Newsvision Lab National/Local News Newscast Assignment

Name _Ravyn Hardwick _____________________ | ID#__02877564______________________
NewsVision Lab National/Local News Newscast Assignment

Watch two 30-minute newscasts (you may watch an hour if you like) – a national newscast
(preferable ABC, NBC, CBS for evening news or any network/cable during the morning)
AND a local newscast.
1) For each newscast LOCAL & NATIONAL, using Word, complete the following questions
using this template. Answer in sentence form and use the corresponding number:
1. Title of Newscast:
Local Newscast: The title of the newscast was the WJLA-TV weeknight newscast. WJLA is
the local ABC affiliate for the greater Washington DC area.
National Newscast: The title of the newscast is Morning News NOW.
2. Time of Newscast:
Local Newscast: The newscast aired on February 29, 2000, at 6 p.m.
National Newscast: The Morning News NOW newscast aired on March 18, 2022, at 7 a.m.
3. Channel: (or provide Link)
Local Newscast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFFaIpobkfI
National Newscast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whHqD0UOA94
4. Anchors (including weather and sports):
Local Newscast: The two anchors were Kathleen Matthews and Maureen Bunyan. The
meteorologist for the newscast Jeff Gilbert and the sports anchor was Rene Knott.
National Newscast: The two anchors for the newscast were Savannah Sellers and Joe
Fryer. The meteorologist for the newscast was Bill Karins.
5. Anchors’ attire:
Local Newscast: Kathleen Matthews had on a brown suit jacket buttoned up. Maureen
Bunyan had on a black suit jacket buttoned up as well with a brown shirt underneath. They
both look very simple but still clean and put together.
National Newscast: Savannah Sellers had on a yellow, black, and white checkered blazer
with a black shirt underneath. Joe Fryer had on a navy-blue suit jacket and tie with a white
button-down shirt underneath. They both looked very clean and put together, however I
did not care too much for Savannah Sellers jacket. I have never seen a morning news
anchor wear anything like that before before.
6. Where are microphones on anchors? Reporters?
Local Newscast: The lavalier microphones are clipped on to the lapels of both the anchors’
jackets, closer to the V-neck/ collar part of jacket. The reporters used handheld
microphones.
National Newscast: The lavalier microphones are clipped on to the lapels of both anchors’
jackets. This was the same case for the reporters.
7. Describe the flow of the newscast: (serious, straight forward, upbeat, etc)
Local Newscast: Overall the newscast was very straightforward and information. It was not
super serious but certain stories were heavier than others. The last leap year story was the
most upbeat one to me. I enjoyed seeing the anchors smile during that story instead of
having a straight face like they did in the previous stories.
National Newscast: The Morning News NOW was a very serious and heavy newscast during
the first block. All of the breaking news updates in the beginning on the war in Ukraine
made it come off this way to the viewer. The newscast did become a little more upbeat and
light during the second block as those stories were not as heavy. Overall, this newscast was
very straightforward.
8. What are your thoughts overall after watching?

Local Newscast: I enjoyed watching this newscast especially because it was from the year I
was born. I found it very interesting to see what news stories were important during 2002.
I also enjoyed being able to compare this newscast to the ones today and see that a lot
remains today nearly 22 years later.
National Newscast: I enjoyed watching the newscast. I liked how all of the information was
delivered concisely in a timely manner which allowed me to stay engaged the entire time. I
also enjoyed how the newscast seemed to go off with a hitch and flowed naturally.
2) Next, discuss the following:
- What were the first 5 stories in the first “block” of the newscast (before the first
commercial break)
Local Newscast: The first story was about the increased voter turnout in Northern Virginia
that is resulting in spanned party lines. The second story was about the northern Virginia
vote and how it is affecting Senator John McCain’s hopes of staging an upset in Virginia’s
presidential primary. The third story was about a young girl who was shot to death by one
of her classmates in a Michigan elementary school. The fourth story was about a teen who
was arrested after a gun scare at a Tysons Corner high school. The fifth story was about a
young boy named Travis Savoy who was sentenced to life plus 20 years for the murder and
robbery of a pizza delivery man Javier Castillo and for killing a classmate, both in
Bladensburg.
National Newscast: The first block of the newscast consisted of breaking news stories
mainly about updates on the war in Ukraine. The first story was about reported Russian
airstrikes that caused smoke to rise across Lviv. The second story was about President Joe
Biden’s plans to speak with China’s President XI Jinping as the U.S. warns against
supporting Russia. The third breaking news story was about Eastern Europe’s refugee
crisis with an estimated 3.2 million+ refugees displaced after fleeing from the war in
Ukraine. The fourth story was about a part of a Russian missile falling on Kyiv residential
building resulting in one person dead. The fifth story was about assessing the state of peace
in Russia with a commentator. The last story before the first commercial break was about
being “on the road” with refugees who have fled Ukraine.
- What were the first 5 stories in the 2nd block of the newscast?
Local Newscast: The first story in the second block of the newscast was about a boy in who
has become the first person in Maryland to be charged under the states new assisted
suicide law. The second story was about a 90-year-old woman who arrived at the US
Capitol after walking from coast to coast. The third story was about the most stolen cars
with Toyota Camry’s taking filling the top four slots for top targets for car thieves. The
fourth story was about how everything seems to be going well on the first leap day of the
new millennium and how President Clinton’s chief said there seems to be no major
computer/technology issues in comparison to computer systems oversees. There was not a
fifth story before the final commercial break. The newscast ended on sports after that
second commercial break.
National Newscast: The first story in the second block of the newscast was about an inside
look into the surging “Ghost Gun” market. The second story was about thieve who stole
almost $100K from a high-end store in the Hamptons. The third story was about U.S. health
experts monitoring the spread of omicron subvariant in Europe and China as cases
continue to rise nationwide. The fourth story was about travel perks and how the hotel
industry opts to keep covid safety protocols in place this upcoming travel season. The fifth
story was about Dolly Parton remaining on the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame ballot even though
she declined the nomination.
- Where there reporter packages? Live shots? VOSOTS? What words were used on the
“lower third” fonts for those being interviewed?
Local Newscast: Yes, there were reporter packages and live shots. The lower thirds were
used over reporter standups and outcues and included “Live”, their location and a few
words about the story topic. For example, for the second package during the first block was
“Virginia Primary” in Arlington, Virginia.
National Newscast: Yes, there were reporter packages and VOSOTS during this newscast.
This newscast did not include any lower thirds when doing interviews out in the field, but
they did include them when doing virtual interviews and having guest commentators. The
lower thirds then would include the interviewees’ name and title/position.
- What did reporters say in their outcues?
Local Newscast: Reporter Gayle Pennybacker ended her voter turnout story with, “Well it is
no doubt a very interesting race that has inspired a lot of interest here in Northern Virginia.
The polls as we mentioned at 7 o’ clock and News 7 will keep you tuned all night and to
what the results will be. Reporting live from Northern Virginia I’m Gayle Pennybacker.
Back to you.” Reporter Jim Clark ended his story with, “Well Mike Lane who is the eight-
district chairman for the Bush campaign was right by here in Arlington just a few minutes
ago. He told me what it looks like about a 20% turnout here in Arlington which is a fairly
good one. Heavy voting, he said in GOP precincts moderate voting in Democratic precincts.
If that holds throughout the evening and the rest of the stated suggests that Bush will win
here in Arlington and in Virginia. He is expected to do even better at Southside and perhaps
Tidewater but that’s a bit of a toss-up with all of the military vote down there Maureen.”
National Newscast: Reporter Jesse Kirsch ended the travel perk story by saying, “But if
you’re hoping for something as close as possible to a trip from years past, call ahead and
find out which services and amenities are and are not available. Savannah back to you.”

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Name _Ravyn Hardwick _ | ID#02877564____

NewsVision Lab National/Local News Newscast Assignment

8. What are your thoughts overall after watching?

- What did reporters say in their outcues?

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