If you or your class would like to go on Special Assignment for Kid’s Times, research an issue or event in your community that you think would be of interest to the Kid’s Times audience. Your story should answer the basic questions that all reporters ask:

Who_     What_     Where_     When_     Why_

After researching your story, follow these steps:

1. Write your story. The final script should be no more than 2 minutes long.
2. Create a storyboard, a description of the visual image that best illustrates each portion of the script.
3. Using the guidelines below, videotape the people, places, and things you have described in your storyboard. In some places, you may decide that the best video is the reporter simply talking into the camera.
4. To edit the story, you may do one of the following:

1. Videotape a reporter reading the entire story. Send us the video along with all the footage you have shot and your script. Be sure to send us a description that identifies who or what is in the video. We will then edit the footage.
2. Read the narration as the videotaping is in progress, and send us the complete edited version.

Your story may become a segment on WHAT’S IN THE NEWS or it could be a video feature on our on-line newspaper, "Kid’s Times."

• Use a regular VHS camcorder. Compact (or VHSC) cameras are not recommended, but will still be accepted. Use a new tape rather than one previously used.

• Place the camera on a tripod and make sure it is balanced.

• When framing the shot, please zoom in to a head and shoulders shot centered in the middle of the frame. Full body shots are nice but make faces difficult to see.

• If the camera is not an auto focus camera, please be sure to focus the camera by zooming in on the subject’s eyes, focusing, and then reframing the shot.

• Remove camera generated text, such as date and time stamps.

• Please be sure to use a microphone plugged directly into the camera. Either a hand held or lavaliere (or clip on) microphone are acceptable. If one is not available, the microphone on the camera can be used, but it is not recommended.

• Try to have the area surrounding you as quiet as possible. Eliminate as many noises and sounds as possible.

• Please send us the original master tape. Do not send a dub or copy of the original tape. They cannot be used on air.

• Make sure the tape is recorded in Standard Play (or SP) mode only. Tapes recorded in the Extended Play (EP) or Super Long Play (SLP) modes cannot be used.

• Have your subject(s) pause for a few seconds before starting to speak to the camera. If you do not, their audio may not be recorded and the takes will be unusable.

• Have your subject(s) continue to look into the camera for a few seconds before and after speaking.

• Do not videotape your subject(s) against windows or mirrors.

• Try not to videotape directly into the sun or any light source. It will produce a large white blob on the tape and may damage your camera. However, it is necessary to shoot in a well lit area with no shadows.

• Make sure your subject(s) and reporter(s) speak slowly and clearly. Comments that are rushed, slurred, or otherwise not understandable will most likely not be used on air.

• For safety reasons, do not include your subject’s full name(s) anywhere on the screen. First name(s) and a last initial may be used, but complete last names are discouraged.