Writing will get you everywhere

 

Elizabeth Espinosa broadcast work

    As a broadcast journalist and multimedia reporter for The Pan American, many don't see the true importance of writing. How it can make or break and control the voice of your package. The people you interview for sources are very critical your story. The writing is based around the character and humanizes stories just as it does for print articles.

    I have come across some who believe we are just videographers and won't put their all in writing. As I interned with KGBT Action 4 News, I wrote daily. I would write webscripts for stories online to scripts for VOs and packages. I listened to tips on how to better my skill and what headline would attract the audience. Newscast stories are no more than a minute thirty and have to get the point of the story across fast. I learned how to do that.

    I was also taught on how to choose a character to tell the story through. For example, if I am covering a jazz music festival, instead of just speaking about the event. I can choose a pianist from a band and begin the script describing his love for jazz. What he feels as he is playing in front of an audience and as the music flows from his fingertips to the keys of the bored to the ears of people. That explanation is much more attractive.

    "If you know how to write, you can work anywhere," is what I've heard from the staff at KGBT to freelance work I have done. It's true. I don't know a lot about sports but I'm sure I can be able to write a sports brief or feature story on an athlete.

    My writing does need work and I have been practicing. Since finishing my internship, I began to write article for the news section at tPA. It gave me headaches but it was a great chance to solely work on my writing. I have covered a Physics Phaire at IMAS in McAllen, the protest that VOX: Voices for Planned Parenthood held when Texas Gov. Rick Perry came to ceremonially sign the merger bill and health care in Texas.

    The difference between print and broadcast writing is that print allows you to elaborate more. Writing for broadcast needs to be to the point but with all the facts. The visual is just as important as broadcast writing. If you're a good writer and know the difference, you'll do great.

Articles by Elizabeth Espinosa