Thirty Seconds to Air

The definitive field guide to live TV reporting, complete with real-world examples

Thirty Seconds to Air is a pocket field guide that explains the procedures, experience, and skills required to produce live television newscasts that are noteworthy for their substance and style. The guide covers live presentation, delivery, and legal and ethical issues in a conversational style, and illustrates challenging situations with real-world, concrete examples. The book also includes exercises and references drawn from the Associated Press, professional broadcast journalism associations, and the Internet. Useful for students and professionals, this guide dives into the knowledge and mindset of an experienced, skilled television professional.

Foreword ix

Introduction xvii

Acknowledgments xxi

The Basics 3

Overcoming Anxiety 4

The Live Shot 7

The Presentation 29

Models of Success 30

Tips for Finding Focus 36

Special Concerns 39

Notes---No Notes 51

Reading the Notes: Overreliance 51

Reducing the Need for Notes 53

Breaking News: Working without Notes 64

The Technical Side of Live 73

The Basics 73

Equipment 74

Communication 79

Glitches Happen 83

Finding Your Balance 85

Learning from Failure 85

Stress and Adrenaline 87

Extremes: Living without Balance 89

Finding the Balance: Managing Stress 97

Practice! Practice! Practice! 111

Why Practice? 111

Using Practice Scenarios 113

Sample Practice Scenarios 117

The ``Real World'': Internships 137

Internships in TV and Radio News: Paid and Unpaid 137

Making the Most of Internships 150

Sensitivity 157

Importance of Sensitivity 157

Special Concerns 158

AP Libel Manual 170

Resources 187

Codes of Ethics 187

The Internet 193

Television Markets (Ranked Numerically) 214

Suggested Readings 223

"...provides valuable advice for both the veteran and the beginner...It's the next step for anyone planning a career in television news: digest it, keep it in a prominent place on the bookshelf, and refer to it frequently." - Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly

Bob Arya is the author of Thirty Seconds to Air: A Field Reporter's Guide to Live Television Reporting, published by Wiley. Bill Kurtis is an American television journalist, producer, narrator, and news anchor. He was also the host of a number of A&E crime and news documentary shows, including Investigative Reports, American Justice, and Cold Case Files.