Staff Application Broadcast I

 

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Creating Your Mission Statement

Defining your mission as a staff is a very important process in moving forward. The development of your mission statement can be a process that helps focus the staff and also dedicates them to a joint cause.

Here are some questions based on a text by Bill Ward titled Newspapering to consider when developing your mission statement:

1.  How will your broadcast report the news? Will you cover the good and the bad?

2. How much will you stress the positive in order to build school spirit?

3. Will you report on what the readers want to see? Or what you want to see?

4. Will you strive to record all events?

5. Will you attempt to be a watchdog for your community? Will you strive to uncover wrong-doing and find solutions? Or will you have a show that entertains?

The following is a sample mission statement your staff can use by simply inserting your organization’s name. Or you can use it as a guide to create your own unique statement.

The mission of [insert name of show] as the school broadcast newsmagazine for [insert name] High School is to provide a show that embodies the strongest professional standards while striving to present current and relevant stories about the community, inside and outside our building’s walls. The goal of [insert name of show] is to inform, enlighten and entertain the publication’s readers. The show will strive to continually provide an open forum for the school and community members to express their views. It is the desire of this show’s staff to uncover and tell as many stories about our students as possible during the year.

Staff Positions

AUDIO ENGINEER – This person is responsible for the recording of audio and overseeing of sound equipment on location and in studio. This person must be knowledgeable of all audio equipment and proper recording strategies.

CAMERA OPERATOR – This person is responsible for recording all video for segments and news casts. This person is responsible for the operation and maintenance of all cameras, tri-pods, and in most cases lighting eqipment too.

DIRECTOR – The person responsible for the execution of the program. Serves as producers for entire programs or for the production of portions of larger programs.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER – This person coordinates the content and presentation of broadcasts under the direction of the managing editor and news director.

NEWS ANCHOR – The most visible members of the news staff. These are the people that appear as the “up front” personalities on local newscasts. The news anchor is a complete journalist, familiar with reporting, on-scene live coverage and skilled at writing, and in some cases, producing news packages.

NEWS REPORTERS – The key “front-line” people in the news department. They are on-the-scene at every kind of event. Local news reporters must be excellent writers, capable of working quickly and accurately.

NEWS WRITER – The writer’s responsibilities may include monitoring news feeds, preparing news packages for voicing by anchors or reporters, researching story information, booking guests for live interviews on news shows and producing segments of news programs. Exceptional writing skills are a must.

PRODUCER – This person develops and organizes local segments and is responsible for scripting, story development, scheduling of guests and overseeing field production, and editing.

STATION MANAGER – The chief operating officer of the station. The station manager must have effective personnel management skills and a thorough knowledge of all aspects of a broadcast operation. In the scholastic sense, this person would be the equivalent of our managing newspaper editor.

STUDIO ENGINEERS – Responsible for operating all of the equipment necessary for the production of a program. This includes the studio cameras, the audio console, studio lighting, the video switcher, and in some stations, the character generator and the electronic still-storage graphics display equipment.

Staff Goals

1. Increase Viewership

Every year one of the primary goals of the broadcast staff should be to work towards an increase in the number of students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members who regularly watch the show. If this is not one of the goals then the show will eventually lose sight of its mission.

2. Increase Feedback

In order for the show to foster an awareness of 1^st Amendment rights in the student body, there must be an emphasis on viwer feedback in the form of comments and reactions. This is perhaps one of the hardest goals to achieve because few students will take the time today to sit down and correspond with the staff. By encouraging students in 1^st Amendment Awareness campaigns the staff can encourage the student body to voice their opinion. The show’s web site will also enable students to post responses to stories and submit email to the editors. In addition, the staff should use social media to encourage an open discussion on topics.

3. Increase Coverage & Depth of Content

The implementation of a system of segments and further use of the beat system will help increase these two areas. The beat system will provide a systematic process of covering all areas of the school and community. In addition – the system of including segments, which are created, developed, and implemented in constructing the show, will add to the overall coverage of the school community. For example, the two-minute drill (sports segments) will be included in every show, and therefore the show will never be void of sports stories. Currently the staff is required to have multiple sources (one as an expert) for each story. Continuing this standard will demand that the depth of content still remain strong.

4. Reduce Errors

The only way to reduce errors is to help the reporters & producers become better at their craft. As reporters and producers make fewer mistakes in the field and in the edit bay, the number of mistakes, which the executive producer must fix reduces. In addition each staff member must make their deadlines regularly so the executive producers have sufficient time to catch any last minute mistakes. If the staff can reduce the number of errors then the credibility of the show will remain strong.

5. Improve Videography

The show’s visual appeal to our readers depends on quality videography. Camera operators/reporters must be available to cover events on a regular basis and be open to mentor younger staff on assignment. Staff camera operators should be familiar with strong composition and be able to properly use tripods and proper framing to shoot steady, clear, and strong soundbites and b-roll. As always the focus should be to implement as many emotional, storytelling shots as possible.

6. Improve Script Writing

Writers and producers should bring a deeper focus on writing quality scripts. These elements draw readers in to the story. Without a strong script the story falls apart and the viewer loses interest. The scripts provide the foundation of strong voiceovers.

7. Increase Ad Sales

With costs of equipment rising each year, it is more important than ever to be sure that our ad sales continue to pay for all costs associated with production. The ad sales help pay for not only the equipment, but also membership in NSPA, JEA, SIPA and Quill & Scroll. The money received from business ads and patron ads also supplement fun activities.

8. Have Producers Do More Instruction

The producers are the leaders of the show. They demonstrate their leadership when they instruct young reporters how to perform at the highest level. Students will often retain more when their peers are speaking. As producers become stronger leaders, the broadcast becomes stronger. After all this is the students’ news show.

9. Utilize Online Database for Posting Stories and Clips

In previous years the staff utilized Google Docs to store and give feedback on story ideas and scripts. In the event Google Docs is not available, Dropbox may also be used to store written documents and other items. Storing and sharing works online allows for greater collaboration away from the classroom.

10. Reduce Number of Missed Deadlines

Every year the ultimate goal is for everyone to meet their deadlines. Accomplishing this goal would make every other goal very attainable.

11. HAVE FUN AND CELEBRATE SUCCESS

The staff will continue to make it a priority to celebrate staff birthdays, have staff luncheons on show days, take trips to conventions, celebrate awards won, participate in events such as dodgeball, and do many, many fun events throughout the year,