What is the story?
- There has to be something new in the story
- You need someone to tell you why the story matters
- There should be a piece to camera so the audience can see the reporter relating to the story
"The sound bite is about 20 seconds." – Frank Gardner
Original treatment
- The witnesses you get to be a part of your story is crucial
- A reporter’s role is to tell the story enthusiastically but not be the centre of it
"There are very few original ideas these days, the originality is in how you tell the story." – Frank Gardner
How to build a story
- A story has to have human interest
- Be brief in your script to signpost what’s happening
"The pictures should tell the story but you also need good sound." – Frank Gardner
Don't overload the audience
- Tell the audience what they need to know
"Often the most knowledgeable reporters are the worst reporters because they know too much." – Frank Gardner
