Has television news fulfilled its promise?
Abstract
This paper addresses television news. The paper discusses the television news promise; it delves into whether television news has fulfilled its promise, identifies the promise that is being referred to and whose the promise it is. When concluding the news events, television newscasters often feel forced to add remarks or information pledging that they will update, make follow ups on stories. However, most of such conclusive remarks or information are written by the television news writers, yet, they don’t have the authority to determine what will appear on the newscasts. Except when the television news writers expect to be producers of future newscasts, the credibility of such promises is often incredible as rarely is the pledges honored.
Thesis statement: when wrapping up their news, television newscasters often pledge on follow up of more news on a specific topic or updates, however, the pledges are not kept often end up being empty promises; the promises made on the audience of updates is not kept
Overview
Television is one of the most effective means of communication in the world. Television news, referred to as newscast or news bulletin, is the airing of happening events through the television equipment. The newscast cover a sundry of events that have happened or are happening which are international, national or local news.
Conclusion of television news
In newscasts, the lead is the most crucial section of the news as it describes the where the news item has “come” from and it hook the audience’s attention. After that, the next important section of the news is the conclusion. The conclusion may highlight the major points, may refute the perception of the news or it may describe the next stage of the news. Different from printed news whereby the readers mostly never reach the end; the television news are made in a way that they can be viewed and heard throughout (Thomas). The conclusion of the television news i79730633s the parting word with the audience and it determines the way the viewer will remember the news. Therefore, it need be a firm conclusion and well-balanced. However, in almost all instances, television newscasters are compelled to add or feel forced to include some unwarranted credibility or adding irrelevant information or comments when concluding their newscasts.
Some of the oft repeated conclusion comments on newscasts include, “we will have more follow-up on this event later”, “more news on this event will be aired later as the news come up,” or “we will going on on following this or these events and will notify you on the updates.” However, despite the fact that such concluding comments are promising, they are not necessary (Eric). The irrelevancy of such concluding comments or information is in the fact that the viewers (audience) count on the newscasters to follow the events and count on them to update them. The conclusive remarks, which are often promises, are empty promises made to the the audience.
Knowing what is worth or will be aired on television or not is the role of the producer. Therefore, it is uncommon for the writer of the television to make the decision of the content that will appear on the newscast. In such a case, and it is a common occurrence in newsrooms, the television news writers makes pledges of future follow ups. The television news writers does this by dropping a statement at the end of the event, yet, they have no certainty that there will be really future follow ups or updates on the stories. Even though there were to be follow ups, it is only on the producer’s authority aired. Therefore, when the television news writer makes such an unwarranted pledge, he or she makes the newscaster pledge to the audience. Unless the television news writer will be the producer of a future newscast, such a pledge may have an implication on the viewers as the newscasters may be actually lying to the audience since it may turn out to be an empty promise while the audience may be waiting for the newscaster to keep the promise.
Conclusion
Newscasters may have a feeling of wanting to add information that is not necessary when concluding news item. This information is often future follow up on the events and later, anchoring the updates. The audience count on the newscasters to keep the79730633ir promises but these promises are often not kept and literally, the newscasters end up deceiving the viewers (Gabi). This does not only rob the television valuable time, but can also make the audience lose confidence on the television and seek alternatives. The newscasters follow on the script written by the television news writers, and therefore, the latter should avoiding ending their conclusions with such incredible promises unless they are both sure of being producers in future newscasts and certain of such follow ups on the stories and updating the audience or risk the audience losing confidence in them and subsequently, losing the audience.
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Works cited
Fensch, T. “Television News Anchors.” The Woodlands, TX: New Century Books, 2001.
Gormly, E.K. & Carroll, V. “Writing and Producing Television News.” Ames, Iowa: John Wiley & Sons, 2005.
Schaap, G. “Interpreting Television News.” Berlin: Walter de Gruyter, 2009.
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