Broadcast News Program Observation
Audio/Visual Impact
While I watched the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, it covered almost exclusively in no surprise, the coronavirus pandemic. What I noticed from the very beginning was the number of images and videos that revolved around the coronavirus. They included multiple emotional videos of families and nurses who have lost or witnessed the death of those diagnosed with COVID-19. It astonishes me how much b-roll and overall footage these news outlets put into just one, singular, news broadcast from one specific night. The overall audio quality is not as much of a highlight in broadcast news but the audio levels are all at very sufficient and comfortable levels. NBC does include some voice bites and those sound great as well. The overall impact that the video and audio make together is quite impressive. At the beginning of the show, Lester Holt announced what was going to be covered in the show and the entire time he was speaking striking images, visuals and videos appeared and ran across the screen. Given the circumstances and the roadblocks that this virus is causing, the broadcast quality is terrific and it really does include great audio material and awesome visual clips.
Timeliness
On this specific episode of the NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt, every piece of news and every story that was covered was timely and was extremely relevant. If there is one topic that everyone is covering right now, and in a timely manner, it is COVID-19. Everything from general news outlets, to sports news outlets, to weather news outlets, it seems like every single type of news source and news outlet connects their stories to the coronavirus. In their broadcast, NBC covered many areas that the coronavirus is affecting. From the world of economics to nursing homes, and how the virus will affect the food supply in the United States, these news outlets are covering virtually everything that the coronavirus impacts. I would say that every news outlet company has done a tremendous job during this time of the coronavirus outbreak, in covering extremely relevant stories and gathering details on issues that people would like to read about. All in all, the NBC Nightly News did a very good job in covering the proper topics and issues that are extremely relevant in the world that we are currently living in. They are truly reporting on what Americans want to hear.
Information
On this particular episode of the Nightly News, the information that was covered was all valid and had no personal opinion involved. The reporters simply presented the facts and the truth. The stories and information that was covered in this broadcast really spanned across many different areas. There were pieces of news that were serious, saddening, heartwarming and friendly. Having a wide array of these different moods throughout the broadcast can keep the attention of viewers and overall, it can attract more viewers to watch the broadcast. In the current time that we are living in, it is very important to include some lighthearted or cheerful stories to take the viewer's minds off of the pandemic for a little while. I think that news outlets know that and are putting it into action. Thanks to these differing news outlets the American people are able to gather a wide array of information and a plethora of story types. In the end, this broadcast did a very nice job of offering viewers a variety of information and stories that will keep them engaged in the show. I enjoyed watching the NBC Nightly News, and it opened my eyes to the current coronavirus issues.
