we will go to...'' like what was seen in my example of a news package where I say we will go over to ''Mohammed'' who has more on the story.