Explain which types of broadcast news stories require additional practice before receiving airtime and what that practice is intended to do for each story type.

What will be an ideal response?

The story types that require extensive practice before going to air are those that require anchors or reporters to do live script readings over pre-packaged video content. These include voice-over stories and VO/SOT stories. A voice-over is a 20–30 s segment that begins with a reporter or anchor reading a script directly into the camera before video images begin to roll and the reading continues over the video. It is important for journalists to practice voice-overs so that they can ensure what they are saying matches with what the audience is seeing, both in terms of timing and content. A VO/SOT includes some live reading, along with pre-recorded soundbites and video clips. Journalists must practice VO/SOTs to ensure that they are not only matching their words to what the audience is seeing, but that they also have the right timing to introduce soundbites without being interrupted or leaving too much silence before the soundbite begins.