BROADCAST NEWS 451
PEGGY RUPRECHT FORMER REPORTER FOR KMTV IN OMAHA, NEBRASKA
I
usually work a 40-hour week, but my work-
week begins Sunday evening. I’ll work
1:30 to 10:30 p.m., then Monday through
Thursday I work 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. However,
every reporter’s schedule is different. Some
work weekends, some work nights.
When I come to work, I usually take a few
moments to go through my mail and messages.
At least once a week, I’ll call sources on my beat
(education) to find out what’s happening around
town. Sources are a good way to keep up-to-
date on what’s happening in the community.
They can also provide good ideas for stories.
Every morning during the week, the entire
news department assembles for a meeting.
We talk about what’s happening that day, and
everyone shares information about events we
should cover or stories we should do. The pro-
ducers will share their ideas for the news that
needs to be covered. Then the assignment edi-
tor passes out assignments for the day. While
reporters make calls to set up interviews for their
stories, the producers will look at network video
and go through the Associated Press (AP) wire
to see what other stories they’re interested in.
The producer works up a tentative rundown on
how the newscast will look for that evening.
I then head out with a photographer into
the field to work on a story. It may take me
all day to work on the story. The assignment
editor makes contact with sources about cur-
rent or future stories. The assignment editor
will also keep in touch with crews in the field
about the status of a story. The producer will
begin writing news copy and start thinking
about what stories she wants in her show.
Afternoon reporters and photographers
come in at 1:30, so assignments are made out
for them. Anchors also arrive about this time
and may work with the producer writing stories.
Around this time, the producers and assign-
ment editor have another meeting to talk about
what stories will go in the show. The produc-
ers will make a final decision on what stories
they want in their newscast. After I return from
the field with my video and interviews, I must
log the interviews and begin writing the story.
The photographer will look through the video
and decide what will be used in the final story.
After I finish writing the story, I usually have
one of the producers or the assignment editor
check it over. Producers read the story, check-
ing to see that it is both clear and accurate.
After the script is approved, I’ll work with the
photographer to edit the package. A full story
is usually no more than 90 seconds long, but it
may take us an hour or more to edit the story.
All this must be done before the assigned
newscast. If I have the lead story for the
5 p.m. news, I must be finished by 5 p.m.
No exceptions. Missing a deadline is not
acceptable in the news business.
After I’m done writing the package, I may
write a smaller version of the story (VO, VO/
SOT) for one of the other newscasts. If I have
time at the end of the day, I may make addi-
tional contacts with sources about future stories.
Sometimes, breaking news will force me to work
overtime, but even when I’m not at work, I’m
constantly keeping my eyes open about events
that would make good stories for our station.
Background. A television station in a
medium-sized market can often expect candi-
dates for positions as television news report-
ers to have strong writing and verbal skills.
The physical requirements for the position
include good vision and hearing, the willing-
ness to endure prolonged standing and the
ability to help lift and carry camera equip-
ment weighing approximately 25 pounds.