Basic TV Reporting, 2nd Edition

Words Before Pictures

Although the long-established pictures-before-words method of scripting described on pages 56-57 is considered difficult to beat for flexibility and sheer professional results every time, it is undoubtedly more time-consuming for both journalists and picture editors, and the pressures facing news people battling to overcome ‘impossible’ deadlines and/or the lack of facilities are such that any apparent short cut may be understandably seized upon and excused. Hence the popularity of an alternative process of compiling news items.

‘Wild-track’ commentary

In this method the complete commentary is written and recorded ‘wild’ on to a separate sound track before the pictures are edited. This can be done on location, in the studio ...