Connotations of News Starting Sequences

News programmes aim to broadcast/publish newly received or noteworthy information, particularly about recent events, and claim to be the most unbiased source.
There are many different ways that news programmes try to promote their impartiality, and these can primarily be found during their opening sequences. By initiating their neutrality from the beginning, an implied trust towards and from the viewers is created. 
A few of the ways news programmes connote urgency, importance and neutrality during their opening sequences are;

Transparency

This is a common and popular trait favoured by news programmes and can be found in many places of the opening sequence. There are many ways it can be shown, and this element is important to ensure the viewers that the information they are receiving is the complete truth, and that none of it has been hidden or changed. Often transparent text and graphics are used to imply this, but another subtle way is to display the newsroom set. In many opening sequences, there is a glass window behind the newsreader, displaying the entire newsroom behind them and showing people working at desks and computers. This heavily connotes truth and also a sense of trust to the viewer, as though nothing has been kept a secret from them because they can see the computer screens. As well as the newsroom behind the newsreaders, often the actual set inside the studio is visible. A wide angle shot craning down from above, displaying the studio lights and the filming cameras is a particular favourite.

Graphics/Visuals

Bold, eye-catching graphics are included to grab the viewers attention, causing them to take notice and spark interest in what they are about to be shown/told. These could include visuals of;

• Clocks - to connote time, often displaying the time of the news being shown (for example BBC News at Ten would show a clock set at 10pm), to imply urgency and the fast paced and ever changing nature of the news.
• Globe - spinning graphics of planet Earth show the internationality and diversity of the news that is being broadcasted.
• Rushing transitions - these are used on text to alert the viewers interest, and to attempt to make them read the text that is being shown. The speed of these transitions also reflect the fast paced nature of the news. The text is usually bold and capitalised to enforce this further.

The colours that are used are also extremely important. Clean and simple complimentary colours are the most popular, with news programmes such as BBC News favouring red, and others such as ITV preferring blue tones. These promote the simplicity and clean nature of the news, showing that it has been delivered truthfully and has not been changed or tampered with in a biased manner. Interestingly, Channel 4 News has a predominantly purple colour scheme, a colour which is often associated with, value, royalty and importance.

Audio

Audio elements of news opening sequences are equally as important. Often, they begin with an opening soundtrack performed by an orchestra of brass instruments. Strong, loud sounds aid in grabbing the viewer's attention and a recognisable tune can stick in people's heads which creates a reliance between the programme and the audience.

A brass fanfare/orchestral type music implies importance as often the royal family and other higher class people enter important events using this type of orchestral introduction.

Another audio element that is strategically used during opening sequences is a male voiceover. News programmes that are announced this way use this technique to enforce an authoritative, serious atmosphere.

Newsreaders

Newsreaders are the deliverers of news to the general public, and therefore must maintain a neutral and unbiased stance. Elements that news readers reinforce to enforce neutrality and urgency include;

• Little to no facial expressions - newsreaders do not deliver their opinions on the news, therefore keep a serious and subdued facial expression so as not to create a biased viewpoint and alter the viewers opinion on the topic.
• Received Pronunciation (RP)/Standard English is used to also ensure neutrality. Regional dialects/accents can often carry negative stereotypes or biased views upon certain topics.
• Direct address is used by newsreaders so that it appears they are talking directly to the viewer themselves. Newsreaders read from an autocue that covers the camera, so when reading the autocue they also look straight down them camera.
• Newsreaders are always ready and prepared to read the news. Whether they be seated behind the newsdesk or standing beside a screen, they always begin immediately and get straight to the point. This enforces a sense or urgency and importance upon the audience and is an extremely serious introduction, compared to that of a game show or children's programme host.

Very often, there are two readers, one male and one female, and there is usually a large difference between their ages. Males are averagely between their 50's-60's, and women are significantly younger with an average between their 30's-40's. Unfortunately, this is a clever trick used by news companies as stereotypically, an older man connotes wisdom, authority and maturity, resulting in a trust between him and the viewers, whereas women are often seen to lose their attraction through age, so younger women are hired to keep up appearances.