Internet users could adopt the following methods to ensure that s/he is safe.
Disabling the SSID broadcast . To some extent this makes it difficult for the hacker to detect the presence of a WiFi access point.
Enable MAC address filter . Each network interface has a unique MAC address, by filtering it, one can to an extent control which machines can use the access point.
Turn on WPA/WEP encryption . This ensures that traffic between a legitimate machine and an access point is not readable.
Change default admin passwords for access points .
Ensure access points are placed securely . In the centre of a room/office etc to minimise its signal strength outside the office.
Even after following the above precautions, your WiFI account could be compromised and hence, the things to look at are :
Monitor usage of the access point . Have a clear inventory and knowledge about the position of each access point.
Monitor the usage of the Internet link , to know what traffic is going out. For example, some corporate block e-mail providers like yahoo or hotmail. Hence, even if the access point is compromised, the hacker may not be able to use public e-mail systems.
Consider a specific security policy for wireless networks. For example, most companies primarily use wired networks in the office as the primary media. Access points are used in common areas like conferences rooms etc. Hence, strict policies can be deployed on wireless networks as compared to wired networks.
Role of Digital Forensics:
Digital Forensics means the analysis of electronic media to detect forgery or manipulation . It is used to identify possible culprits and also to gather legal evidence to be used for prosecution.
Digital Forensics is a highly-specialised area and if not done using the right skills and tools could lead to evidence being deleted or not usable in the court of law. It is similar to that of criminal forensics and hence needs special skills and tools. Hence, it would be advisable for companies to understand their responsibility and the do's and don'ts during a breach.
Public e-mails systems have limited information about its users and normally provide it to law enforcement agencies on special request. This information is picked up during e-mail ID creation, usage etc.
Most usual information picked up is the source of the Internet Protocol , which can be masked using techniques like using others' WiFi networks. Hence, unless e-mail providers enable higher security mechanisms like special authentication while creating users not much can be done. It is not easy for e-mail providers to do this as, by definition, these e-mail systems are free and open for people to use.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Tips to protect your WiFi from hackers
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Policies and Procedures
Soon, none of the eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder.
A second original monkey is removed and replaced.
However, he has no idea why he's attacking the new monkey.
All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea why.
AND THAT'S HOW VERY MANY COMPANY POLICIES & PROCEDURES GET ESTABLISHED.
*********
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Ten Trait Of A Positive Thinking
1. Optimism- Do you have a belief in and expectation of positive outcomes, even in the face of difficulty, challenge, or crisis? Being optimistic is a choice. You can choose to be a victim or a victor regardless of what life puts in your path.
2. Enthusiasm-Are your levels of positive energy, passion, and personal motivation consistency high? A smile and a controlled rush can show that you expect good things to come your way. Are you always striving to add value to others? Enthusiasm can also be considered charisma.
3. Belief- Do you always trust in yourself, others, and God to provide support and guidance when needed? Mary Kay Ash said, "Expect great things and great things will happen!" I have always found that to be true.
4. Integrity- Do you have a personal commitment to honesty, openness, and fairness, always living by and for your consistent ethical standards? It's what you do when nobody is watching that will show your true character.
5. Courage- How willing are you to take risks and overcome fears, even when the outcome is uncertain? Courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to go forward even when you feel the fear!
6. Confidence- Are you personally assured of your abilities, capabilities and full potential? Every person is unique, like a snowflake. There is no other person exactly like you- even if you are a twin. Discover what makes you unique and use it wisely.
7. Determination-Do you exhibit a tireless pursuit of a goal, purpose or cause? This can be a positive trait as well as a negative one. The ability to continue when the challenges of life get in your way will take you farther than you can imagine. Even setbacks and failures are stumbling blocks, character building experiences and opportunities for growth.
8. Patience-Have you developed the willingness to wait for opportunity, readiness, or results from oneself or others.? I don't believe that anyone is born with patience. It is something that you can learn. A determined person will create their own patience.
9. Calmness- Do you maintain serenity and seek balance daily in response to difficulty, challenge or crisis; taking time to reflect and think? What do you put your faith in? A faith and trust in God will give you peace regardless of your circumstances.
10. Focus- Is your attention directed through the setting of goals and priorities? This is so important. Follow One Course Until Successful. Keeping it simple and focused frees your time from unnecessary tasks.
The lesson in this is simple. Our beliefs shape our thoughts. Our thoughts influence our feelings. What you think about, you bring about. Positive thinking motivates us to actions. Once you have mastered the secrets to keeping a positive attitude, you can achieve anything that you want in life! Are you ready to take action now?
How to Recover Deleted Blogs?
Blogs may get deleted in a number of ways. Once deleted a blog is not lost forever so do not panic. However it is always safer to backup your blogs regularly so that there is a fallback solution.
Also remember to backup your template and to backup your widgets template data as further insurance.
There are a number of solutions to recover deleted blogs............
How do blogs get deleted? This may occur in a number of ways :
1. Accidental clicking of "Delete This Blog" button at the bottom of Settings--->Basic subtab. ( Login at Blogger.com----->ClickSettings link on Dashboard).
2. If you have contravened the Blogger TOS your blog may get deleted by them.
3. By hacking into your account. Make sure that you have a strong password and change it regularly to prevent this.
4. By deleting your Google Account. This does not delete the blog but deletes the Blogger service associated with your Google account and prevents access to your Blogger Dashboard.
5. Pseudo-Deletion. This happens when you cannot see your blog on the Dashboard after login at Blogger.com. You think the blog is deleted. Actually it is in another account. To locate it login with all the email addresses you have, one at a time. If you have forgotten the password get it reset via : http://www.blogger.com/forgot.g . If login is unsuccessful see the options at Checklist for Blogger Login problems.
Changing Blog Address (URL) does not delete the blog. Your original address may be picked up by spammers also the new address will not get your old traffic. Hence changing the blog address is not advisable for old blogs.
RECOVER DELETED BLOG OFFICIALLY
To recover a deleted blog along with posts and comments you should provide information about your deleted blog by filling up the form here :
http://help.blogger.com/bin/request.py?contact_type=deletedblog
Blogger needs to identify your ownership of the blog before restoring it to you. You cannot request a URL deleted by someone else.
RECOVER GOOGLE ACCOUNT
If you have deleted your Google Account you can get it restored here :
http://www.google.com/support/accounts/bin/request.py?ctx=accounts_hc&contact_type=ara
Only after account is restored you can login at Blogger.com.
RECOVER MALWARE AFFLICTED BLOGS
If your blog has been deleted by Blogger first submit the official request at http://www.blogger.com/problem.g. If no intimation after 7 business days have passed you can submit request here :
https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=pZHHZdeYKeHgXlmtdMIRfbw&email=true
RECOVER POSTS AND BLOG URL
Deleted blog URLs are only available for reclaiming to the account which deleted them. Other accounts will get "Not Available" response when they request a URL inuse or a deleted URL. Even inactive URLs are considered as 'alive' and in use even though there may be no new posts on it.
To recover a deleted URL simply login to the account (Blogger.com) which deleted it. Click the Create a Blog link on Dashboard and type in same URL and follow the arrows to reclaim it. This will not recover your posts. To recover your posts go to Google.com and type in the search box :
cache:BLOG_URL
Replace the CAPS with your blog url/link/address. Click Searchbutton. This will only work if your blog has been indexed by Google. It will not work with blogs which have been created and deleted within 2-3 weeks of their creation. You can then copy the posts and paste them in your reclaimed blog.
Lastly DO NOT DELETE YOUR BLOG IN ONE ACCOUNT SO THAT YOU CAN CREATE IT IN ANOTHER. Instead Transfer blog from one account to another by changing owner.
Also deleted blogs do not disappear from the Internet instantaneously. They stay in the Google cache as shown above. To totally remove them you have to submit request at Google Webmaster Tools after deletion :
http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/removals
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Too Many Tos- Improve Your Business Writing
An error I am seeing constantly is the incorrect rendering of too as to. Just yesterday in an Email Intelligence class, someone wrote this phrase to describe what slows down her reading of email: "to many words." That is wrong.
People occasionally let me know they are unsubscribing from my newsletter because they get "to much email." Wrong.
Last night my daughter asked me to proofread a book report. In it, she described a character as "Caring to much about what people think of her." Again, wrong.
When I asked my daughter to find the error in her sentence, she found and corrected it immediately. She reminded me of an easy way I had taught her to recognize which word a sentence needs. Here it is:
If you can pronounce the to/too word "ta" (rhymes with the), you can spell it "to." If you cannot pronounce the word "ta" it must be too.
We live in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, so our pronunciation may be different from yours, but give the "ta" method (rhymes with the) a try on these sentences:
I am going ___ the shopping mall.
Renee and Rachel are going ____.
I hope there will not be ___ many people in the car.
Of course, it is just a short distance ___ drive.
Following the pronunciation hint, I determine the correct renderings are to, too, too, to. Do you agree?
If you find definitions more reliable than pronunciations, too means "very," "excessively," or "also."
Beyond that, the word too can always be deleted without an important loss of meaning. Typically to cannot.
It takes just a moment of proofreading to catch to/too errors. And that time is an essential investment, since the grammar and spelling checker on Microsoft Office does not flag to/too errors. You have to do it yourself. Or, if you are like my daughter, just ask your mother.
Tips for a successful Interview
Dress Appropriately.
Pay attention to the details, the interviewer will.
Are your shoes shined?
Are your clothes pressed?
Wrinkles and smudges can indicate you are careless. All shirts must have collars; a tie is always a good move for men, and certainly, a jacket over a collared shirt. Women should basically adhere to these rules as well. Pay attention to both the top and bottom half of your attire. You may be sitting across the room from the interviewer, who will have time to examine your clothing. Keep the attention on you and your accomplishments, not on the tear in your khakis. No sneakers, extraneous jewelry, cologne, or wet hair. You don’t want to come across as too stiff, but you also don’t want to appear as if you don’t care.
Make Eye Contact.
Look at your recruiter during the conversation. Interviewers state time and again that many applicants refuse to do this simple thing, and never make it any further in the process. Establish eye contact with the initial handshake and don’t forget to focus on the recruiter during the interview. Avoid staring into space or at your feet. If you remember to raise your chin just a bit, you will automatically look at the person opposite you. Not looking at the interviewer can be interpreted as lack of interest or even lack of candor. And while you are remembering to make eye contact, don’t forget to smile occasionally. It shows confidence.
Be Prepared.
Research the company. With everything online, you have no excuse for not examining the company website and Googling articles on its plans and accomplishments, and exactly what goods and services it offers or manufactures, and its place in the community. Interviewers may ask if you are familiar with what the company does or is planning. You want to be able to discuss details and suggest some familiarity. If you have friends who work there, ask them about the work environment, and about company goals. Doing your homework can mean the recruiter will focus sooner on you. If you don’t exhibit some knowledge of the company, it can be interpreted as lack of interest.
Ask Good Questions.
Be prepared to ask smart, insightful questions. Ask about benefit plans and the company system for reviews, promotions, and career growth. You may ask to see the environment in which you will be working. Ask about community outreach and future plans. Although you shouldn’t bring it with you, a written list of questions you have brainstormed before will help you. Don’t just ask about Casual Fridays, personal parking space, or if you get every weekend off; don’t come off as what’s-in-itfor- me type.
Bring It With You.
You should carry to the interview a slim portfolio or file folder containing such items as an extra copy of your resume, contact information for your references, copies of award certificates, and reference letters, if you have any. Anticipate the recruiter’s needs, and include anything you think may be of interest or contribute to your profile, but don’t make it a cumbersome stack.
Leave It At Home.
Do not carry your cell phone, even if you have it turned off. iPods are also a no-no. Once again, you need to appear professional, and not concerned with missing a personal phone call. Recruiters have stated candidates are arriving in increasing numbers talking on the phone, answering it during an interview, or conversing with their ear buds still inserted in their ears. Some have even witnessed candidates continuing to listen to music during the interview itself. Don’t set yourself up for immediate failure. Bring to the interview only what is necessary.
Anticipate Questions.
Think like a recruiter. What would you ask? Prepare for the interview by writing down both potential questions and your answers. You may learn something. Typical questions are along the lines of, What type of salary are you looking for? Where do you see yourself in five years? What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses? What interests you about our company? Why have you chosen this field?
Stay Positive.
Avoid apologies for any perceived weaknesses, and don’t confide. Don’t open any discussions with statements like, “I know you need someone with extensive network experience, but I’ve only worked in one internship where I was exposed to it.” Try instead, “I was an intern at HP, and was exposed to some aspects of networking.”
Concentrate on what you bring to the table. In fact, try keeping the conversation positive by editing anything negative. Don’t say “no” to anything without qualifying the statement. A good response might be, “While I don’t know very much about SQL, I do have working knowledge of Perl, Verilog, and Bash scripting.”
Say More.
Don’t stop at a simple “yes.” Treat every question as if it were the opening of a discussion; always elaborate and explain. You want to volunteer your skills and how you have used them. And you also want to demonstrate your willingness to communicate. While you want to provide an alternative to saying no, as suggested above, you also want to avoid a one-word response of any type. Think of answering questions as if they were short essay answers you had to provide on a test. Don’t make someone urge you to “be more specific.” At the same time, don’t ramble; Keep your answers substantive.
Avoid Overconfidence.
Be confident, but don’t overdo it. Interviewers are turned off by arrogance. Remember that candidates are expected to fit in, and play by the company’s rules, not vice versa. You should come across as well-equipped, but also willing to learn. Just because you know Kerberos protocol does not mean you necessarily have the answer for world peace. Show your willingness to learn and to share by asking questions, responding with details, and listening with interest. It’s all about the ability to work well with others.
Interview Tips on Television Reporting
How to look your best
on television
Introduction
These tips are a few fundamental reminders to which you can briefly
refer before meeting media people.
Quick Tips
Before the Interview Begins
The person being interviewed should review:
• A brief description of the story and what the reporter wants.
• The name of the reporter.
• The call letters of the station or name of the newspaper the reporter
represents.
• The time of the broadcast or day the story will appear in print.
• If it is a crisis situation, you must understand what information may
be given to reporters and what should not be released.
Check the setting:
• Is it an attractive, non-distracting background?
• Is it an area where there won't be interruptions, e.g. people walking
through the interview or extraneous sound?
• Is the lighting adequate?
Check the appearance of the person being interviewed:
• Does the person appear neat and professional?
• For a man, is his tie straight and jacket buttoned?
• Hair neatly groomed?
• If the interview is seated, men should cross their legs at the knee, not
at the ankle. Women should cross their ankles, knees together.
A spokesperson should take a few moments to collect his or her
thoughts. If you have rushed to the interview, make sure you have time to go
over the content.
Remember, if something is distracting to your eye, your distraction
will be multiplied by the camera lens. The time to change things is before the
interview is shot, not afterwards!
Check for background sounds that may not be noticeable normally,
but will be distracting during editing. The most common examples of this are
air conditioners or radios. You become accustomed to their noise, but they
may stand out on tape.
General Strategies
Set your goals.
What do you want the interview to be about, and what do you want to avoid?
What do you hope to accomplish in the interview?
Understand clearly what the story is.
The reporter should be able to explain in one sentence the story that he or she
is working on.
Be prepared for predictable questions. But, don't be surprised by
anything that is asked.
Questions often range from the relevant to the irrelevant. Reporters may
accept someone else's perception and agenda and pose questions based on
those assumptions.
If you are being interviewed about a controversy, the reporter may slip you a
question that is designed to trip you up.
Listen to the question.
What did the reporter ask? Answer the question asked.
If a reporter incorporates misinformation in a question, politely correct him or
her and then answer the question.
Insert and assert.
Don't be afraid to insert key information or to assert yourself and your
organization's position.
Appear calm, confident, and caring.
Medical professionals should be serious, but warm and caring. The
information they are discussing is critical to the well being of all of us.
Be positive, if possible.
Viewers may be unnecessarily turned off by the hard truth of these situations.
Be focused.
Direct and focus your message. Give examples, such as: three things people
should do; two signs of a problem; or three most common cures.
Be concise.
Give a good soundbite. Make your answers short, simple, and to the point.
Concise answers have a much better chance of making the air than do longwinded
explanations.
Communicate to the mass audience just as you would to an individual.
In the end, television is one-to-one communication. You are not addressing
your colleagues, trustees, or patients with long experience with a disease.
Be prepared to demonstrate what you're discussing.
For instance, show how to do the Heimlich maneuver on the interviewer, if
appropriate. Or, present an object, model, drawing, or photograph that is
relevant.
Assist the news crew in gaining video of the subject.
This could be the opportunity to photograph someone or something. It could
be still photographs or moving video. Television must have pictures of the
subject discussed.
Consider arranging access to a patient.
Television news executives want to see typical people, people similar to those
who are watching the broadcast. In an average news story, you see the person
with the problem first. And then the medical professional explains to us what
we need to know to understand the issue.
Privately arrange to videotape the news program.
You have a record of your appearance and have a chance to judge for
yourself how you did. It's hard to get a frank reaction from most
acquaintances. They usually want to be polite and withhold negative
comments --- the information you need the most.
Reinforce your content on paper.
Give the newsperson a business card with name and title. You may choose to
provide a concise one-paragraph biography. Consider offering a brochure that
explains the disease. Or, photocopy two or three pages from a book or
magazine explaining what you've discussed.
Taped Interviews In Office
This interview will be recorded on videotape and edited for later
broadcast. Brief excerpts may air as part of a large story.
The typical edited television news story begins with video of one
person who has a problem. This personalizes the abstract issue and makes it
easier to understand. Once the subject is defined, then graphics and an expert
further explain it and may offer advice.
Generally, only one or two :10 second interview excerpts will be used.
The shorter and more direct your sentences are, the easier it is to fit you into
the format. The easier you are to edit, the greater the chances you will be
included this time and the next.
Setting should be clearly medical.
A physician, nurse, or hospital official should be seen in a medical setting.
There could be equipment or even patients in the background. Conference
rooms tend to be too sterile, too formal. The persons featured might as well
be sitting in a motel or office building. However, an office can be acceptable.
Lighting must make you look your best.
Lighting is critical. Offer the news crew a well-lighted spot if possible.
Don't sit or stand with a window behind you; you will be backlit. Your facial
features will be darker than the brighter fight behind you.
Speak to the reporter and ignore the camera.
Concentrate on having your conversation with the reporter, and forget the
location of the lens.
If it is a photographer alone, he may ask you to answer his questions or make
a statement directly to the lens.
Don't fold your arms. If standing, don't cross your legs.
Crossed arms appear defensive. Crossed legs while standing appear less than
authoritative.
If sitting, pick a sturdy chair.
Avoid soft, overstuffed seats in which you sink and have to hunch forward.
Don't rock or move. In the tight focus of the camera, the movement may
appear so extreme the tape is unusable.
Avoid "as I said earlier."
This may ruin a potential soundbite. The phrase sticks out in the middle of an
edited quote. The reporter may ask the same basic question two or three
times. It's not that he or she didn't understand the first time. An experienced
broadcaster may be listening for a good bite or hoping to hear a better one.
The camera microphone is almost always hot.
The microphone mounted on the camera is usually recording. It picks up
sound regardless of whether the main microphone is activated. That
background audio may be heard on the air when the tape is played.
Give the reporter a telephone number where he or she can reach you.
Questions may come up between the interview and air time, particularly if the
story is a complex one.
Schedule your taped interview early enough in the day so there is enough
time to edit the report properly.
How far must the news crew travel? What show is it for? For the early
evening news, the best time may be between 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Live From Your Office
An interview airs live with the signal fed back to the station via
microwave or satellite transmission.
The guest is on longer and featured more prominently than in a taped
piece. It is a chance to have a greater impact.
You may be interviewed by a reporter there with you or asked to
answer questions from an anchor in the studio.
You are on the air during the anchor lead-in.
This is a time when you are simply waiting to talk, listening to the anchor's
introduction. You should not be so intense you appear to be frowning,
however.
Depending on the station's format, you also may be seen for several seconds
after your last answer.
You are wired to a live television station.
The video or audio can be punched up by mistake at any time before or after
your formal interview segment. If the crew has connected a monitor or
television set, do not look at it while you are on.
If there is no reporter in the office with you, speak directly to the
camera.
You are speaking to the anchor and viewer.
Be prepared for extraneous noises that may surprise you in your
earpiece.
You should be able to hear the program on the air by listening in an earpiece
the technicians will provide. This audio is commonly called IFB or cue.
Producers may interrupt or push the wrong button while trying to
communicate with other people.
If the control room technicians don't set it up properly, on a satellite feed it is
possible to hear yourself repeated after you speak. It is hard to concentrate
when you suddenly hear yourself again two seconds later. In a case like this,
try to keep your answers short and concentrate on what you are saying.
Despite the frustration, try not to let it show on air that you have a problem.
Prevent potential distractions or disruptions.
Your beeper should be turned off. The phones should be blocked from
ringing. Visitors should not be able to walk in on you.
Parking requirements.
Microwave signals are most commonly transmitted from a van with a mast.
This signal must be fed to a receiving dish located on a high point. It is then
relayed to the television station.
The van should be parked where the mast can reach the receiving dish. While
signals can be bounced off buildings, they do not go through buildings, hills,
or other obstacles.
The satellite truck is even larger and takes more space than a common
microwave van.
A second consideration for van placement is length of the cable run from the
truck to the interview location. The longer the run, the longer and harder it is
for the technicians to set up. The shortest run is an interview on the sidewalk
next to the truck.
Occasionally, a small portable unit will be used to project the signal from a
floor high above the truck to the truck, and then the signal will be retransmitted
to the receiving base.
Live In Studio
A guest on the news set is in direct contact with the anchors.
At times, you may be seated in the newsroom. In that case, your
setting is similar to a live interview from the office. You are dependent on the
earpiece IFB to respond.
Concentrate on the interviewers.
Don't be distracted by movements of other people in the studio.
Technicians may be communicating about what's coming up during the rest
of the program. Air talent or other guests may be arriving to go on when you
are finished.
Don't look at the monitors.
The television sets spread around the studio are distracting. They are placed
off to the side. When you look to check your image, the camera may show
you turning away, not paying attention to the conversation.
Talk to the anchors, not the camera.
You are having a conversation with the anchors. The camerapersons and
director will make it television.
When you are finished and off the air, remember the microphone is still
connected.
In the release of being finished, it's easy to stand up, still be wired, and appear
awkward. It's not critical, but something to avoid.
Dictionary of Terms
Air check
An audio or video copy of an actual broadcast.
ADI
Area of Dominant Influence. The geographic boundaries of a television
market. The term was coined by a ratings company. The geographic area that
a station serves is also called the DMA, or the Designated Market Area.
B-roll
Pictures of the story or event. When stations used film to shoot news stories,
the A-roll was the narration track and the interview section. The B-roll was
the film chain with the pictures on it.
Today, B-roll usually means cover video or support video.
Beat
A specific subject area assigned to one reporter. Police beat, education beat,
medical beat, etc.
Beta
A type of videotape.
Block
Segments of a newscast. The A-block refers to the first section of a television
news program, where the most important stories are placed. The B-block is
the second block, and is often where feature stories, or stories which appeal to
specific segments of the audience, are run.
Break
The commercial portion of a news program.
Cable television
A television distribution system are transmitted via cable rather than over the
air. The viewers are subscribers who pay for the service.
Cellular telephones
These are just like the car telephones people use when driving. Broadcasters
also use them at spot news stories to phone in the latest details. It's not
unusual today for a station to take a live report via a cellular telephone.
Cutaways
Tight shots that can be used in editing for smoother transitions to avoid jump
cuts. The cutaways also can convey the emotion of the moment. People
watching an event. Someone crying.
Dish
A microwave transmitter or receiver.
Editing
The electronic process by which scenes are selected from a videotape shot in
the field. In the final edited piece, all the individual shots will flow from one
to the next, and the audio track will match the pictures.
Film
Film was the staple of television news operations until the 1970s when
videotape was introduced. Film is rarely used today in TV news.
IFB
Interruptible feedback line. This is the air audio of the program being
broadcast live. A reporter or live guest can hear the IFB through a small
earpiece. The IFB is important when a guest is being interviewed live by an
anchor in the studio.
However, not only can you hear the program audio, but you can also often
hear instructions being, given by a producer back at the studio, and it can be
confusing at times.
Jump Cut
A sequence where the action is visibly interrupted and the picture "jumps"
ahead. Cutaways are used to avoid jump cuts.
Ku-band
A frequency in the 12 to 14 gigahertz range. It is part of the K-band and is
used by radio and TV stations for satellite transmissions.
The ku signals can be received by a relatively small dish, and portable units
are mounted on TV news trucks called satellite trucks. The trucks are referred
to as Ku-trucks or SNV's, satellite news vehicles.
Live Shot
In the live shot, what the person is saying is going over the air
instantaneously. The transmission may be by microwave or satellite.
Live Shot With Taped Insert
These are called a variety of names, including a "Sony sandwich,"
"doughnut," or "wrap-around." The idea is the reporter will introduce the
story live from the scene, pitch to a pre-taped and pre-edited segment, and
end with a live tag from the scene.
This allows the reporter to use material that was shot earlier in the day while
still giving viewers the latest information live.
Man on the Street or MOS
This is the term used for a series of interviews with average people. It derives
its name from the way the interviews are gathered: people are stopped on the
street and asked questions.
It is used to show the range of opinion on a given issue. However, it is a
sample of public opinion in a non-scientific fashion.
Microwave Truck
The vehicle used most frequently for broadcasts from remote locations.
The signal is carried by cable to a microwave unit in the truck and fed to a
receiver at the station. Sometimes the technicians will shoot their signal from
the truck to a fixed receiver in another location, which then beams it back to
the station for broadcast over the air.
Package
The term given to a story that will be reported and narrated as a selfcontained
unit within the newscast. A reporter and photographer are sent to
cover the story and interview experts. The finished piece will run anywhere
from 1:15 to 1:30. If it is an in-depth segment, or "cover story," it may run 3
or 4 minutes.
Satellite Truck
The newest in technology, and if a big event breaks in your area, you could
find several satellite trucks parked outside the hospital. Satellite technology is
usually used when: the story is some distance away from the television
station; it is difficult to get a microwave signal out of a location; or the story
is going to be broadcast to television stations around the country.
The signal is uplinked (sent up) to a transponder on a satellite 22,000 miles
away and then beamed back to earth and received on another satellite dish.
Satellite time
To report via satellite, a station must book time on a satellite in space. The
drawback to using a satellite report versus microwave is satellite time is
expensive.
Soundbite
A portion of an interview edited for broadcast.
Standup
The portion of a story that a reporter does on-camera. In a standup, the
reporter speaks directly to the camera and is seen full-screen, as opposed to
only the reporter's voice being heard.
Transponder
The unit on the satellite that receives the signal from earth, translates it into a
new frequency, amplifies it, and sends it back to earth.
Two-shot
A picture of the person being interviewed and the reporter doing the
interview. The two-shot is usually used to set up the interview. It may be shot
from over the reporter's shoulder or over the interviewee's shoulder.
Videotape
There are a number of formats that local broadcasters use, including DVC
and Beta, to name a few.
Voiceover
Only the announcer's voice is heard over pictures of the event or story. If a
crew is coming to shoot a voiceover, typically they are not looking for an
interview and are only interested in getting pictures. Also, it usually means
the story will get less air time than a reporter package. Possibly as little as :15
or :20 seconds. Regardless of the setup, you should always be prepared to
offer a person from an interview that can provide a soundbite if they ask for
it.
What It Really Means
It's easy to get tripped up when you think you are giving out
information under certain conditions which are understood by all. Here are
some commonly used terms, and what they are generally accepted to mean.
However, even journalists will argue among themselves what these
terms mean, and they will split hairs trying to find a way to use what they
want to use. Many a public official has been embarrassed by information and
quotes he or she thought was off-the-record.
Off-the-Record
Information given to a reporter with the understanding it is not to be used in
any way, shape, or form.
However, in our opinion, there is no such thing as off-the-record. It's simple.
If you want something kept off-the-record, then don't tell reporters and
editors.
If it is important to tell the reporter the information, then say, "This is off-therecord,
and it may not be used in any form."
Background Information
This is information given with the purpose of helping a reporter understand a
story. It is designed to give depth to a reporter's coverage and to flesh out the
details in the story.
The understanding is the information may be used. You may or may not be
quoted as the source, depending on whether or not the background
information is for attribution.
Not for attribution
Material that is "not for attribution" is information that can be used verbatim
but not attributed to you by name.
Television Station Organization
General Manager
The top manager at a television station. Oversees news, sales, promotion,
programing, engineering, and all other services at the station.
News Director
The head of the entire news department. He or she is responsible for the
budget, staff, and editorial direction of the news operation.
If you have a complaint, or a serious problem involving the way a story was
covered, talk it over with the reporter. If you are still unhappy, the News
Director is the person to call. In rare situations where you still don't get
satisfaction, then call the General Manager.
Assistant News Director
The second in command of the television newsroom. At many stations, the
Assistant News Director is responsible for the daily operations.
Executive Producer
The news executive in charge of the content of the news shows. Usually,
producers and reporters, although not anchors, report to the EP.
Operations Manager
The news executive in charge of the operational end of covering the news and
supervising photographers, editors, and equipment.
Assignment Editor
The person in charge of scheduling TV crews and making story assignments.
If you have a news release, this is the person to whom you should send it.
May also be called an assignment manager or news manager.
Producer
Responsible for organizing, writing and overseeing a news show.
Reporter
Gathers the facts for a story, writes the story, and when time permits,
supervises the editing of the story.
Photographer
Operates the camera and takes pictures in the field.
Editor
Edits the field tape, deciding which shots will make air. Sometimes the
photographer edits the tape he or she shot. But, in larger markets, an editor
works from a script written by a reporter or producer, and matches the
pictures to the text of the story.
Anchor
The studio talent who introduces the stories on air. Some anchors write the
copy they read, but many read stories written for them by others. Often
anchors are former reporters. In some markets, anchors actually cover stories
between shows.
Associate Producer
Assists the producer. This title is often given to a writer on a show.
Field Producer
A producer sent out to a location to help supervise a shoot, either live or
taped.
Desk Assistant
A young person, often a student, who helps out on the assignment desk.
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