Aim for the Heart: Write for the Ear, Shoot for the Eye: A Guide for TV Producers and Reporters

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Summary: Need more people to read books like this
Review: Al Tompkins just gave a great presentation at RTNDA on how to find information on the internet. The seminar was filled with humor, insight, and just plain useful information. This book has a similar feel, like advice from someone who wants you to succeed. If a lot of young people read this book (along with some older journalists), perhaps journalism won't be in quite the spot it finds itself in.

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Summary: A guide for TV reporters
Review: An informative, inspiring, illuminating, and delightful read. Al Tompkins gives advice applicable to not just television reporters, but to other journalists, writers and educators interested in news reporting. His love for journalism and ideals to seek the truth guide his pen throughout. Writers can gleam valuable advice on how to tighten their writing and photojournalists can learn savory tips on how to improve their photography. This should be required reading for news room managers. If more practiced the journalism Al Tompkins preaches, our local news broadcasts would be a lot less stale and repetitive.
-Michael Burton,...

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Summary: Great teaching tool
Review: I purchased this book to help teach high school students how to write for broadcast, and the lessons Tompkins gives are valuable for students and professionals. Tompkins shows the process behind the writing and the factors a reporter should consider, such as when less writing is more. The book is funny, entertaining, and touching at the same time. He gives many specific examples, including exerpts from scripts, that show the detail and the planning behind the writing. It changes the viewer's perspective on the television news, and it certainly could help professionals refine their writing for broadcast.