The following contains stories that were featured in the February 18, 1999 broadcast of "NBC Nightly News."

"Yeltsin"

Story
 The story was about President Clinton and Boris Yeltsin and the invasion on the Serbs. Yeltsin said he had sent a letter that told Clinton not to attack the Serbs. Clinton, on the other hand, said that he did not receive this message from Yeltsin. This was reported because it put the blame on someone else instead of on the Untied States. This report also made Yeltsin look incompetent. The story was about the Serbian attack and each side’s view of what should be done. Later the story skews from the initial report of the attack on the Serbs to personal attacks on Boris Yeltsin. The story leads into the health problems of Yeltsin’s and portrays him as incompetent.

Sequence
 This was the second story of the broadcast, following on the previous coverage of the events concerning the Serbians, which involved Boris Yeltsin.

Scope
 This story was about 2 minutes and 19 seconds long. The story did not go into depth about the situation but focused more on the personalities themselves. The story skewed from what it originally began to tell about. It seemed as though the report was trying to put blame on Yeltsin and give the Untied States an excuse for getting involved in the conflict. The reporters wanted to show the American public that President Clinton is very much in control unlike Yeltsin, who is shown staggering in front of a group of people. It’s almost as though the report portrays the involvement of the United States as crucial and unavoidable.

Slant
 The story was biased in how they tried to portray Yeltsin as being incompetent. They used words like bewildered and eratic behavior. Footage showed Yeltsin stumbling in public and how he had to be “looked after”. This piece focused on his poor health and how he had to turn over most of his responsibilities to his Prime Minister. It also stated that “in a surprising move, Yeltsin fires the majority of his staff.” This presented him as being “Out of Control.” The story was very biased in how it made Yeltsin seem incompetent. It made President Clinton out to be the one to trust and believe. The story was extremely one-sided. They did tell Yeltsin’s side and Clinton’s side, but continued to tell about what poor health Yeltsin was in. to prove this, footage that was used showed Yeltsin stumbling while President Clinton seemed very much in control. This was shown to provide the Untied States with an excuse to become involved in the war and how it was unavoidable.

Structure
 At the beginning of the story, the background behind the anchor was of the Kremlin. Yeltsin’s picture was over the shoulder of the anchor. As the story progressed and started discussing the incompetence of Yeltsin, with footage of him staggering was shown. Footage of Clinton was talking with others with a smile on his face as if he was very much in control. There was also footage of Yeltsin sitting in his chair in what looked like a bathrobe. This appeared to send the message that Yeltsin was very exhausted and in poor health. An interview was done with a man from the  Moscow Social Science Foundation. Behind the man was a bookshelf full of books. This was used to present him as trustworthy.

"Air Bags"

Story
 A court in Pennsylvania issued a 50+ million-dollar verdict against a car manufacturer to a woman who received burns on her hands from the powder inside of an airbag when it went off.

Sequence
 This story was fifth in the broadcast, right in the middle of the show.  I feel that it was intentionally placed there because it preceded the story on the new SUV legislation.  The reasoning for this placement was perhaps because it was leading into the SUV story.   I could sense that the sponsors/producers wanted the viewer to feel uneasy about the new legislation that was passed, with exactly the same response that they had to the air bags story, having a lot of disbelief in this new process.  I also felt that the sponsor’s part in this story had a lot to do with where it occurred within the broadcast, with little focus being placed on the issue of the story.

Scope
 The length of this story was very brief, only 27 seconds of a 28 minute broadcast.  The coverage of the story was limited, due to what it implied.  By making it a short feature, the producers seemed to send a message for the viewer not to take this case and its verdict very seriously.  The sponsor also affected the scope of this feature.  What car manufacturer would want a viewer to see how the judicial system would go in favor of the average person up against a major company.  I also felt that the scope was affected by the slant that the sponsors seemed to imply within the story.  Do you really want to sue a car manufacturer for a safety feature that just might have saved your life?  Sure, the burns caused by the powder in the air bag might have given you a few burns, but you’re still alive aren’t you?  It was as if they were trying to argue with your sub-conscious about what you should feel about this issue.

Structure
 The minimalist approach was definitely applied to this story.  The anchor reported the story, which consisted of only the most essential facts that would pertain to a court case:  the complaint, the verdict, and a statement from the party who was found negligent in rebuttal of the verdict.  The reporting choice made for this feature was as textbook as they come, a head and shoulders shot, again offering only the bare essentials to the viewer.  Because of the brevity of the story, it was as if the producers were not going to acknowledge the verdict because of the "frivolousness" that was applied within the judiciary system.

Style
The set of this story was only that of the anchor, with a graphic behind him that kept repeating a car colliding, causing it's airbags to go off.  It was very minimal while still able to be perceived as disturbing, adding to the absurdness of the ruling, as felt by the producers.
 

"Men's Health"

Story
 The story was about prostate cancer and early detection. The story also followed one man’s experience with this type of cancer. It followed the man to the doctor for diagnosis, to the operating room for treatment, and back to the doctor for follow-up.

Sequence
 This story occurred after the two stories on automobiles. I think that this was planned because men would be more likely to be tuned in more at this moment than at any other time. it was then followed by a commercial about the problems that occur with erectile dysfunction featuring Bob Dole.

Scope
 I do not feel that the story was biased. I believe that by following this man around throughout his cancer ordeal that it was trying to send the message that this could happen to you. I feel like they were using a scare tactic to make you become aware of prostate cancer. This story ran for 2 minutes and 24 seconds.
 

Structure
 When introducing the story, behind the anchor was a medical symbol that had microscopic cells behind it, the picture was also shown while the reporter was standing up introducing the story. The story unfolded by following one man’s ordeal with prostate cancer. The story started out with him in the doctor’s office for diagnosis. Then afterwards, they continued to follow the man through surgery and later through recovery. When the story reached the treatment segment, diagrams were used to divert attention away from what was being said. There were three of these: gene therapy, anti-angiogenesis, and gene therapy. These diagrams were used to show the viewer how each of the procedures was to be done. Interviews of doctors were done in front of microscopes and with the doctors having their lab coats on. This allowed the viewer to feel like these were people that could be trusted. The story also showed footage of the man’s doctors in a computer room looking up information or using it for some kind of research. By seeing these physicians working on computers, the viewer may conclude that these are experts who use only the latest technology in their treating of patients.

Sponsor
After the story about prostate cancer the sponsors of the story showed a clip of Bob Dole discussing his experience with erectile dysfunction. It gave the viewer an idea of who this disorder affects. Bob Dole is a man in his 60s, telling the viewer that this age group is especially affected.  In the clip, he tells the viewer about early detection and diagnosis. It also sends the message that it can happen to any man is probably why the sponsor decided to get Bob Dole to discuss his own experience.
 
 

"Cheating"

Story
 This story was what the producers were calling a part of the “Focus on the family” features.  The particular issue presented on this evening’s broadcast was about how widespread cheating has become on college campuses and the new means that students are going to in order to cheat.
Sequence
 This story was featured last in the broadcast.  I think the reasoning behind this was due to the fact that many of the people who watch the news could possibly be paying for a college education, and could therefore use this information as a reference point for discussion after the broadcast was over.  It also was placed last because the viewer could be able to process the information more, not having to focus on the next issue that was being presented to them.  Another reasoning that it may have been placed last was because  of the slanted nature of the piece and the efforts that the reporter used in getting the point of his story across to the viewer.
 

Scope
 The length of this story was 3 minutes and 16 seconds long, allowing a fairly in-depth analysis of the topic to occur.  I felt that the story contained a lot of loaded language, referring to the demeaning way that the story was having many people question “the integrity of young people and the education they are receiving.”  There were also a lot of references comparing college students to “high-tech spies,” perhaps trying to create a negative attitude about the modern liberal arts university and new technological advances, implying that immorality and ruthlessness stem from the internet and other media.  I thought that this was an extremely intelligent way for the sponsors to once again promote their products which are chock full of tradition and decency.  Often, these are the same views of typical viewer who is intimidated by the idea of technology and just how it can further future generations, skewing from their traditional values and what all they are capable of instilling.

Structure
 The structure of this piece was very well conceived and manipulated by the producers.  It had images of hard working students with crude statistics, as if showing how these students may not be as innocent as they seem.  The feature also contained interviews with students and professors alike, while their comments had very different natures.  The students’ interviews had them trying to rationalize cheating in college, complaining that all of their performance is solely based upon one test.  While also coming from the same viewpoint was the statements from the professors, who felt that “students are only cheating themselves.”  Surprisingly enough, some of the statements that both groups made discussed the negative impacts of easy accessibility to the internet, describing tactics of how to purchase term papers and such via the world wide web.  The reporter also demonstrated some of the new “high-tech” methods that students are presently using to cheat, showing how easy it is and that anyone can do it.   By doing this, the piece was creating an image for parents and grandparents to fully visualize what was occurring and compare to previous incidents with their college students, and by also putting them on the alert for future instances and what to watch out for.   All that was left out was the shot of the freshman binge drinking to really emphasize the slant of the piece.

Style
 The style of this piece was at first introduced with Brokaw’s commanding voice, seeming to have all attention divert to him.  The various camera angles had the students portrayed as conniving, cunning, and ruthless when it comes to passing a test or completing a lengthy paper.  It seemed to have the students shown in very compromising footage, with shots of students taking exams, seeming relatively harmless, with harsh and alarming statistics trying to disprove what the images were showing to the viewer.  There were also several references to the students in a very derogatory manner, describing their cheating tactics and the means that students were using as “Joe College goes James Bond,” as an image that the typical news viewer could associate with.
 The manner is which the reporter used to tell the story was of a very expositional nature.  It was almost intimidating to the viewer at some times, subliminally telling them to trust the reporter, and not to dispute his findings.  This can be traced back to the messages being sent by the sponsor to trust their products, that these companies are there to support them throughout all of their hardships, even if they have a child who is cheating in college.  I was sort of surprised there wasn’t a commercial for long distance following the piece, reminding the viewer to keep in touch with the college student they know so that they won’t be led astray by what they had seen occurring at various colleges and universities.
 

Overview

    News is basically watched by middle aged-people, which is apparent based on the types of commercials used within this broadcast.  The sponsors that were used promoted health-related products that promised to lower cholesterol, laxatives, pain relievers, and such items.  Other advertisements promoted safety, whether it was for a car feature or for the individual.  Comfort and prevention of disorders were also highly promoted themes within these commercials.  The sponsors seemed to keep telling the viewer throughout the entire broadcast, that while the world is going down the tubes and is filled with problems of immeasurable proportions, you can suffer from your health ailments pain free.  Why not try and be as comfortable as possible in these troubling times?  Enjoy the comfort foods that you had as a child, which now can help you to lower cholesterol.  And these sponsors are exactly the people who can help you with such concerns.
    It was also interesting to note the ethnic backgrounds featured in the commercials.  By viewing the advertisements, we were able to infer about the particular audience that the sponsors were wishing to target within the broadcast.  The majority of the commercials featured actors of an older generation.  Most of the people featured in the advertisements were white, middle-class, and male, although there was the occasional female thrown in the mix.  There was however, a little diversity in the race of the actors.  One commercial for a brochure on safety featured a young Asian woman.  Perhaps this is an unclaimed market, one can only wonder.
    After watching this type of broadcast, one can make the assumption of just what exactly makes up a "newsworthy" story.  If the sponsor feels that they can promote their product through the telling of a story, whether it be by fear, intimidation, concern, or instruction, that is what creates a news' story's livelihood.  If the story can somehow relate to the viewer which is the one who will buy the product being advertised curing the broadcast through some basic themes, the better chance in it's survival when it's time for the evening broadcast.  The themes of tradition, truth, morality, security, comfort, and awareness are the ones that seemed to ring out the truest in this evening's broadcast.  However, if the manner in which these themes are explored can leave a lot up to the imagination, the producers, the editors, and the ADVERTISERS, leaving little for the viewer to do except comatosely watch.