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The Day I Shadowed A Reporter by Heather Campbell When I was approached with the opportunity to "shadow" a crew from one of our remote bureaus, I jumped at the chance, probably for the wrong reasons. I produce a 5:30 p.m. newscast at WSPA in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I thought that shadowing would get me a day away from the hectic newsroom and allow me to spend some time outdoors. How naïve I was to think that it would be a relaxing day with my co-workers. >>Read more TV TERMS B-roll : The video that covers the anchor/ reporter's voice track. VOSOT (Voice over-Sound on Tape): This is a short story the anchor reads. He/she voices over some video then a soundbite appears. Usually the anchor "tags" the story with a little more information after the soundbite.

My first week on the job, I was in the TV newsroom instead of the bureau. I shadowed a producer and was able to see what it's like trying to coordinate several crews, stay on top of the news and change everything when breaking news happens.

I shadowed Heather Campbell for the entire day, starting with the morning meeting. Producers, anchors, reporters and the management staff started by reviewing the ratings from the night before. I see this as a constant reminder of how the newsroom not only has to track the important news of the day, but figure out how to appeal to a wider audience and set the station apart from the competition. Producers focused on how things could be handled differently and better than the day before, and then picked out an appealing moment from the previous night's newscasts as a guide.

Then it was time to start planning the news for the day. Producers went over each idea with the reporter, everyone from the desk, producers and anchors added their thoughts. This was the best opportunity to get everyone's input on how to approach a single story. Not everything discussed in the morning meeting is doable in a day, that's why producers always seem to be thinking about a Plan B, even more so than reporters. I may have one story fall through in a day, while they may have a large chunk of their show change, and they often find out about stories falling through very late in the day.

After the meeting, the producers got together and decided what would go in each show, what the leads should be and how they could expand on stories to help reporters. They also have to think about how to differentiate their newscast from the competition, this is why communication is so important. If producers and reporters don't communicate early, the focus of the story can get lost.
 
Once the reporters were covering their stories, Heather started stacking her show.

By early afternoon, it started to get hectic in the newsroom. When I was there we had breaking news and I was able to see how much of a team effort it takes to get the information on air as quickly as possible. This is where communication is vital again.

Before I knew it, the show was on. I watched Heather as she timed the show, making adjustments down to the very last second. By the end of the show I was amazed at how much works goes into such a short period of time. Hardly anything in the show goes according to plan, so producers have to stay on their toes from start to finish. There was no down time, no lunch and hardly enough time to make important decisions, but producers plow ahead every day.

When I started the following week in the bureau, I felt like I had a better understanding of the station, how it works and what's expected of me.

Life in the bureau that the newsroom does not understand

Being away from the newsroom every day has its advantages and disadvantages. Photographer David Jolley and I hold down the fort at the Anderson, S.C., bureau for WSPA-TV. We are the only ones covering that area for our station, and we are about one hour away from the main newsroom. In the bureau I have more peace and quiet, but I feel there's more pressure because the photographer and I are in charge of covering the issues, events and concerns for three counties that happen to be growing very quickly.

From the time I wake up, I am trying to absorb as much news as possible by listening to talk radio, in the shower and on the way to work. Then I read every local paper I can. I make beat calls and check up on previous stories. If there is anything breaking in my area, I also have to make calls on that and see if there is anything to it. 

The morning meeting conference call comes in around 9:30 a.m. and by this time I need to have a list of ideas ready, as well as back-up ideas. During the conference call we discuss potential stories and decide what the important story is in my area that day. Sometimes my ideas don't fit with the vision producers are looking for and I may have to start from scratch. If the story idea is approved, I start trying to find interviews and research the story. 

Photographer David Jolley is also working hard, brainstorming about video, checking to see if we can go live for the story, and monitoring the scanners. Before I can get out the door there are other things to tend to; I have to answer viewer e-mail and phone calls and usually write something up for the noon news.

Often the people I need for interviews or information are not available and may not be for the rest of the day. I have to track down alternatives and also be thinking of a story to fall back on. Sometimes I can't get people by phone and have to chance it by going to where they are. We cover three counties, so drive time for stories can be up to two hours round trip. In the car, I am still trying to get interviews and information for the story and I am also thinking ahead to the next day. Sometimes it takes a few phone calls to decide if a story for the next day is newsworthy, and I need to make those calls before 2 p.m.

When we are out, we try to get at least two interviews, find a personal angle, get B-roll and do a stand-up. Potentially there can be breaking news to check on during the day while working on our piece; that is usually done from the car because we are always on the move.

To grab a quick VOSOT on something other than our story can be tough and take us a long time to complete because of the large size of our coverage area.

The car usually becomes my office and I try to log and write my piece while we are on the road. The calls never stop, from viewers to officials; I am always on the phone.

By the time my piece is in and done, the end of the day is near, but not over, because there are Council meetings to attend.