Frequently asked questions
Straight answers on commissioning, turnaround, studio use and how our crews work with television news teams.
Questions from news teams
These are the questions producers and editors put to us most often before a first commission. If yours is not covered, write to us through the contact page.
How quickly can a crew reach a developing story?
It depends on where the story is and which crew is free when you call. We work from Swansea and travel across the region, and we will tell you honestly at the time of the call how long the journey will take. Once on site, footage is usually filed within hours of the first shots.
What format do you deliver footage in?
We agree the delivery format with your newsroom before the commission starts, including codec, frame rate, aspect ratio and file naming. Raw rushes, a logged selection or a finished package can all be supplied. If your ingest system has particular requirements, send them with your enquiry and we will match them.
Can you edit our own footage into a finished package?
Yes. Many clients send us material shot by their own reporters or contributors. Our editors cut it to the running time you give, add voice-over and graphics where needed, and return a broadcast-ready file. Please include any script, captions and house style notes with the footage.
Do you offer live link-ups from location?
We run portable live camera and transmission setups for reporters on location, with a producer on call throughout. We recommend a short planning conversation first, so that we can check the signal conditions at the site and agree cue times with your gallery.
What happens in a studio interview session?
Guests are seated in our lit, sound-controlled studio, and a technician sets the lighting and microphones before recording begins. A producer can steer the session or work to questions you supply. You receive the recording in the format you asked for, ready for your own edit or ours.
Do you cover stories that are still unfolding when we call?
Yes, that is the core of the breaking news service. We would rather be sent early and stood down than arrive late, so tell us what you know, even if it is incomplete. Our producer will confirm what the crew can realistically capture and when you will see the first material.
How do you handle accuracy and fairness in the field?
Our crews record what is in front of them and log each clip with time, place and context, so editors and your legal team can check it later. Where a story involves competing accounts, we film all sides that are available and note anything we could not verify.
Can you train our in-house team on quick-turn production?
We offer advice and training on shot logging, file handling and quick-turn production for in-house news teams. Sessions are shaped around your own workflow, so tell us where time is lost between camera and broadcast, and we will focus there.
What to have ready before you call us
A commission goes faster when the first conversation covers a few basics. None of this needs to be formal; a quick phone call or a short message is enough to get a crew moving.
The story and location
Tell us what has happened, where it is and who your reporter or contact on site will be. If you do not yet know everything, say so. We would rather start with a partial picture than wait for a complete one. Include any access or safety information you already have, and the time by which you need first pictures.
Delivery and format
Let us know how you want the material delivered and in what technical format. If you have a file transfer route, a naming convention or a house style for graphics and captions, send it with your enquiry. We will confirm everything in writing so the crew and the edit suite work to the same specification.
Timing and approvals
Give us your broadcast slot or deadline and tell us who signs off the final material. Agreeing this at the start avoids delays later. For recurring work, we are happy to set out a standing arrangement in the written quotation, so that each new commission starts from known terms.
Ask for a quote
- Call us
- 01792 410286
- By email
- hello@reportsia.net