1. Natural Sound Nat Sound, Nat S-O-T, or Ambient Sound - Background voices, music, machinery, waterfalls, and other environmental sounds ...
1. Natural Sound
Nat Sound, Nat S-O-T, or Ambient Sound - Background voices, music,
machinery, waterfalls, and other environmental sounds that are recorded on-scene and used to
create a sound bed for a recorded or live report. Primarily used for setting a mood or providing
atmosphere for a report. This technique is frequently overused, but when used properly it adds
immeasurably to a story. .
2. Live shot/Live Report
A TV news story during which a news anchor or reporter is live at a
remote location. Within this report can be included a SOT, VO/SOT or PKG.
3. Package (PKG)
A report from a correspondent that contains a sound bite inserted between
the introduction and the epilogue (usually inserted after the reporter's second or third sentence).
These need an in-studio lead for the anchor.
4. Out Of Vision, shortened to OOV
Video The name for a shot when a presenter is talking but you can't see them on the screen. In
other words they are out of vision. See Float.
5. Sound On Tape, shortened to SOT
Recorded sound. Even when it's recorded digitally, it's referred to as SOT. It is generally
referred to as SOT when it follows an Out Of Vision. So a presenter aims to stop talking in time
for the SOT.
6. Sound bite (SOT)
Edited slice of a newsmaker speaking. Similar to actuality in radio except
the person can be seen. Often several SOT can be spliced together with the edits cover with
video. These can be included in PKGs and VO/SOTs or can stand alone.
7. Voiceover-to-sound(VO/SOT)
A TV news story during which a news anchor or reporter
reads a script live as video is played up to a place when a news maker video/audio sound bite is
played. At the end of the SOT, the reporter or anchor resumes reading with or without
additional video.
8. Aston
Name super. A caption on screen. In news programmes it is often the name and job title of the
person speaking but you can also have date supers. They are called supers because they are
superimposed over the person who is speaking. Often they are called Astons, taken from the
name of a company which supplied them for a long time. They are also known as cap gens (cg)
as they are often created by a caption generator. They can also be called captions.
9. Donut
It's an interview on location in which the presenter in the studio hands over to the presenter on
location. They describe the situation and interview a guest before handing back to the presenter
in the studio.
10. Edit suite
A room full of computers where the sound and video and visual material is assembled or edited.
11. Graphics, shortened to Gfx
Video and text-based These are the words, diagrams, maps etc that appear on screen.
12. Running order
The order the stories appear on the programme, containing key details about each of the reports.
13. Slug
A key word which sums up the news story. It saves the journalists writing out the headline over
and over again. It's a bit like writing your initials instead of your full name. It's used in the
running order to identify the story. Once a slug has been decided, everyone should stick to that
name to avoid confusion.
14. Sting
A bit of music or sound (with pictures if on TV) used to punctuate the programme. Stings are
often used at the beginning or the end of a report or to highlight the headlines.
15. Vox pops
A type of short interview where members of the public are stopped at random and asked a
question. It helps the audience gauge opinion on a particular subject. Vox pop is short for vox
populi, a Latin phrase which means "voice of the people"
16. Insert
Material placed between copy in a story.investigative reporting Technique use to unearth
information that sources often want hidden.
17. Assignment
Instruction to a reporter to cover an event.
18. beat
Area assigned to a reporter for regular coverage. Also, an exclusive story
19. stringer
Correspondent, not a regular staff member, who is paid by the story or by the number of words
written.
20. close-up
Shot of the face of the subject that dominated the frame so that little background is visible.
21. cover shot
A long shot usually cut in at the beginning of a sequence to establish place or location.
22. cue
A signal in a script or by word or gesture to begin or to stop.
23. cutaway
Transition shot - usually short - from one theme to another; used to avoid jump cut.
24. medium shot
Framing of one person from head to waist or of a small group seated at a table.
25. zooming
Use of a variable focus lens to take close-ups and wide angle shots from a stationary position.
26. breaking news
Interruptions of regular or planned programming for recently-occurring events as reported by a news
organization or agency.
27. live
Any programming which is broadcast immediately as it is being delivered (a live report); performed (a
live concert or show); or captured (live news or sports coverage). Requires an unbroken communications
chain without any intervening recording or storage technology. Considered the most exciting form of
broadcasting, delivered “as it happens”.
28. nat/VO
Video only with natural sound: (Television news) Video with natural sound played at full volume
intended to accompanied by a news correspondent reading a news story.
29. promo
An announcement (either recorded or live) used to promote the station's image or other event.
30. sting
a visual and/or musical punctuation that signals a break between two sections of a program.
COMMENTS