The content of a television news show is managed by a news producer. He or she may also gather news stories, write scripts, and oversee the show’s overall flow. Although there are no specific educational requirements, most news producers hold a bachelor’s degree.
The most important task a news producer will complete is deciding which items to include in a news show. To decide which news stories to use for a program, he or she might meet with editors, news directors, and photographers. They decide what will be used together.
Another way a producer might find content for a news program is to keep an eye on wire reports and other news outlets. Monitoring other news sources can provide a news producer with insight into how another source covered a story or reported on one that the producer didn’t select. This part of the job can take up the entire day.
A producer must see that all of the stories he or she chooses to use are completed. Some stories may fall through the cracks, and new ones may emerge. A producer must ensure that all stories intended for the program contain the most up-to-date information and are presented in an engaging and accurate manner.
A news producer is responsible for not only deciding on the content of a show, but also for writing or overseeing the writing of scripts for news anchors. Anchors will be assigned to the various stories by the producer. The anchors’ scripts will then be placed in order based on the order in which the pieces will be covered in the show.
Another aspect of a news producer’s job is to ensure that enough video and graphics are available. These elements add interest to a news story and help convey additional information about the topic. If appropriate video or graphics are not available, the producer should be able to locate them.
When working as a news producer, the ability to think on one’s feet can be beneficial. Breaking news can happen at any time, and a story may not be ready in time for the show. A show may also be running too long or too short, necessitating the removal or addition of content. All of these situations may necessitate split-second decisions on the part of the news producer.