NEWS READING MECHANICS

- Archana Somashekar Faculty, EMRC, DAVV, Indore, M.P.

Speed Breathing Projection Emphasis Pitch Mic Technique Noise, Noise, Noise Bringing a story to life

SPEED Right reading pace is one that is comfortable for the reader, clear to the listener & suits the stations style 3 words/sec for radio. Could be a bit slower for TV. Pace is less important than clarity.

One of the most helpful aids to clear reading is THE PAUSE. ITS USES: Divides copy into sense groups

 Allows time for important phrase to sink in Permits change of style between stories Indicates beginning of quote Gives newsreader time to replenish oxygen supply

BREATHING One has to master the art of breath control. Good reading brings out richness & flavor of voice, dependent on the breath Sit correctly to give lungs & diaphragm as much room as possible Upper of body should be upright or inclined forward, with back slightly arched Legs should not be crossed Breathing should be deep, from belly instead of the usual shallow breathing from the lungs Never run into studio or you will be gasping for breath BREATHING MECHANICS Avoid heavy breathing Take controlled intake of breath & start each item. Deep breath in middle too. Face towards mic

 Dont drop head towards script or sound waves from mouth will be reflected instead of going directly into mic. Address mic properly Top up breath at fullstops & paras. Short breaths in long sentences at commas If you have time rewrite story & break down sentences or insert slash marks to indicate where you can safely pause while still making sense of copy. E.g.: - UNICEF has criticized world governments / for waging an undeclared war on women, / children & adolescents. According to the United Nations Childrens Fund, more than 600 million children / are now living in poverty / more than at the start of the decade. The worlds poorest / survive on less than a dollar a day, / & around a quarter of a billion children / aged between 5 & 14 / are sent out to work. / Armed conflict has killed or injured 8 million since 1990. / But the biggest child killer in the developing world is not warfare / but AIDS. (BBC, 1999).

PROJECTION Use conversational tone in TV & projection in radio Picture yourself at one end of the average sized room & a single person at the other end whose attention is divided between chores & listening to you. Then projection will be right. Yelling is not the way to make sure every syllable is heard clear diction is what is needed.

EMPHASIS Read copy aloud to establish which words should be given extra emphasis. Stress exists to bring out clearer meaning & gives rhythm to news item. E.g.: - Canadas FISHERMEN are preparing for the BIGGEST EVER SEAL CULL in their countrys history. The government has declared OPEN SEASON on HARP SEALS. Up to a QUARTER OF A MILLION are to be SHOT AND CLUBBED TO DEATH as they BASK in the sun on the floes off NEW FOUNDLAND. The QUOTA for the annual HARVEST has just been INCREASED. Now ANY Canadian CITIZEN, not just FISHERMEN, can JOIN IN the seal hunt.

Capitalise, underline, double underline (to show difference in degree of emphasis). Shifting position of emphasis can completely alter meaning & tone. This can have dramatic impact on story. E.g.: - HE said their action made a walkout inevitable. Stressing HE may suggest other may disagree. He SAID their action made a walkout inevitable. Emphasising on SAID casts doubts on truth of statement, implying there are grounds for disbelieving it. E.g.: - He said THEIR action made a walkout inevitable. Speaker sounds as though he is pointing a finger of accusation to another group. IT IS IMPORTANT OT HAVE A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE ITEM BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO READ IT ON AIR.

PITCH Voice going up & down pitch/modulation Can add interest to voice and variety to item. But, random modulation, coupled with universal stress is too heavy to be avoided.

MIC TECHNIQUE Avoid popping sounds & paper rustle. Popping when mouth is too close to mic. Prevent by backing away from mic or turning slightly to side. Closer mic is to mouth, more of voices natural resonance is picked up. Gives intensity & richness to voice. Standing away from mic & raising voice can make it sound as though presenter is speaking live on location. Directional mics best results are at about 15 cms from mouth.

NOISE, NOISE, NOISE Have to listen to everything being said by graphic artist, switcher, director, production assistant, etc., in earpiece & simultaneously read with appropriate expressions very difficult. Develop this sense. Youve got to develop a split brain to be able to read the news & listen at the same time. When I say, Heres a report from Beirut, they have to start the machine rolling with the report on it 5 seconds before it comes on, otherwise the picture doesnt stabilize & the sounds wonky. So, I have a countdown going on in my ear, & I have to make sure my last word

finishes on zero. Inevitably, things go wrong. Im saying, Heres a report from Beirut, and someone starts screaming in my ear, Its not reading yet!. Once something went wrong with the countdown three times in succession & I lost my cool & said on air, I wish someone would tell me what is going on. - John Humphrys, BBC Newsreader.

BRINGING THE STORY ALIVE Match your tone with the storyline. Emotions in voice reflect emotional response that the story should produce in the hearer. When you are happy, you smile, so when you smile you sound happy if story is light hearted then smile. If story is grave frown If it is sad look sad Make an indication of tone in which the copy should be read emoticons - at the top of the page. :-] (may be drawn by hand in case no printout is used).

If newsreader assumes that expression, then tone should be right for the particular story.