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Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism University of Southern California
Producers

Going Live at ATVN

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One of the best parts I enjoy about television news is the live element. It shows that the news team is on top of breaking or developing stories. Going live also allows reporters to bring the latest information and visuals in the timeliest manner. Most importantly, going live on television gives a personal touch to the delivery process, and that human connection is what makes television news unique.

This Wednesday we covered the West L.A. pro-immigration rally, which was part of the “National Day of Action” happening across country. The event took place in the morning and our show was broadcast at 6 p.m.; we could have had the reporter do a live shot at the scene if the rally was later, since it would have added a sense of participation to the story.

An ideal place to do the live shot would be at the rally, where hundreds of people marched and chanted with signs along the streets. The intersections were blocked and an emotional press conference was held in front of Senator Feinstein’s local office. All of these were attention-grabbing visuals and sounds that the reporter could point and show to viewers. The reporter could also interview an activist live at the scene, as this would capture the emotion at the moment. In addition, the reporter would have a chance to throw in more new information, if there where any, from the developing story.

If the reporter was able to produce a package and do a live shot at the on going rally, an additional sense of participation could be created. Viewers will feel more connected if they were able to see and listen to a reporter explaining a story live, or to discover new information as the reporter does a live interview. Going live removes the “spatial barrier “or “lag time” between the reporter and viewer, making viewers feel as if they were experiencing an actual event.

While digital news might be challenging its television counterpart with its speed, live television still wins when it comes to the human touch. No matter how fast people can get the latest news updates from their Twitter feed, many tune in for live reports that bring viewers to the scene and give a sense of participation.

 

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