Tips on writing good news scripts

I found this, I thought it might be helpful with your projects.  Tips for writing the best news story!

Step One: Evaluate your footage..find the five best Sound bites and actuality segments  It just makes sense to use the best material you have.  Don't get tied down by WORDS..think best experiences...strongest Interview bites...Just watch your footage and take notes..The best material needs no rationalization. It just works Find approximately 5-6 pieces, short Interviews, exciting clips of your product in action and customer testimonials (a must).  It used to be that 3D graphics with cool music would always grab the viewer in a promo video..but how authentic is that?  Is Authenticity important to your final product?  Customer Testimonials are some of the best ways to connect with a viewer.  If you don't have these as part of your promo...go out and shoot some!!!

Don't be trapped to a script...write around the best elements you have.  To some the concept of having no script , and working around your best material is so scary that they will terrify you with tales of projects gone awry.. But for basic short reality, documentary, news or promotional video....working around the material..instead of fitting the material into the script. will make you look like a genius even if you are not. That is why it is best to first select the best elements you have..than work the script/narration around these pre-existing sound bites and actualities. Arrange your elements on 3X7 cards and create the organization, flow of information or story line. Then start brainstorming the connections between these elements.

Scripting a promo or news piece is just like connecting the dots...  Once you have an idea of the flow of your main elements.  You can begin to script...this is easier and more fun than trying to be an Einstein and create a script out of thin air. The elements tell you what to write. Look at your sound bites and actualities ..the best five things....organized in a rough order ...These elements are like the dots in the above image. Start connecting the dots.. Instead of creating the narration out of thin air..these "dots" help tell you what to write. For instance in a promo video you may have an Interview with a customer as your second 3X7 Card....that means you need to write a set up that introduces this person and what they are going to say. example "How do school teachers feel about our science DVDs?" then edit in customer testimony. This technique of finding the best stuff..organizing a rough order, than using these as a guide to writing your script is common in newsrooms across the globe. The connections we are discussing can be narration, on-camera reporter, voice over, TEXT on screen, or even the realization that NO SCRIPTED NARRATION IS NEEDED..the piece works fine with the people in it telling the story. Remember to keep the attention of your viewer, you must change the modality of the their video experience...mix up the interviews with the live action material...