I guess I’m just nosey…but what the hell is on the computers in front of newsreaders, in full view? They often turn to them and type/click after finishing a broadcast…why?
Midget porn, of course.
Actually, I always supposed those were props. Good question, I hope someone who knows for sure can check in.
I suspected they’re not props tonight, when I spotted the BBC has laptops with what looks like Wifi cards…would they go to that trouble to make a prop realistic?
If the anchors have computers at their broadcast desk, they’ve got the same stuff that anyone else in the newsroom has: scripts, wire feeds, email, and the 'net. Presumably it’s so anchors can double-check the next script (or the one coming up in 5 minutes) while the teleprompter stays with the story that’s currently on air. Or if the producer or director has something to say to the anchor, but needs some feedback, they can text-message.
I guess “prop” was the wrong word, I thought they were real computers but only there for show. I was probably wrong, Barbarian has some good thoughts.
Usually, they will be running the newsroom software with the bulletin rundown in front. That same program is also used for access to the newswires, so they could look at that while a VT/taped report was being played out. If for example there was a breaking news alert that updated one of the later stories in the bulletin, they would reword their link (intro) to it.
So: “The Pentagon has just confirmed Saddam’s capture…” (compared to: “The Pentagon is expected to confirm Saddam’s capture…”).
Normally the producer would write these updates, and tell the presenter of it. The presenter could access that story from the rundown for a quick pre read. If any changes were made to the order, they would also show up on the screen (though again, the producer should always tell the presenter first).
But if there was a very quickly breaking story, and/or there just wasn’t time, the producer might tell the presenter by ear to look at the alert wires, and ad-lib. Particularly if the news station is using crusty old autocue software that prefers to screw up than be quickly updated.
The presenter would also have access to the internet, but the newswires would be much, much faster and better updated.
On my local news program, the fill-in-when-nobody-else-can-work weather guy has a game of solitaire on his computer when they cut to him for the quick weather update. Apparently the station doesn’t care because I have seen it several times. Gotta love the professionalism of small town news.