# Comparing Broadcast Coverage

Part of the Journalism Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/journalism/guide/index.md)

*2. Reporting Across Platforms*

> **2.b.1.** All on the same day, watch a local and national network newscast, listen to a radio newscast, and (with your parent or guardian's permission) view a national broadcast news source online. List the different news items and features presented, the different elements used, and the time in minutes and seconds and the online space devoted to each story. Compare the story lists and discuss whether the stories are fair and accurate. Explain why different news outlets treated the stories differently and/or presented a different point of view.

Broadcast coverage is like a timed puzzle. Each outlet has only so many minutes, so editors and producers constantly decide which stories deserve the most time and what format will communicate them best.

## Build Your Comparison Log

For each source, list:

- the stories included
- the order they appeared
- the time each story received
- the elements used, such as anchor intro, reporter package, interview clip, live shot, graphic, or commentary
- how fair and accurate the coverage seemed

A local station may lead with weather, traffic, school closures, or a nearby crime story because those directly affect viewers' lives. A national network may lead with a presidential speech, international conflict, or a major court case. Radio may rely more on concise scripts and audio clips. Online broadcast coverage may expand with video clips, sidebars, or updates that never fit on air.

> **Tip**
>
> Use a stopwatch or phone timer while you watch and listen. Estimating from memory will usually make short stories seem longer than they really were.

## Elements Used in Broadcast Stories

Broadcast outlets mix storytelling pieces together. Here are some common elements:

![Broadcast rundown timeline showing story order, airtime blocks, and common on-air elements like anchor intro, package, live shot, and feature](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/journalism/guide/broadcast-rundown-timeline?v=27af24d1)

- **Anchor intro:** A short setup read in the studio
- **Reporter package:** A pre-recorded story with narration, sound, and visuals
- **Sound bite:** A short quote from an interview subject
- **Live shot:** A reporter speaking live from the scene
- **Graphic:** Text or visuals on screen that explain numbers, locations, or timelines
- **Feature segment:** A lighter or more human-centered story, often placed later in the newscast

When you compare outlets, do not only ask *what* they covered. Ask *how* they covered it.

> **Be Prepared! If two broadcasts seem to disagree**
>
> Pause and investigate instead of assuming one must be dishonest.
>
> - **Check the timing:** One report may have aired earlier with less confirmed information.
> - **Notice the frame:** One outlet may focus on impact while another focuses on cause.
> - **Look for sourcing:** Which story explains where its information came from?
> - **Separate omission from error:** A short broadcast may leave things out without being inaccurate.

This requirement also connects back to [Req 1](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/journalism/guide/req1/). Fairness and accuracy matter just as much on air as they do on a printed page.

Video: [How to choose your news - Damon Brown — TED-Ed](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-Y-z6HmRgI)

The next page takes you inside a station so you can see how all those pieces come together before airtime.

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- Previous: [Broadcast Newsroom Skills](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/journalism/guide/req2b/index.md)
- Next: [Visiting a Station](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/journalism/guide/req2b2/index.md)