Notes, Notes, Notes

Now that we're just about halfway through the semester, I feel that we're starting to get the hang of producing.  That being said, there's still a ton of room for improvement.  One of the most important things in the newsroom, especially among the producer team, is communication.  After the morning meeting, when everyone splits to tackle his or her different responsibilities, it's sometimes hard to keep in touch.  

Everyone has a million questions, a million problems, a million things to do.  And in the chaotic environment, not every piece of information is shared among the team; details fall through the cracks.  Believe it or not, it's these tiny details that can bring the show to a screeching halt.  Hopefully we catch these mistakes as we practice running through the show before air, but it would be ideal to avoid them altogether.

The key is utilizing the notes column in our rundown program.  This is shared not only among the producers, but with all of the staff working on the show, as well. This way, everyone can see what the show consists of, and more importantly what the show needs.  Every time a writer or editor is assigned to a story, write it in the notes column.  Every time an MJ secures an interview, write it in the notes column.  Every time someone copy edits a story, write it in the notes column.  

The notes column is so multi-functional and important that writing in it should be second nature.  Unfortunately, I still sometimes forget to add things, which can add to miscommunication and more headaches for the team.  Hopefully I can improve in this area to ensure that everyone is on the same page and so we can run a smooth show.