Nigeria's President Returns, A News Analysis

This is a news report from CNN about Nigeria's missing president returning after three months. Much like the commercials that precede this breakdown, a news story can be taken apart using the media mash up method!

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SCENE #1: ZOOMING SHOT, STILL PICTURE OF A CAR AND AN AMBULANCE.

No background music.

Christian Purefoy: In the early hours of Wednesday morning, an ambulance brings Nigeria's president home. Umaru Yar'Adua has not been seen...

SCENE #2: ESTABLISHING SHOT, UMARU YAR'ADUA SPEAKING BEFORE AN AUDIENCE.

The president's indecipherable words can be heard behind the reporter's voice.

Christian Purefoy: ...in public since he was rushed to a Saudi Arabian hospital...

SCENE #3: GROUP SHOT, MEMBERS OF THE AUDIENCE SITTING DOWN.

More indecipherable words from the president.

Christian Purefoy: ...because of a heart condition three months ago.

SCENE #4: ESTABLISHING SHOT, UMARU YAR'ADUA SPEAKING BEFORE AN AUDIENCE

Murmurs from the audience and the president can be heard.

Christian Purefoy: No public comment has been made on his health and it remains a...

SCENE #5: CLOSE UP SHOT, NIGERIAN HOLDING NEWSPAPER OUTSIDE AMONGST A CROWD OF OTHERS. THE PAPER HAS THE HEADLINE "CABINET MEETING POSTPONED" AND A LARGE PICTURE OF UMARU YAR'ADUA.

Murmurs from the Nigerian crowd.

Christian Purefoy: ...closely guarded secret, much to the frustration of Nigerians.

SCENE #6: CLOSE UP SHOT, NIGERIAN CITIZEN SPEAKING TO THE CAMERA.

Murmurs of the crowd can be heard.

Nigerian Citizen: No body will be happy to miss his father because he is the father of the nation and for three months he's...I mean we cannot say that this is wha...this is where he is. But the good thing is that he is back.

SCENE #7: CLOSE UP SHOT, ANOTHER NIGERIAN CITIZEN SPEAKING TO THE CAMERA.

Nigerian Citizen: They don't need to deceive Nigerians. Understand, he's our president, he's number one citizen in our country. Let them know how he is.

SCENE #8: GROUP SHOT, NIGERIAN PROTEST ABOUT THE PRESIDENT'S ABSENCE. MASSIVE SIGN THAT SAYS, "UMARU WHERE ARE YOU?" WITH A MASSIVE PICTURE OF THE PRESIDENT.

Citizen voices can be heard in the background.

Christian Purefoy: During President Yar'Adua's absence...

SCENE #9: ESTABLISHING SHOT, A MASSIVE GATHERING OF NIGERIAN PROTESTORS

Sounds of protest can be heard behind Purefoy's voice.

Christian Purefoy: ...the country has been faced...

SCENE #10: GROUP SHOT, GROUP OF SOLDIERS WALKING

Sounds of protest cont.

Christian Purefoy: ...with the military imposing a curfew...

SCENE #11: GROUP SHOT, SAME SHOT FROM BEHIND

Sounds of protest cont.

Christian Purefoy: ...across the north to control religious violence...,

SCENE #12: CLOSE UP SHOT OF A NIGERIAN WITH AN ASSAULT RIFLE

Sounds of protest and chanting.

Christian Purefoy: ...militants ending a ceasefire...

SCENE #13: PANNING SHOT, A BOAT FULL OF ARMED NIGERIANS RIDING DOWN THE NIGERIAN DELTA.

Chanting cont.

Christian Purefoy: ...in the oil rich Niger delta...

SCENE #14: CLOSE UP SHOT, PICTURE OF UMARU YAR'ADUA

Sounds of protest again.

Christian Purefoy: ...and a constitutional crisis...

SCENE #15: GROUP SHOT, PROTESTORS HOLDING THE SIGN WITH THE AFOREMENTIOEND PICTURED ON IT, SAYING "UMARU, WHERE ARE YOU?"

Further sounds of protest.

Christian Purefoy: ...provoked by the president's absence.

-End of first minute.-

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This report immediately addressed the 5 w's that Hilliard talks about. Most of these become evident in the first few seconds and scenes.

Secondly, the lead combined both soft and hard elements. It presented a dramatic scenario to grab reader while offering some of the 5 w's in the process.

Also, the scripting and lines are definitely more oriented towards vocalization rather than being written down. The utilization of images and video makes the words easier to absorb, regardless of how they are presented, changing the dynamic from writing to be read to writing to be heard.