Broadcast news story writing and reporting fundamentals

TENSIONS BETWEEN THE U.S. AND NORTH KOREA HAVE ESCALATED ONCE AGAIN FOLLOWING PRESIDENT TRUMP’S LANDMARK TOUR OF ASIA. PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLED FOR ALL NATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER TO PREVENT NORTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM FROM REACHING COMPLETION. A NEW REPORT INDICATES THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY DETERRENTS ARE PUT IN PLACE, NORTH KOREA IS CONTINUING ITS PUSH TO EXTEND ITS MISSILE-LAUNCHING ABILITIES.
REPORT:
38 NORTH HAS COMPILED EVIDENCE USING SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING NORTH KOREA “IS ON AN AGGRESSIVE SCHEDULE TO BUILD AND DEPLOY ITS FIRST OPERATIONAL BALLISTIC MISSILE SUBMARINE” (38 NORTH). U.S. INTELLIGENCE CONFIRMS THAT IF COMPLETED THE NORTH KOREAN SUBMARINE WILL WEIGH MORE THAN 2000 TONS AND WILL BE “THE LARGEST VESSEL EVER CONSTRUCTED FOR THE NORTH KOREAN NAVY SINCE THE NAJIN-CLASS FRIGATES” (VALENCIA).
AMERICAN TROOPS STATIONED IN SOUTH KOREA ARE ON ALERT AS THIS STORY DEVELOPS. OUR CORRESPONDENTS HAVE INTERVIEWED TWO MEMBERS OF THE NAVY FOR THEIR PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT U.S. SERVICEMEN ARE ANTICIPATING IN THE COMING DAYS AND WEEKS. HERE’S LIEUTENANT DAVIS AND FORD WITH MORE:
SOT [Lieutenant Davis, U.S. Navy]: We are ready and prepared to do our role in protecting our country. As the North Korean threat continues to grow, our commander-in-chief is well aware of the situation and is making sure we are locked and loaded.
THIS LATEST DEVELOPMENT REGARDING NORTH KOREA’S SUBMARINE AND ITS BALLISTIC MISSILE CAPABILITIES IS VIEWED BY THE NAVYMEN AS JUST ONE MORE SIGN OF NORTH KOREA’S INTRACTIBILITY.
SOT [Lieutenant Ford, U.S. Navy]: Obviously we all understand what they’re capable of and that’s why we’re here. If North Korea wants to develop weapons of mass destruction, it is going to be our job to stop them. We want a peaceful world, not one where people have to fear to live their lives because of not knowing what enemy power is lurking beneath the surface of the ocean.
WHILE NORTH KOREA CONTINUES TO DEVELOP ITS MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, AMERICAN FORCES ARE CLEARLY READY AND WAITING FOR ORDERS TO RESPOND.
SOT [Davis]: A lot of what we do is a waiting game. The main thing is to not be caught on your heels. That’s why we’re out here doing our drills, doing our exercises. You never know when that call is going to come, but when it does come you want to be prepared to do your duty. So no one out here is napping, I can assure you of that.
THE U.S. CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN 40,000 PERSONNEL IN JAPAN AND 35,000 IN SOUTH KOREA (HOLMES). THE U.S. ALSO USES GUAM FOR SUPPORT FOR ITS AIRCRAFT. THE STRONG PRESENCE OF AMERICAN MILITARY IS EXPECTED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO NORTH KOREA ABOUT AMERICA’S REFUSAL TO ACCEPT THE REGIME’S ESCALATION OF TENSIONS.
SOT [Ford]: Everyone is anxious to see this issue resolved but there’s a way to do things so that the conflict is addressed in the most effective manner possible. That’s why our commander-in-chief is exercising every option on the table first. The military option is the last one you want to see used because it can be so devastating. But sometimes that’s the only option that will work. So we’re here in case that option is needed. We practice and stay ready, focused and sharp.

SO FAR PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS GIVEN NO INDICATION THAT THE U.S. MILITARY WILL DEFINITELY STRIKE AGAINST NORTH KOREA. BUT AS LIEUTENANTS DAVIS AND FORD SHOW, THE NAVY IS MORE THAN READY AND WILLING TO DO ITS PART TO NEUTRALIZE ANY AND ALL THREATS THAT EMERGE OUT OF NORTH KOREA.


Works Cited
38 North. “North Korea’s submarine ballistic missile program moves ahead:
indications of shipbuilding and missile ejection testing.” 38 North, 2017. http://www.38north.org/2017/11/sinpo111617/
Davis, Mark. “Re: North Korea.” Received 16 Nov. 2017.
Ford, John. “Re: North Korea.” Received 16 Nov. 2017.
Holmes, O. “What is the U.S. military’s presence near North Korea?” Guardian, 2017.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/aug/09/what-is-the-us-militarys-presence-in-south-east-asia
Valencia, Roberta. “North Korea is rapidly building its first operational ballistic missile
submarine, satellite imagery shows.” Newsweek, 2017. http://www.newsweek.com/north-korea-rapidly-building-its-first-operational-ballistic-missile-submarine-714481