A news program is put together in segments called BLOCKS. The show starts with a SNEAK (preview of what you'll see in the half-hour), then after the news from the anchor desk there's the OPEN (self explanatory term). They do the first block, which is given the letter A. They use letters to determine each block because the news stories each have pages that are numbers. So it's A-1, A-2, A-3 etc. When they're ready to go to a commercial break they use what is called a BUMP, which is information about what is coming up in the next segment. I believe the term came about because they "bump" into the commercial rather than just a drastic cut-off.
The blocks are usually organized with most important (TOP) stories in the first segment, then the B Block would have less significant but still newsworthy stories, and so on (not that the news stories get less and less important). They usually have a particular type of news in each block, such as the "Around The World in 80 Seconds" thing. Traditional television affiliate newscasts would just call it World News, but you'll note if you watch local news they all have a segment or portion of a segment devoted to international news.
Most half-hour news shows are really only about 20 minutes of information once you exclude the teases, bumps and commercials. (Sounds a little like a strip tease, which I guess a news program could be in essence...the stripping away of the news of the day.) You'll notice local newscasts usually have entire blocks for sports and weather that may or may not be included in national newscasts.
The name of each story is called a SLUG, and that's usually what you see in the SUPER (the fonts/letters at the bottom of the screen---not the crawl--that are basically a title indicating the story content and they are "superimposed" on the screen by a CG or Character Generator aka Chyron.)
The famous FNC "G BLOCK" came about because that's where the producer decided to put the entertainment news of the day. Evidently Shep started just calling it what was listed on the show's rundown and it got bigger and sillier from there.
I know this is more than you ever wanted to know, but hopefully some will find it interesting. Next week's lesson: How they get video or weather maps to appear as if they're behind the person when it's really just a blue screen. (Just kidding, of course) :)
You're joking, I hope, arasina. If you are, allow me to recommend the otherwise forgettable NBC studio tour at 30 Rock. They'll show you.
Afterwards, head down Av of the Americas/6 Av to the News Corp. Building and watch FNC on the window monitor. And try peeking through the window on the set. But not too conspicuously. Also, check out the logos of the various Murdoch properties in the other first floor windows.
foreverfree