Digital News Production: Comparing the News Research - BBC News

As part of my research, I will be watching and comparing two separate news channels/programmes and their main stories, as well as discussing the programmes' relevance and inspirations for our own news channel. These programmes are BBC News at Six and ITV News. They both aired on the evening of Wednesday the 14th October. The first news broadcast that I have watched is BBC News at Six...

The News Stories
Main story, The murder of Georgia Williams: this story is mainly reported from the point of view of the victim's parents due to the presenter reading out their statements and interviews with them. It focuses on them blaming the police and social services for not picking up on how dangerous the killer, Jamie Reynolds has been in the past. Their use of reporting the story consists of...

• Introducing the story in the studio.
• An OOV of the reporter talking about the victim with on-screen images of the her and the murderer.
• A short C/A clip of an interview with the victim's father in a simple and dimly lit room. This is a MCU shot.
• OOV continues with GFX to present on-screen dates of his past crimes and whether or not he was prosecuted, done so in a police file style.
• Continues with a previous victim and friend of the family talking to Georgia's mother.
• C/A to a MCU of her telling us her point of view.
• OOV with a MCU of a member of the police discussing the issue
• C/A to the prime minister talking about the issue.
• Reporter on-location outside police station with PTC
• C/A to MCU interview with victim's mother
• OOV with on-screen image of victim
• Finishes with live reporter PTC

The main story has a lot of variety to it with in studio reporting, interviews, OOVs, GFX, PTC and live reporting. Using so many different ways of reporting kept the story moving quickly at the same time as going in depth with the issue and giving it emotion. The main story didn't feel flat and was very serious. It took a large portion of the programme by last approximately 7 minutes.

Divorce settlement story: Telling the story from more of a woman's side of a divorce story when two women won their divorce settlements, shown from a celebratory side of the winning women and getting their perspective. The reporting consists of...

• Introducing the story in-studio.
• Reporter OOV with GFX of divorced couples' images seeming to split apart, eventually revealing an image of a large amount of money.
• Continues with footage of the two divorcees smiling and posing for photos outside of the courthouse, footage of one divorcee's ex-husband approaching the courthouse (presumably earlier) with his lawyer and GVs of the court and it's sign.
• C/A to the judge discussing the case in the court room.
• Interview with divorcee's ex-husband's lawyer.
• Reporter PTC on steps of courthouse.
• Reporter V/O with footage of reporter walking with the second divorcee.
• CU interview with divorcee in a public park.
• Reporter V/O with GXF of hand with a wedding band
• CU interview on street with a divorce lawyer.
• OOV with divorcee's posing for photos.

I found that this story was presented in a way that was too fast paced, it only consisted of no more than 2 minutes and had almost as many different OOVs, GFX etc. as the main story in that time.

Critically ill nurse story: As more of an update of the condition of the British nurse that contracted Ebola, the story discusses the unusual fact that the nurse became ill again after previously recovering. The reporting consists of...

• Introducing the story in-studio.
• C/A to live broadcast with reporter PTC outside of the hospital where the nurse currently resides.

At this point in the programme, this is it's shortest and most simplistically reported story. This may be due to the fact that it is dealing with someone who is ill, so they are unable to film anything, and that it's mostly a short update on her condition.

Child being held in hospital for 3 years story: A story of an autistic child being held in a specialist hospital for 3 years despite he and his family pleading for him to come home, is finally getting to do so. Reported in a way that makes the audience feel for him and the family. The reporting consists of...

• Introducing and briefly discussing the story in-studio.
• Reporter OOV with footage of the child and his father watching plains - their hobby together.
• C/A to MCU on location with his father.
• Back to OOV with footage of his home being prepared for his return.
• Reporter PTC as she walks through the home.
• V/O with shots of the home.
• MCU interview in the home with the child's mother.
• C/A to footage filmed by the father, telling us there's been a delay.
• OOV with footage of plain taking off, view from plain.
• MCU interview with expert.
• OOV with family footage.

While there was a lot packed into this story visuals-wise, it didn't take away from the story and remained as a story and emotional story.

RAF final rescue story: The story of the RAF helicopter carrying out it's final rescue, with the reporter accompanying them. Also telling stories of their previous rescues. The reporting consists of...

• Introducing the story in-studio.
• OOV with shots from inside the helicopter, archived footage of the RAF's early days and footage of the helicopter.
• CU interview with squadron in front of the helicopter on land.
• V/O set up for reporter actuality of his taking part.
• Reporter PTC in the air.
• OOV with footage of the final rescue and more archived footage, leading to a previously rescued woman walking with the reporter
• CU interview with the woman
• OOV with footage of the public watching the helicopter and it moving along the skyline.

This is by far the most upbeat story of the programme. It's a very humbling story and finishes the programme on a far less downbeat note.

Presenter
The presenter, Fiona Bruce, comes across as both very professional and serious with her body language and speech. She's dressed as one would expect a BBC News Reporter to be dressed by appearing professional and well presented in a suit.

The presenter begins seated behind her desk for the 'coming up' portion, and then takes place standing next to a screen of visuals for the current news story, this goes back and forth, adding variety.

Fig. 2. Fiona Bruce (2015)

'Coming Up'
The opening of the news programme instantly pulls on the heart strings of the audience by starting with the 'Murder of Georgia Williams' story and placing a picture of the victim on screen, followed by the murderer's image on screen, then a clip of the parents' interview - all within the first few seconds. It's then followed by a much more brief mentioning of other news stories, the 'divorce settlement' story accompanied by a clip of the divorcees, a short video of the critically ill nurse when she was healthy, the autistic child walking happily with his father and footage of rescue in the 'RAF final rescue' story.


Soundtrack
A low-key soundtrack plays in the background of the 'coming up', creating an intense atmosphere, especially with a strong sound of drums between each of the news stories.
The music during the opening titles is very powerful and quite fast paced, it gives off an intense atmosphere - which is fitting for their hard hitting stories.


Brand
BBC One is known for being more of a low key channel and it's mix of red and white, BBC News outright represents the channel by also using these colours with little others.
The opening titles - again consisting of red and white, is a short graphical video of the earth as it zooms out, with the title of BBC News at 6 appearing. It's extremely short lived so in my opinion doesn't feel very strong.

Fig. 1. BBC News Logo (2015)

Similarities to Our Channel

• We will have a female presenter in studio and another as a live reporter.
• We will have a specific brand type and colours - ours consisting of red, black and white.
• Our package will consist of a studio piece, OOVs with both images, new footage and archived footage, actuality, presenter PTC and interviews.

Differences to Our Channel

• Both of our presenters will appear to be more casual and upbeat, due to the nature of our channel and story.
• Our story is far less hard-hitting and more of a human interest story.
• Our soundtrack will be a lot less intense, and more light-hearted to fit the theme.
• Our in-studio piece will be in front of a green screen, not at a desk.
• Our interviews will show both the interviewer and the interviewee.
• Our OB will consist of moving around and talking to people on location, rather than stood on a marker.

The set up of how we're reporting the story in our package isn't dramatically different to that of the stories in BBC News, as we're using a lot of the style that they use with OOVs and PTCs etc. so it's a good representation that we're on track and have good knowledge of how is best to report a news story. However, our channel greatly differs to BBC News due to having a very different tone, as their stories are serious and slightly down beat, whereas ours will be more light-hearted and easy going.

Illustrations List:

Figure 1. BBC News Logo (2015) [Poster] At: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11313672 (Accessed on 14.10.15)

Figure 2. Fiona Bruce (2015) [Photo] At: http://www.tellymix.co.uk/reality-tv/strictly-come-dancing/226524-strictly-come-dancing-2015-bbc-newsreader-fiona-bruce-turns-down-offer.html (Accessed on 14.10.15)