Connotations of TV News Starting Sequences

Rushing graphics or camera movements

Rushing graphics and fast camera movements connotes urgency of the news.

Beat-driven, fast-paced music, often involving brass instruments

The music connotes intensity and urgency. The brass sounds and loud beats are used to gain attention as the news is something important that must be watched.

(See clip above)

Transparent objects or eyes

Transparency in objects or images of eyes connote unbiased information, with nothing left out so what you see is the whole truth.

The world from space

Images of the world connote that the news covers stories from around the globe and reaches everyone everywhere.

Landmarks from cities

The landmarks tend to be located in the Northern hemisphere and of political importance or are well known. This connotes that the news focuses on Northern countries, not third world countries. It also connotes that a lot of the news would be politics based.

Clocks

Images of clocks connote time and the urgency to watch the news.

Technology and satellites

Technology and satellites connote the everything possible is being done to share the news with everyone in the world.

Male voiceovers

Deep males tend to connote more authority compared to females. They are more "powerful" and more "important" too.


Metallic blues and strong reds

These are the main colours of the British flag. These colours are also commonly found in public offices around the world so connote importance.

Newsreaders

Newsreaders are meant to read the news impartially in a serious and subdued manner. The way they behave reinforce the connotations of neutrality, urgency and importance. For example:

•  They use very little facial expressions as they are not sharing opinions they are sharing facts
• They talk in Standard English as some accents give wrong connotations
• They directly address the audience by reading from an autocue on the camera, so it appears they are talking to us
• The newsreaders are always ready, sitting behind a desk or standing waiting to give us the news