TV & RADIO PACKAGING
20 tips
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Before you start editing have a clear idea of how long your finished item is likely to be
Know approximately how much of your interviewees you are likely to use
1: ClarityMeasurements & quantity
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Map out a structure for the piece
Try to work out a possible order for the interview clips
List the points they will address
2: Format Piecing the story together
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Try to limit yourself to no more than three key points for one item
Too many points could cause confusion
Remain focused on the three points throughout
3: Limitations Stay focused
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Try to make sure each of these three key points is addressed by a different interviewee
Three points = three interviewees
4: Key points Different interviewees
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Listen or watch the interview in full from start to finish at least once
Note the time on the recording of each potential interview clip
Log the words that begin the clip and the words that end it
5: Review Examining your material
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Return to the structure you planned to see if it is still coherent
Be ready to change the order of the clips if needed
Ensure the piece makes sense
Get a colleagues opinion
6: Coherence Does it make sense
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Put the strongest interview at the start of the piece
Ensure you capture the attention of the audience
Encourage them to listen to or watch entire item
7: Strength Grab attention
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Choose interview clips which give opinion rather than those which relay information
Non controversial information can be summarised in your links
People want to know what people think
8: Selection Opinions & information
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Try to leave a half beat at the start and end of each clip
Life isn’t breathless; a radio or television package should reflect life
What you produce should be easy to listen to
9: Pace Life isn’t breathless
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
In television avoid using noddies and walking shots
They are boring to look at and do not make use of the medium
It’s a lazy option
10: Clichés Don’t stage manage
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Don’t internally edit clips
Never take one part one answer and edit it to another part
It is dishonest and sounds bad
Create separate clips
11: EditingRetain the original meaning
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Never use an answer from one question and use it in response to another question
This is taking things out of context
It is unfair to the interviewee and the audience
12: Context Avoid mix and match
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Avoid using the same words at the end of your text as those used spoken by the interviewee at the beginning of the clip
For example: John Smith said he was delighted..
[John Smith] "I am delighted ..."
13: Commentary Repetition
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Avoid summarizing everything in the text that is going to appear in the clip
The introduction should set the clip up, not duplicate it
Make the best use of the time you have by using words carefully
14: Summarising Avoid duplication
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
In TV alternate the direction in which the interviewee
(First interviewee looking left to right, second right to left, third left to right etc)
It is easier to watch
15: Positioning Think continuity
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Try to avoid running two clips back to back without a commentary between them
Where it’s unavoidable, for example in the case of vox pops in radio, try to alternate between male and female voices
16: Voices Male female mix
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Make sure you have the correct title for your interviewee
Spell their name correctly in the TV caption
If they have a particularly long job title, try to agree a shortened version before you return from the interview
17: Titles Accuracy
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Try to avoid ending a report on a clip of one of the interviews
In TV this looks untidy; In radio, it complicates life for the studio presenter
It also gives one side or another of an argument the last word
18: EndingDon’t leave the job unfinished
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
If you are editing an interview as a stand-alone item, try to put as much of the non-controversial information in the intro or lead-in to the item
Always remember to make sure the intro ends with a question and the piece begins with an answer to that question
19: Answers ... ... and questions
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
For stand alone interviews always give an option of an early out, with a shorter duration and the right outwords
This will help the production team in case more urgent news breaks or they need to cut back your item
20: Options And mean it
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20 TV & radio packaging tips
Using material from a training module specially prepared by Jaldeep Katwala for Media Helping Media
http://bit.ly/bG1u3F
Acknowledgement Jaldeep Katwala
Image courtesy of Jaldeep Katwala
http://www.mediahelpingmedia.org/
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