ABSTRACT

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on creating stories and newscasts that still cover the important stories and events but can no longer be called 'irrelevant or boring'. It learns how to ask the hard questions during an interview and get amazing audio and video that will bring the story into focus while making listeners care. The chapter finds ways to 'color' stories with natural or ambient sound and music, sound effects and other production elements. As News Director at a Los Angeles radio station in the 1990s, authors decided to try something different. The chapter realizes that when people woke up to authors on their clock alarm, there they were, starting their day off with "doom, gloom, death and destruction". Much of what is heard and seen in television and radio news is taken straight from one of several wire services.