Foote – Page 36 Assignment One

This assignment asks us how we would cover the news of an area senator’s presidential bid announcement. We have to cover the event in print, radio, television and online formats.

Print – Cover the announcement in excruciating detail.  Get a photo with the new candidate and his constituents for the dominant image of the first page. Show a infographic with all of his potential rivals, or maybe his current fundraising situation. Add a sidebar biographical piece, as well as a history of the political careers of his predecessors, perhaps.

Radio – Cover the announcement in more general terms. Use sound bites that are short and emotional. Record an interview with the candidate, and post the full version online. Get quotes from some of his more vocal supporters- or detractors. Refer listeners to print or online sources for more detail.

Television – Show the more animated parts of the announcement. Show the actual announcement and constituent reaction as the centerpiece of the story. Get face to face interviews with his supporters and campaign people.  Get interviews with political experts as well, talking about his chances at actually getting the spot.

Online – Bring all of the other stories together in one place. Have the print story laid out, with links in the text to pertinent internal and external Web sites. Have an embedded video of the TV story linked to on the page. Link to the candidate’s campaign website. Have the full audio interview posted, as well as interactive displays such as his “road to the white house,” or his personal history.

~ by supernovajesus on January 31, 2008.