3.1 | Plan

Key Terms

ENG Crew/Team

Short for Electronic News Gathering. Typically a reporter and a photojournalist (or camera operator) working together to cover a story in the field.

Photojournalist (Photog)

The person responsible for operating the camera and often the audio and lighting equipment on a news shoot.

Reporter/Correspondent

The person responsible for gathering information, conducting interviews, and presenting the story on camera.

Producer

The person who manages the overall story and coordinates the assignment. Scheduling, logistics, and making sure the crew gets what they need.

Engineer

Technical staff responsible for maintaining and troubleshooting equipment, especially transmission gear.

Every real news package starts the same way ENG (Electronic News Gathering) crews have worked for decades: a small team, clear roles, and a plan before anyone picks up a camera.

Direct Instruction (~10 min)

3.1 Guided Notes: ENG Roles & Planning

Complete the handout, three hole punch it, and keep it in your class binder.

⬇ Download Worksheet (PDF)

“A two-person ENG crew can cover a real news story because each role is clearly defined. The reporter drives the story and talks to people, the photojournalist runs the camera and audio. On a bigger crew, a producer and engineer join in to manage logistics and equipment.”

Walk through each role’s job on a real ENG crew, then the ENG Report Planner’s sections: story angle, interview subject(s), and the shots/interviews the story will need.

Scaffolded questions. Cold-call through all three:

Recall: “What’s the difference between what a reporter does and what a photojournalist does?”

Analysis: “Why does a news crew plan its story angle before shooting, instead of just ‘seeing what happens’ on camera?”

Synthesis/Extension: “If your group only had 2 people instead of 4, which roles would you combine, and why?”

Guided Practice | Team Planning (~23 min)

1. Form your group (3-4 members).
2. Review the ENG crew roles and assign one to each group member. Try to match people to the role that fits their strengths.
3. Create your copy of the ENG Report Planner and share it with your group.
4. Complete the planner together: story angle, interview subject(s), and the shots your story will need.
5. Each member submits the document on Schoology individually to receive credit.

Cold call check: your group has 3 people but the plan calls for 4 ENG roles. What do you do?

GMetrix/BrainBuffet (~30 min)

Start Module 2: Fire Academy Recruiting Video: today’s sections begin transcripts and text-based editing, which 3.3 builds on directly.

Exit Ticket / Wrap-Up (~5 min)

🗂 Organize: Save your submitted ENG Report Planner in the Project Files folder of your Digital Design project folder on Google Drive.

📤 Exit Ticket: Stoplight. In the discussion board below, let us know how you’re doing: G (green: I’ve got this, ready to move on), Y (yellow: I mostly get it, still have a question), or R (red: I’m stuck, I need help). Then explain your rating in at least 3 sentences (aim for 5): what specifically about today’s skill makes you feel that way, and, if you’re yellow or red, what your actual question is.

Stuck on how to start? Try: “I picked ___ because ___. Specifically, when I tried to ___, I ___. One thing that would help is ___.”