NOTE: All students interested in participating in Annenberg TV News must come to the ATVN Open House the second Wednesday of the semester to sign up for shifts and mandatory workshops. Please see the calendar for the exact Open House date and times.
IN THE NEWSROOM/IN THE FIELD
Executive Producer: The executive producer (EP) is responsible for the overall look and production of each aspect of ATVN. The EP directly oversees the producer of the day by helping develop story ideas, organizing the order and flow of the show, supervising changes needed when there’s breaking news, updating the website with video packages and text articles, and supervising all personnel. The EP is also in the studio along with the producer as the show is broadcast. Executive producers also have a wide range of non-day-of-air duties, such as coordinating awards, alumni, newsroom and studio scheduling, and planning events and promotions.
Producer: The day-of-air producer for ATVN is part of a two or three-student team from the Journalism 403 class. A different team produces each day and within each team, the students rotate between being a producer or teammate (see below). The producer is in charge of pulling together content for the show, developing it with the help of the EP and advisors, assigning stories to reporters and writers and filling in the rundown with necessary information. The producer must have eyes and ears everywhere, continually checking the wires, adding or changing the rundown, copy editing stories and communicating with writers, reporters, editors and the director.
Associate Producer (Teammate): The associate producer is a student enrolled in Journalism 403 and is part of a rotating cycle of students. The Associate Producer keeps track of all requests for graphic elements in the show, keeps a running update of the progress of each member of the ATVN team, and accounts for each video after it has undergone the editing process. The AP also helps with assignment editing and editing scripts.
Anchor: There are four anchors: two news anchors, one weather anchor, and one sports anchor. All anchors do much more than merely read off the teleprompter. They work a mandatory seven-hour shift (12 p.m.- 7p.m.) in which they put together stories and other elements for the newscast. News anchors must be capable of putting together quality day-of-air packages. They must have strong writing, shooting and editing skills as well as the ability to complete stories on time. Weather anchors must have strong writing, shooting and editing skills that will enable them to produce a quality mini-package every week. They must also be able to quickly learn how to create accurate, detailed, creative graphics for the weathercast. Sports anchors must have strong writing, shooting, editing and graphics skills; strong leadership and production skills in order to train and guide sports volunteers; and must be able to produce the entire sportscast. Interested students must sign up for auditions and workshops at the ATVN Open House and fill out application forms at the auditions. News, weather and sports anchors are chosen based on audition performance with availability, skill levels, and quantity and quality of previous ATVN work also taken into consideration. It is recommended that students not selected for anchoring should still sign up for and fulfill other kinds of ATVN shifts to build their skills for future semesters.
Reporter: Annenberg TV News reporters are students enrolled in Journalism 402 as well as other students who have shown strong ATVN writing, shooting and editing skills. Reporters work from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. At the start of the shift, each reporter is assigned a story by the producer. The reporter must show consistency in completing the story from idea to edited package in a timely manner. Reporter duties include making phone calls, preparing and shooting interviews, writing accurate and substantive scripts, and editing tracks, video and soundbites into finished packages. Interested students should apply for reporter positions at the Open House. The ATVN management team will notify candidates a few days after the Open House whether they will work as reporters (or as ATVN writer/shooter/editors to gain experience). ATVN depends on reporters to produce quality material for air.
Multimedia Journalist: ATVN multimedia journalists are responsible for content that appears either on our live newscast or on our website, atvn.org. While in the newsroom, multimedia journalists will write stories for the newscast using Associated Press wires and iNews software, shooting interviews or b-roll for local/campus stories, and editing these stories using AVID NewsCutter software. This position also involves incorporating information and video through Bitcentral feeds. Also, ATVN is expanding its web operations. Multimedia journalists can work both in-house and in the field to update stories for our website, atvn.org. Duties for the web would include writing, editing and uploading text articles, video clips and teases throughout the day as news breaks and video comes in from the field. While out in the field, a multimedia journalist can shoot video and sound, edit footage with our mobile posting equipment, and post it to atvn.org. Please let ATVN know if you are interested in applying for these positions.
Photojournalist: ATVN photojournalists are responsible for snapping photos of top stories of the day. Once they return from the field, they put together a slideshow of their work to be featured on atvn.org. ATVN welcomes any students with a background in photojournalism to apply for the position.
Web Supervisor: ATVN web supervisors work within the newsroom as the head of the web department during their shift. They supervise all text articles, video clips, photos and teases throughout the day as news breaks and as video comes in from the field. This position, along with the multimedia journalist position, will teach you key skills needed in the ever-growing journalism community. Please let ATVN know if you are interested in applying for this position.
Streambox Operator: The Streambox operator handles ATVN’s state-of-the-art laptop technology in order to make live shots possible for the newscasts and special Web coverage. The Streambox operator drives to the live shot location, checks the signal, experiments with creative framing for the live shots, works closely with the reporter, feeds back material to the newsroom, and makes sure the live shot goes smoothly. Interested students with previous ATVN experience should apply for the Streambox operator position at the Open House.
Assignment Desk Editor: The assignment editor at ATVN is a point person for the EP, Producer, and Associate Producers. By contributing to the morning meeting, making phone calls, scheduling interviews for reporters, developing story ideas, and keeping track of contacts, the assignment editor is a key resource. Assignment editors also keep track of campus activities and handle all news tips, and incoming information. This is a volunteer position and requires no past experience. This is a great first step toward learning one of the key reporting skills: how to come up with stories, gather information, and set up interviews.
Graphics Artist: Annenberg TV News produces a newscast filled with a variety of original graphics. Full screen maps, fact sheets, and over the shoulder graphics are only a few of the projects that graphics artists create. Adobe AfterEffects animations are also incorporated into the day’s work. Students enrolled in Journalism 300, interested volunteers, and students from the School of Fine Arts all work together to bring graphics elements to each newscast.
IN THE STUDIO
Director: The director supervises the entire broadcast from the control room. This involves communicating with other members of the crew, telling them when to switch cameras, when to roll videos, and when to cue anchors to speak. This volunteer position requires training and previous experience as a technical director.
Technical Director: The technical director (TD) has to master the switcher board. The buttons on this board determine what actually goes on the air. The TD must know how to bring different camera shots up on the screen, how to use video effects (such as wipes), and put graphics on the screen. They must be in constant communication with the director. The technical director is a volunteer position and requires previous experience as a TD Shadow.
TD Shadow: Occasionally, ATVN will schedule a person to work with the technical director during the show. The TD shadow assists the technical director with bringing in lower third graphics and learning the video switcher. The number of TD Shadow positions is determined each semester based on need. It is a volunteer position.
Assistant Director: Assistant directors (AD) play an essential role helping the director and technical director. They provide countdowns for the director and anchors, and direct the TD to bring graphics on screen. Before the show, the AD works closely with the director, looking over the show rundown for problems that may arise. Students enrolled in J204 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. AD requires no prior experience, and is an excellent start for those wanting to become directors or TDs.
Floor Manager: The floor manager provides a line of communication between the director and the anchors. The floor manager guides the anchors on the set by directing them to the correct cameras, giving countdowns, and signaling them to “wrap up” or “stretch.” Floor managers also communicate to the director any questions or information the anchors might have. Students enrolled in J204 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. Floor manager requires no past experience.
Camera Operator: There are three camera operators on the set who must position the cameras in a variety of different camera shots. They also learn how to move the camera to different areas of the set during the broadcast. Students enrolled in J203 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. Camera operator requires no past experience.
Audio Operator: There are two audio operators in the control room who operate the audio mixer board. They learn to quickly adjust audio levels for anchors and videos, as well as manage the audio equipment before and after the show. Students enrolled in J203 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. Audio requires no past experience.
Teleprompter Operator: The teleprompter operator controls the text that appears on the camera monitor that the anchors read. This involves speeding up or slowing down the script when necessary, and compensating for ad-libbing. Teleprompter requires no past experience.
Playback Operator: The Playback operator is in charge of the video server and rolls each video element during the newscast. They have to check each video before the show, roll the videos on the director’s cues, and quickly cue up the next video. This position requires substantial communication with the director and producers to ensure all of the show’s videos are in and ready for air. Students enrolled in J203 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. Playback operator requires no past experience.
Graphics Operator: The graphics operator (also called “chyron"), is in charge of loading the correct “lower-thirds” and “full screens” on the graphics computer. Students enrolled in J203 and 303 are given priority for this position, but students may volunteer for this position. Graphics positions require no past experience.
