Sample News Script
 

.11 PM News - 08/07/2004 Writer: P. Smith Studio - Jacobs Server - video only: (file: fedfire.01)          Server - video+ audio (file: fedfire.07)        Studio - Jacobs

Selma Fed. Records Fire— page 1 of 2   (17)    FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THE BLAZE THAT RAVAGED THE FEDERAL RECORDS STORAGE FACILITY IN SELMA VALLEY IS NOW UNDER CONTROL. MORE THAN 40 FIRE FIGHTERS BATTLED THE FLAMES THAT ERUPTED LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. TV-3'S JOHN JACOBS ASKED FIRE FIGHTER JENNIFER CARRY IF THE BLAZE MAY HAVE BEEN THE WORK OF AN ARSONIST. ============= ((In cue: "Well, it's a bit too early to tell yet, but there seems to be...)) SERVER SEGMENT: 1:12 ((Out cue: "..and so as fire fighter Jennifer Carry says, it's really too early to tell about arson. This is John Jacobs for TV-3")) ============== BECAUSE THE FIRE INVOLVED FEDERAL RECORDS , THE F-B-I HAS BEEN CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE. EARLIER THIS AFTERNOON TV-3'S SANDRA PARKS ASKED BUREAU CHIEF TIM RAY ABOUT THE F-B-I'S INVOLVEMENT. =============== ((Continued))

. Although originally narration was written in all caps (as above), many writers now prefer to type narration in standard upper and lower case letters. The all-caps format was originally used by the broadcast wire services because it was easier for announcers to read. The illustration below shows a computer program used to write TV news scripts. The various stories in the newscast are listed in the lower half of the screen and the corresponding script for each entry is displayed in the top section. The window in the top left lists the various news shows during the week. The program has "drag and drop" capability, which means that the various stories can be moved or rearranged with a computer mouse. TV Production Index To Home Page           © 2005, All Rights Reserved .