Jeff Butera

If you have an issue with your book order (wrong address provided, lost in mail), please contact me! Jeff@WriteLikeYouTalk.com There are easy fixes to problems and I will make sure you get your book! Just reach out. Please! #WriteLikeYouTalk

One thing I’ve learned anchoring — Mistakes are also opportunities. When they’re obvious, cop to them and use them as a chance to humanize yourself. Or, like here, turn it into GREAT TELEVISION: instagram.com/reel/DWMw0kjCT…

Important note about investigative reporting: we always want govt officials on-camera. There's nothing better than an accountability interview. More and more, officials try to spike a story by refusing to participate. We never let their lack of participation stop us from airing an investigation built on facts.

"Government silence is a statement, not a VETO." -- Sharyn Alfonsi, 60 Minutes Damn right.

The meeting isn't the news. What happened *at* the meeting is the news. The difference matters. And your lead sentence should reflect that. #WriteLikeYouTalk

Newsers — This means you don’t call it a news conference. Describe it as a “statement where Johnson took no questions.” Any time a leader only says what they want and departs, viewers should know.

h/t @Jhelmuth👏

Keep in mind, there is going to be a ton of #AI video showing fake impacts for #melissa Please only share content you know comes from a real human on the ground. Fake content like this can hurt a lot of people in emergencies.

If you have specific content on the website that amplifies the story, I'm cool with highlighting it. But make clear what's there and *why* you're sending people there instead of covering it on-air. However, a blanket "go to our website for more" doesn't play with viewers.

SUGGESTION -- Stop using the website as a crutch to end a story! "Learn more at (station website)." No. They're watching you NOW. Tell them NOW what's newsworthy now. Don't give them homework. Don't make them do something else. Inform. Now.

Glad you found it, Mike! Anyone can order the second edition of "Write Like You Talk" at WriteLikeYouTalk.com It's an easy way to immediately improve your broadcast news writing! Sample chapter: WriteLikeYouTalk.com/Active_vs_Pass…

when you're pre-recording a newscast and audition decides to crash

That look when the show starts but the prompter ain't working

Consider -- What impacts the lives of your viewers more? Let that be your guide.

BUY: WriteLikeYouTalk.com A review of “Write Like You Talk:” 🔽🔽🔽

🧵5. * You do not have to answer for other’s choices All you have to do is answer for: * Your own work. * Your own choices. * Your own product. That's it. Do your job the right way. Don’t internalize the rest.

🧵4. You'll see some verbally attack the industry as a whole today. Some will do it every day for the rest of time. REMEMBER: * You're not a spokesperson for journalism * You're not responsible for every decision other journalists make

🧵1. For my friends in the news industry -- These are scary times. Viewers already know that. You don’t need to add adjectives to scripts to tell them. They get it. Let others convey magnitude of the confusion, anger & fear we all feel. Focus on facts. That's our role.

Great advice for my #UMC265 and #UMMC333 students!