I like to research examples of news promos from the past. I know, I should see somebody about that. I think if you are a practitioner of this craft, it helps to have a sense of its history. Especially for younger writer/producers at TV stations who may not always realize that promoting television news, be […]
I like to research examples of news promos from the past. I know, I should see somebody about that.
I think if you are a practitioner of this craft, it helps to have a sense of its history.
Especially for younger writer/producers at TV stations who may not always realize that promoting television news, be it national or local, is as old, and as rich and varied, at television itself.
This spot for Mike Blake, sports anchor for WFIE in Evansville, Ind., portrays Blake quite creatively as the kind of sports anchor who likes to get close to the action in his work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1R2J13tSts
Remember when Katie Couric was the evening news anchor at CBS? Here’s a graphic-driven spot that uses clips from Couric’s interviews to prove she’s not afraid to ask tough questions.
In 1977, there was no non-linear editing, no After Effects, no Beta even, and certainly no easy way to create any kind of 3D simulated graphics. So how did WBZ in Boston create this spot? I’d like to know.
In 1971, Howard K. Smith was the evening anchor for ABC News. Here’s a 60-second spot, as rare then as it is now, that takes a historical approach to the role of news anchor. Very subtle and understated.
Another local news promo from Evansville, this time it’s WTVW. In 1984, the promo asked the question about how confusing news can be if you don’t get it from the right news team. Notice the eerie use of someone’s eyes half-dissolved through some of the spot.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRh3wNfa9IY\
Some people like watching the news so much, they have to have it whatever they’re doing and wherever they go. This reminds me of the kind of approach we often took to premises when I worked at New York Communications back in the late 1980s.
Take a concept to its most absurd point then make it believable.
Here’s a spot for WNEW New York from 1985.
Following that is a spot I wrote for WPVI in around 1986 using a similar idea. I swear I thought my idea was original since until the other day, I had never seen the WNEW spot.
Comments (1)
Reader Interactions