GFX Request Form Maker
Do's & Don'ts
These are some tips and tricks when creating graphics request forms. By using the form maker app you shouldn’t be able to progress without filling all the needed components, so the most important thing is to make sure that your brief is completed and done correctly.
Sending jobs
Don't
Send us a job on WhatsApp or a personal email (unless it is a special project), or come and tell us about a job without sending an email
Don't
Send us corrections or amendments via WhatsApp or personal email / in-person chat only
Do
Send ALL jobs and corrections to graphics@rttv.co.uk, using the GFX Request form application. Even if you have a clip script, use the form application to give us a basic idea, and attach the word document to the email at the end.
if it is a special project directed at a specific designer, send to graphics email, but specify in the project brief that it is a special project and it is for a specific designer.
if it is a special project directed at a specific designer, send to graphics email, but specify in the project brief that it is a special project and it is for a specific designer.
Why?
We keep track of our jobs through our graphics email. If a job does not go through our email address its much more difficult to track, and can lead in delays to you getting your job done. Also as we work from home and through different shift times, it may be that one designer has to hand over a job to another, so we all have to be aware of each other’s jobs, and that happens through our emails.
Writing project briefs
Don't
Write “Grab from Home Office” as a project brief
Don't
Write “https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/nov/13/asylum-seekers-crossing-channel-face-inhumane-treatment-observers-say Spokesperson for Home Office statement” as a project brief
Don't
Copy and paste a paragraph from the article in which your story is based on, aka:
"UN independent human rights experts on Monday denounced a government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom, saying that it further distorted and falsified historical facts, and could even fuel racism and racial discrimination."
"UN independent human rights experts on Monday denounced a government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom, saying that it further distorted and falsified historical facts, and could even fuel racism and racial discrimination."
Do
Write something like
“Use migrants crossing in a dingy, don’t use home office building. Style should be dark and gritty. Story is about the Home Office commenting on the current broken asylum system.”
or
"UN Logo / Human rights background. Story is about government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom."
As a project brief
“Use migrants crossing in a dingy, don’t use home office building. Style should be dark and gritty. Story is about the Home Office commenting on the current broken asylum system.”
or
"UN Logo / Human rights background. Story is about government-backed report into racism in the United Kingdom."
As a project brief
Why?
We need to understand what feeling / mood / context you want to give to the graphic in relation to your story. If we don’t have that information, we end up doing guess work and interpreting things our own way, and sometimes that interpretation doesn’t’t fit your idea, or the news editor idea, therefore you end up needing to send corrections.
The most important bit of the brief is what we see on screen. Adding in the story helps but is only context.
The most important bit of the brief is what we see on screen. Adding in the story helps but is only context.
Checking Viz graphics
Don't
Wait till tech run or rehearsals to check your viz graphics
Do
Come to us or Andy if you need to check a graphic before the tech run
Why?
If you need to fix something, it’s much better to do it when there is enough time, rather than 30 minutes before airtime.
Naming your jobs
Don't
Give your projects the same or very similar names:
1) 161120_UK_PRITI_PATEL_GRAB
2) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE
3) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_2
1) 161120_UK_PRITI_PATEL_GRAB
2) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE
3) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_2
Do
Give your projects distinct names, even if they are in the same story:
1) 161120_UK_ PRITI_PATEL_BREXIT_CHANGES
2) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_ASYLUM_SEEKERS
3) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_MIGRATION_BREXIT
If it’s a quote of a person, we recommend using their name, and 1-3 words of what they are talking about
1) 161120_UK_ PRITI_PATEL_BREXIT_CHANGES
2) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_ASYLUM_SEEKERS
3) 161120_UK_HOME_OFFICE_MIGRATION_BREXIT
If it’s a quote of a person, we recommend using their name, and 1-3 words of what they are talking about
Why?
If you need a very quick last minute correction (which may happen), or if you need to refer back to this project in the future, and you ask us for example to “make it similar to the home office grab on asylum seekers in November”, if you give your project a unique name it will be much easier for us to find. Also it will help if you verbally need a very speedy last minute change.
Quotation Marks / Sources
Do
Quotation marks are used for quotes from people but not for written statements.
If using quotation marks, put on at the start of the first animate, with the closing one at the end of the last animate.
Copy the nice curly ones that you can see in the Guardian like “green light” as opposed to the straight ones like "green light".
The straight ones come up when you write straight into form.
If using quotation marks, put on at the start of the first animate, with the closing one at the end of the last animate.
Copy the nice curly ones that you can see in the Guardian like “green light” as opposed to the straight ones like "green light".
The straight ones come up when you write straight into form.
Do
Sources are not normally needed for quotes or statements from people.
They are needed for viz requests that have used a report/survey, or if the info we’re using is unique to a particular source, ie we’re using leaked figures seen by the Guardian etc. You can always double check with editors if you are not sure.
They are needed for viz requests that have used a report/survey, or if the info we’re using is unique to a particular source, ie we’re using leaked figures seen by the Guardian etc. You can always double check with editors if you are not sure.
Double - Triple - Quadruple check EVERYTHING!
Don't
Send us a link without a brief and expect us to know what to do with it.
Don't
Not double check your request.
Do
Double check all gfx either before sending to video editors or putting in line.
Always open graphics from gfx team or video editors and resave finished into the proper news folder - grabs, floats etc - so the finished article can be easily found again and is archived properly.
Always open graphics from gfx team or video editors and resave finished into the proper news folder - grabs, floats etc - so the finished article can be easily found again and is archived properly.
Why?
A mistake that can be fixed in 10 seconds if you double check your brief may take hours to fix after a graphic has been completed.