Local Newscast Critique
As a producer at ATVN this semester, I have learned so many things that have changed the way I watch professional newscasts. The experience of working as an ATVN producer has really changed my views and expectations of the elements I want to see in a local newscast and how those elements are presented.
This week I watched several different outlets that were covering the Ferguson decision and reaction it sparked across the country, including here in Los Angeles. On Tuesday night I watched the 11pm KABC newscast. In my opinion, they did a great job covering the local angle and engaging their viewers at the top of the show. However, there are also a few things I would do differently if I was producing.
1. KABC covered the local angle of the story and what was currently happening and what had occurred earlier in the evening very well. They had a reporter live in Downtown LA where the majority of the protests and demonstrations were happening and the anchors tossed to the reporter less than a minute into the newscast, which I thought was great. I believe the audience wants a live look at the scene. The reporter did a great job explaining the current situation and also incorporated interviews and reaction from protestors, which was great to hear and I thought their soundbites really added to the story. However, I thought one of two SOTs could have been cut out because they didn't really add anything new to the coverage.
2. ABC7 then tossed to a reporter in a helicopter live over a different area of downtown, which was a great addition. However, the reporter made a few assumptions in his reporting and tried to predict the next actions of the protestors. Personally, I would want my reporters to avoid reporting anything other than the facts. However, he did back up his opinions by saying he had been watching that specific group of protestors since 4pm that afternoon, which I guess made his predictions slightly more credible.
3. Next, KABC went to another reporter to explain what happened before they came on the air at 11pm. It was an important part of the puzzle in the local coverage to include information about events from earlier in the evening. The reporter explained how protestors made their way on to the 101 freeway and how traffic was impacted and how the demonstrators and law enforcement officials responded. I liked the natural sound incorporated in the package the reporter tossed to, however, I thought a map would have been helpful to see exactly where this happened. Also, the reporter could have voiced the VO a little stronger and emphasized certain words better.
4. The newscast then shifted gears to cover the national angle of the story with a reporter live in the newsroom at 11:07 to toss to an interview with Officer Wilson and report on what was happening in Ferguson, Northern California and other areas of the country. That was an important part of the story and it was very compelling hearing from Officer Wilson. However, the reporter stumbled over her words during her intro and it seemed that maybe she did not run through her copy before going live.
5. KABC went to their weather anchor next and personally I would have saved that for later in the newscast and went back to a reporter in Los Angeles to see if there were any other developments locally. There was nothing breaking about the weather, and I feel viewers would be more interested in the protests happening in their city as opposed to the weather forecast.
Overall, I think KABC did a great job covering several different angles of the story and making sure their newscast was tailored to appeal to viewers across Los Angeles by focusing on the action taking place in L.A. However, I would have changed around the bottom of the A block slightly and I also would have picked different elements to tease before heading to the first commercial break.
