You're not a Jedi. Don't back into a sentence. Write it clearly and correctly, and viewers will respond positively. I'm sure this has been hammered into you during school or your career, but it can't be said enough. Be active, not passive. There are a few caveats to this mantra you should learn first. 1)... Continue Reading →
Television news writing is its own writing niche. Unlike most kinds of writing, your goal is to reach the ears of people who often are not paying attention to your words. Over my 18 years of writing television news, I learned to write news copy that grabs the attention of viewers. I shared my knowledge... Continue Reading →
Think of your first sentence as the moment a sprinter takes off in a 40-yard dash. One foot should be firmly planted. The eyes should be focused straight ahead. Muscles should launch the runner's other foot forward, creating momentum that will carry them through the next few seconds. In writing, that means firm structure, focused... Continue Reading →
Every day for 17 years, I pursued my deadline as a news producer with the fervor of a religious zealot. My rundown—a prophecy of stories. My scripts—mini manifests of my vision. I conjured images and sound to help spread my gospel. Through the day I crafted a sermon of wildfires, peeping toms, home runs, and seals... Continue Reading →
For me, Christmas officially ends each year with the last scene in A Christmas Story. The parents are sitting by the Christmas tree, enjoying a drink, as the snow flutters down through the window. It's that calming last breath of Christmas before TBS dumps six episodes of Big Bang Theory on us. Television news producers... Continue Reading →
Dwight Clark caught “The Catch.” That may not mean something to you, but to San Francisco 49ers fans, it is the height of folk lore. In fact, it’s a beloved football moment known by football fans across the United States—even being named one of the 21 Greatest Sports Moments in History. When Dwight Clark died... Continue Reading →
Among the Reads 