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Thursday, July 20, 2017

HANDLING GLOBAL NEWSROOM

It's already 3 O'clock...more than the recall that most of us knew or being aware of the "3 O'clock Prayer," for me its a bold sign that "Global Newsroom," is about to air!
The clock is ticking past, everything should be ready and previewed before the program begins.

Courtesy CNN Philippines, CNN Philippines, Global Newsroom Logo

This is now one of the three programs I am currently supervising. Along with regular every 30 minutes CNN Updates from 11:30 in the morning to 5:00 in the afternoon. And wait there's more there's "Breaking News!"

First week of April, I was given an entirely weird schedule of day-off which happens on Friday and Saturday...weird because I have to be working longer hours during Sunday for CNN Weekend Updates from 8:55 in the moring to 5:00 in the afternoon. 
But that also includes supervising "Newsroom Weekend," which airs 6:00pm to 6:30 in the evening.

Which made me adjust all the family day events which normally falls during Sunday to Friday or Saturday. And to free-up my self from laundry and other household chores, everything should be done during weekdays.
Because really it is a must to have a break for "one's self," or a time spent for bonding with my family. To help me put away all the stress brought about by weekdays workloads and other extra-curricular activities. 
  

WORKING WITH THE NEW PROGRAM


Mastery of tasks while dealing with time constraint.

This part is very challenging to learn because sometimes even the time alotted for preview were taken away from me. Eventhough, you have an idea of what news or event happening that day...there are news that are still coming in and you can't really prevent or stop it. When this happens, you have no choice but to immediately address or focus on it.

-Creating an Id
An ID or "Media ID," is very helpful tool use to send edited segments. This is normally done after looking at the code given for downloads.
Every downloaded segments contains upstreams tha has details for locations, video source and even the time stamp. Because not all materials are directly coming from CNN most are coming from social media sites and some are file videos.  


-Creating a folder name designated for every story
To easily identify the type of segments as to VO, PKG, DNT, LKLV, SOT, NATPKG, etc...

-How to download fast
What I was doing before was to patiently wait for every donwloads to finish. This is to secure that everything is succesfully downloaded. But since "Time is of the essence," I have to leave it for the meantime and counter check later.
Recently, encountered segment that's taking longer to downloads...one of the editor recommended to select MP4 instead of the usual MOV during the conversion process. This will at least lessen and speed up conversion which can be done in the editing.  

-Assigning editors what segment to edit
On a piece of paper, I normally write the code along with the name of the editor and the corresponding "media Id," created. On a folder that has name of the program and its date it was an automatic activity for them to check if there are upstreams that are required to be on it.
If there are instructions as to repeat the particular video, remove the extro, blur a sensitive image or even bleep a cursing words uttered, it has to be in the paper. 
Discussing those instructions personally to the editor are even more effective.




DIFFICULTIES:

Some mats changes its code when downloaded, which sometimes confuses the editor. So, instead of focussing on other additional downloads, time will be divided again.
What's good about the show is that you to download all the videos directly on the server. I got overwhelmed on my first week for I have 20 and more downloads assignments that very day.
Aside from that there are time consuming downloads, these are high-definition segments which 
taking longer than the usual 5 minutes or less to 30minutes or more.

And recently encountered downloaded segments that never reflects on the editing. Or when downloads finish the "request is complete," the desired destination where it should be found were not seen on a default folder. 
This now requires me to check every folder created and or path where it usually saved.
Sometimes, which really happens in real life...I have to repeat the downloads again, which taking so much of my time, energy, and adrenaline.

All downloads comes by batches...so you have to keep your patience longer. 
It could only mean that you have to visit the download station not just once, twice, thrice...sometimes even more than that. 
Looking at it on a brighter side, It's like I was given a privilege to do a threadmill or jog at the office while working, one of the best cardiovascular exercise I could ever get.

When breaking news explodes while preparing for Global Newsroom no choice but to juggle with both programs all of the sametime. Normally, it happens before the program goes on air. e.g., The President has an speaking engagement sometimes if we put him "LIVE" on-air the shortest airing time is 20-30minutes...while the 1hour or so was the longest. When this happens, the program will be pre-empted. 
But since this one is unpredictable we have to prepare the whole newscast ready for airing no matter what.


SACRIFICES:
Couldn't go out for Lunch for the program I am supervising requires immediate attention when breaking news explodes. So I normally bring food with me and had lunch on my work area. Or If I don't have pack lunch ready, I always do take out (which is no choice fastfood), all the time.



THE BRIGHTER SIDE:

The producer was very approachable and was open for suggestions made. Even writers were helping as well to resolve concerns in the editing. As to there are downloads that requires more time to be converted before it goes on air.



Global Newsroom last airing was on the 29th of December 2017. This was replaced by Amanpour which started airing 1st of January 3pm and replays at 6:30pm.
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CNN Philippines Global Newsroom is anchored by Pia Hontiveros, weekdays 3pm
CNN Philippines Updates weekdays airs...930am, 11:30am AND 2:30pm, 4:00pm, 4:30pm, 5:00pm
CNN Philippines Weekend Updates airs hourly from 9:00am to 5:00pm
CNN Philippines Newsroom Weekend, anchored by Mai Rodriguez airs at 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday