Knowing the rundown
Knowing your rundown is probably the single most important task that a lead producer has. The rundown is a living document that is constantly growing and changing. Knowing its parts is knowing its potential. One of my midterm goals is to have a better understanding of the rundown throughout the day. I have a tendancy to views things through a "big picture" lens and overlook details. This comes back to bite me during the afternoon rundown meeting and I can talk about each story generally, but find myself struggling to describe the video or sound bite. I seem unprepared and unaware. To achieve my goal, I plan on keeping a running list of rundown stories and updating it whenever a video is ordered, an MJ is sent out, an interview is recorded, etc. This way I will actively engage in each story and better prepare for the rundown meeting. In addition to that, I will know which stories are strong and which stories need to be fleshed out. If my show is heavy, I will immediately know which story to float. If it's too light, I know what holes I can fill. It also helps me order the show. The better stories will find their way to the A block, while the less "newsy" ones will hang back in the B or C. A strong rundown makes a strong show. I know that by keeping a running list, I will be way more prepared come showtime and my newscast will reflect that.