The Power of Motion & Sound: CNN Newsroom

In a great example of motion & sound coming together, I present CNN Newsroom.

Relaunched in 2010 with a brand new look and a brand new studio, the program’s first day was a prime example of what a the cascading hours of news coverage on cable could truly look like.

Featuring a fairly large studio, one of the focal points had to be the giant screen behind Kyra early on.  While the network didn’t continue this use of it, the application of video on it with the anchor standing in front, or using it as a transition piece when a correspondent was to come on air, was a great example of how a studio should truly be used.  It’s not just a prop, it’s a story telling tool!

Combine the large screen with the network’s ever famous magic wall and you set yourself up for a set that can do anything you need it to. 

Now, on the side of motion & sound, while the video does have jump cuts (I used the network’s own transition for them), it still conveys the look and feel of the program.  While other network’s had tried to create a kind of cyber-tech feel to their newscast, CNN mastered it through the combination of abrupt music and these flowing, bold, you could even argue harsh graphics.

What truly conveys that sense of motion here is the continual use of it, items sliding to the screen, as well as how the network made use of sounds between live shots, or topic graphics to transition to another story.  Combine that with the use of camera’s moving in towards the anchor when needed, or utilizing the set as a storytelling piece, it all comes together as a pristine example of what a newscast should look like.

Now, did this last?  Like most things in cable news, the first day broadcast is always a perfectly designed day, but once you get the regular cycle back, the finishing touches disappear.  Gone is the use of the giant screen for video regularly, gone are the different locations on the set being used.  It’s always sad to see these networks spend heaven knows how much on these sets, then throw it down the drain doing what they’ve always done.

Is it a wonderful example of ‘motion & sound’ none the less?  Absolutely. 

The Power of Motion & Sound: CourtTV

Oh CourtTV, how you've become yet another fatality of the cable trends.

Back during its prime though, CourtTV was one of the best examples of simplicity matched with motion to make a network look downright stunning.

Another compilation built out above, the network's primary identity was based around the pillars present in most courthouses, moving left and right as a motion-driven element on screen. Combine that with a splash of color and you have the transitions used throughout the day.

As for program opens, it's almost a perfect match of motion and sound. In each, the open's build up as the network logo appears, followed with the swift use of transitions and effects, as well as appearance of the personalities, to give the show a bit of a brisk feeling. Combine that with, very often, sharp sounds to command their presence, and you have it nailed.

Even the lower thirds on the network have motion and sound, the small circular arrow element being pressed in, then everything else appearing with a sound to match.

Compared to everyone else in cable, even now, it's hard to find someone who matches this kind of pace or presence in this style. Maybe it just wasn't destined to survive, I don't know.

The Power of Motion & Sound

Typography. Imagery. Voice. Music. All put together perfectly.

Beyond my love of the Metro Design Language, I've always had a sweet spot in my heart for television graphics. Show opens, lower thirds, transitions, split-screens, topic graphics, all of the above on your various television networks just entice my mind and feed my need for ideas, as well as pursuit to see how close to perfect a network can get.

The above one, a three year old commercial from Fox News Channel, is probably one of my favorites in terms of its simplicity. Take the slogan how you will, the commercial combines one graphical element (a plus symbol) and uses it as a pull through the whole piece, each time introducing another personality of the network, as well as a sound bite to match. Combine that with background music to keep the motion going, and you have a winner.

In terms of a full look-and-feel, no one compares to CNBC.

Driven by data, above in their HD+ view, CNBC presents itself as one of the most professional and well put together channels on cable. Making use of a teal-blue tone throughout, as well as a bright white base on multiple elements, the network pulls it all together with the use of what appears to be Klavika on every bit of the screen.

In terms of motion and sound, CNBC also nails.

Although this compilation is a little out of date after CNBC's made modifications, I can't help but always be a bit amazed how well together the network is in terms of animation and sound. Every chart appears on screen with motion and sound, and every topic graphic comes in and out like butter.

Still, there's a lot of horrible examples of graphics on television. I'll talk about those in a future post.

CNN, Seriously?

*sigh* My roots in graphic design link back to my love of broadcast graphics. Whether it's titlecards, lower thirds, transitions, or the ticker (flipper on CNN), it's interesting how it all comes together. So, what a surprise I had this morning to pass by a television and see CNNs new graphics.

These - Are - Horrible.

Okay, so I'm a little dramatic, but the new look doesn't really cohesively work with the rest of the network. CNN doesn't really have blue as a traditional color, but now it's all over this lower third? Also, we couldn't keep the flipper one color, but duplicate the bottom color bar that's also on FOX? For that matter, we really have to continue this 16:9 push? I mean, I'd love to see how many people actually have HDTVs and HDTV service to actually make use of the revision.

Who knows, maybe I'm wrong about this whole thing. It does seem like CNN is looking around and wondering how to fix their 3rd, if not 4th, place position. Let's change up the look, I'm sure that'll work. Lets get rid of Parker of Parker Spitzer, I'm sure that'll work. Um...um...let's .... add two new live hours early in the morning. I'm sure that'll work. Something will work. I'm sure!

I mean, if CNN wanted to spruce things up, why not take some elements of their Spanish network? A little bit of shining up would have worked, with the breaking apart of the Show/CNN box, and some other revisions, but really, you had to dump the look all together?

I'm disappointed, but *sigh*, I'm just one viewer, and an occasional one at that.