
For reporters, especially those new to the TV news business, there’s nothing like going live. Exciting, invigorating and electrifying are some of the words that describe how it feels to go live. Nerve-racking, overwhelming, and downright scary are some other words that also can be used to describe what it’s like to go live for rookie TV reporters.
Seriously, I’ve seen people who looked like they were getting ready to have a heart attack right before a live shot.
It doesn’t have to be that way for you if you’re new to the business. The number one thing to keep in mind when you’re going live: know your story; I can’t stress that enough. When you know everything there is to know about a story, you can talk to anyone about that story, including your audience.
Knowing your story also prevents you from being completely dependent on a script. Think about it, what happens when you’re standing in the rain trying to read a sheet of paper? What happens when you have to move around and show different elements of a story? Those scenarios may not work out well if you’re relying heavily on a script.
You have to trust yourself. Trust yourself to know your story and to be able to have an intelligent conversation about that story. It’s the only way you’ll get good at going live and once you are good, you’ll start to feel like a rock star when you pull off great live shots. You can thank the adrenaline rush for that and, oh boy, you’ll find it’s addictive.
The daily rush of adrenaline is why many of us love going live, but pressure to be perfect while performing; well, that’s the reason why some of us hate it.
Do you remember what it was like when you went live for the first time? Share your memory with us.
Seriously, I’ve seen people who looked like they were getting ready to have a heart attack right before a live shot.
It doesn’t have to be that way for you if you’re new to the business. The number one thing to keep in mind when you’re going live: know your story; I can’t stress that enough. When you know everything there is to know about a story, you can talk to anyone about that story, including your audience.
Knowing your story also prevents you from being completely dependent on a script. Think about it, what happens when you’re standing in the rain trying to read a sheet of paper? What happens when you have to move around and show different elements of a story? Those scenarios may not work out well if you’re relying heavily on a script.
You have to trust yourself. Trust yourself to know your story and to be able to have an intelligent conversation about that story. It’s the only way you’ll get good at going live and once you are good, you’ll start to feel like a rock star when you pull off great live shots. You can thank the adrenaline rush for that and, oh boy, you’ll find it’s addictive.
The daily rush of adrenaline is why many of us love going live, but pressure to be perfect while performing; well, that’s the reason why some of us hate it.
Do you remember what it was like when you went live for the first time? Share your memory with us.