TV Reporters "on location". Why?

[Paul Reids Sock]

I find them rather amusing in a 'who thought that would be a good idea' way.

I did have to chuckle when I turned on the news the other day and the girl doing to weather was in Disneyland. I'm not sure how her being in Paris was meant to help myself or anyone else in England understand the weather

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

When I lost my iPad, that poor bugger reporting it on Meridian tonight actually did a news report standing on the roundabout outside the Holbush centre.

Marvelous scenes!

 

[Paul Reids Sock]

When I lost my iPad, that poor bugger reporting it on Meridian tonight actually did a news report standing on the roundabout outside the Holbush centre.

Marvelous scenes!


View attachment 48141

Whatever happened with that??

Did they get it back or at least find the guy in the pictures?

 

[Huple]

On my one visit inside Number 10 (for a transport seminar, hosted by Cherie Blair, followed by nibbles), Roz and I were invited by the doorkeeper to wait a few minutes before leaving, so as to catch the opportunity to emerge from the front door at precisely the moment that some journo or other was doing a live item to camera. A Forrest Gump moment.

Do you likes shrimps ?

 

[Huple]

If you were doing natural disasters, what would you keep in your suitcase ? I would have - as Drop the dead donkey - the obligatory single child's shoe but also a walking stick with a carved handle of a dog on it .

 

[Tricky Dicky]

On the TV news they frequently switch to, for example, a reporter standing outside Number 10 when there is an item about the PM.

Why? What does it add to the news item to have the reporter talking outside Number 10 when he/she could say exactly the same from the studio? The latter would be much much cheaper and, in the case of the BBC, keep licence fees down.

Always wondered this, it seems to add nothing. Bumps up the reporters expenses a bit though, I guess.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

BBC South East have a fondness for reporting on items about the port of Dover (threats to jobs, tides of illegal immigrants, whatever) by sending a reporter and film crew to speak live from ... er ... Calais.

I guess this keeps the stocks of duty frees well replenished.

 

[El Presidente]

Just wait until Nelson Mandela dies. When it looked as if he was about to pass away in the summer the BBC had provisional bookings for about 100 journalists to go to South Africa.

 

[Gilliver's Travels]

Obligatory Rules for OBs:-

1 Reports of absolutely any London detective activity may only be ever presented by a journalist standing in front of that revolving stainless steel Toblerone on a pole thing they have outside Scotland Yard.

2 Reports of tragic family bereavement may only ever be started with the bereft seen leafing through a photograph album.

3 Reports of almost anyone in an official position must always be started with a walking shot, where the individual must stare straight ahead while progressing awkwardly past the camera down a pre-agreed pathway. If it rains, they must be shown at their desk, pretending to write something on a document.

 

[Badger]

OBs exist so that Sky News can use that absurd, tabloidy 'whooosh' sound effect, to warn their terminally stupid viewers that the next shot will feature someone from far beyond the studio. Then, to make quite sure, the screen is split into halves labelled 'Studio' and 'Beirut'. Sometimes it must be very hard to tell the difference.

I've always assumed that Sky employ media studies work experience kiddies to handle all their sound effects and graphics. Why do they need accompany every feature or cut to a replay with a "whoosh" sound or what I can only describe as the sound of a knife being sharpened?

 

[Badger]

Obligatory Rules for OBs:-

1 Reports of absolutely any London detective activity may only be ever presented by a journalist standing in front of that revolving stainless steel Toblerone on a pole thing they have outside Scotland Yard.

2 Reports of tragic family bereavement may only ever be started with the bereft seen leafing through a photograph album.

3 Reports of almost anyone in an official position must always be started with a walking shot, where the individual must stare straight ahead while progressing awkwardly past the camera down a pre-agreed pathway. If it rains, they must be shown at their desk, pretending to write something on a document.

Don't forget the obligatory North Face jacket when it's a bit nippy.

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

Whatever happened with that??

Did they get it back or at least find the guy in the pictures?

Nope, never got it back.

 

[goldstone]

Obligatory Rules for OBs:-

1 Reports of absolutely any London detective activity may only be ever presented by a journalist standing in front of that revolving stainless steel Toblerone on a pole thing they have outside Scotland Yard.

2 Reports of tragic family bereavement may only ever be started with the bereft seen leafing through a photograph album.

3 Reports of almost anyone in an official position must always be started with a walking shot, where the individual must stare straight ahead while progressing awkwardly past the camera down a pre-agreed pathway. If it rains, they must be shown at their desk, pretending to write something on a document.

Good examples of what really irritates me about these outside broadcasts. As another poster said, I really question whether it adds anything to the news item ... other than cost.

 

[Biscuit]

Like when they go to a neighbouring country during a warzone.. it's to give the illusion that they're bringing YOU closer to the action.

It's all a load of bollocks of course, but then so are most of the constraints of consumable entertainment. As a producer myself it's useful to have little 'go to' phrases and locations that help the experience become immersive, without being distracting. It fundamentally boils down to holding the audiences attention for as long as possible,

 

[withdeanwombat]

It's the news as entertainment.

I'm withdeanwombat, this is the news from the Peoples' Republic of Somersetshire.

 

[The Hon Sec]

BBC South East often do their outdoor location pieces from right outside their own studio front door in TW.

 

[Winker]

On my one visit inside Number 10 (for a transport seminar, hosted by Cherie Blair, followed by nibbles), Roz and I were invited by the doorkeeper to wait a few minutes before leaving, so as to catch the opportunity to emerge from the front door at precisely the moment that some journo or other was doing a live item to camera. A Forrest Gump moment.

I'm surprised to see the seminar was co-hosted by Nibbles, he certainly hasn't posted anything on here about it?

 

[Nibble]

I'm surprised to see the seminar was co-hosted by Nibbles, he certainly hasn't posted anything on here about it?

It didn't end well. I called everyone ***** and flounced off.

 

[Arthritic Toe]

It is supposed to convey the impression that the reporter has just been inside the building, talking/interviewing with those within. He has just nipped outside for a minute to deliver the report to us, and he'll be right back inside in just a minute, thus ensuring that we the public wont miss thing.

 

[Willy Dangle]

Nope, never got it back.

I'm nearly done with it. Where should I post it?