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Broadcast journalism

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Broadcast journalism is a way to share news using electronic methods. Instead of using printed papers, it uses radio, television, and the internet.

Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980
Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980

These tools help send sounds, moving pictures, and text to many people at once. News stories can take many forms. A "package" is a full story with video, sound, and graphics. A "reader" is just a story read without any video. Sometimes an anchor uses a "voice-over," which is a video narrated by the presenter. There is also "sound on tape," or SOT, which is a recorded interview from the field.

Making a news program involves many different steps. First, reporters research and write their stories. They might go into the field to record video and sound. A videographer often goes with them to hold the camera.

A journalist works in San Francisco's Marina District after the October 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake
A journalist works in San Francisco's Marina District after the October 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake

Back in the studio, a director decides which camera shots to use. A technical director uses a switcher to mix all the video elements together. An audio technician manages the microphones and the music. Finally, a graphics operator creates the titles you see on the screen.

Radio was the very first medium used for broadcast journalism. At first, people used radio only for entertainment. This changed thanks to a man named Edward R. Murrow. He traveled to England to report on World War II. He told people about the bombings in London and the actions of Hitler. Many Americans relied on his voice to learn about the war. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, people began to rely on the radio even more for big announcements.

Television eventually became the main way people got their news. In the early years, NBC and CBS were the two big competitors. NBC started in 1926, and CBS started in 1927. Television news really took off after the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963. Radio could only play the sounds of that event. Television allowed people to actually see the horror of what was happening. This event changed news forever by making live coverage the new standard.

Today, broadcast journalism is always changing because of new technology. The internet often reports breaking news faster than TV or radio.

Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980
Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980

Television is still very influential because it uses strong visuals. Many people get their news from local stations every day. These stations often have morning, midday, evening, and late-night news. While television covers big events, radio often focuses on analyzing stories. The field must keep adapting to the digital world to stay helpful.

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🖼️ Images & Media (3)
File:Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980.jpg
Alex Alben at CBS News, 1980.jpg
File:HK Victoria Park Now TV News Reporter 2007.JPG
HK Victoria Park Now TV News Reporter 2007.JPG
File:A journalist works in San Francisco's Marina District after the October 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake.jpg
A journalist works in San Francisco's...
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