ABSTRACT
Back at base in the 24-hour news operation, it’s important for the journalist to make sure that the studio presenter has the right information at all times, even though there may not be enough time for conventional scriptwriting. Notes can be presented on the autocue or on old-fashioned sheets of paper. A quickly typed sheet, or even a handwritten note (clear writing, large print), saying, for example, how to pronounce the interviewee’s name, how many years she’s been Foreign Minister, and when she’s going to Washington for the showdown meeting, will be invaluable for a hard-pressed presenter switching between very different stories. Here are some pieces of advice from the BBC World presenter, Lyse Doucet:
In essence, 24-hour news should embrace the same principles and good practice of any credible news programme. The main differences in writing it are that you must be prepared to put the key and verified information in note form for the presenter, and be ready to speak live on location, with a ‘virtual script’ in your head. It’s interesting to note that continuous news channels, broadcasting substantially without scripts, tend to be relatively free of journalese and clichés.
