rundowns

Rundown is a term used across industries to describe a structured list or outline of topics, segments, or steps to be followed. It serves as a planning tool that communicates order, timing, and responsibilities to participants and crew.

In media production, a rundown is the document that orders segments for a program or broadcast. It typically includes the segment descriptions, estimated times, scripts or host lines, video and audio cues, graphics, and technical notes to guide producers, directors, and talent through the show.

In broadcast journalism and newsrooms, rundowns outline the editorial plan for a newscast or package. They specify the sequence of stories, anchor assignments, VO/SOTs, headlines, and live elements, and are updated as news develops.

In live events, concerts, and theatre, a rundown functions as the production timetable. It lists the order of performances or segments, cue-to-cue timing, stage movements, transitions, and contingency instructions for lighting, sound, and video teams.

In sports, a rundown refers to a base-running play in which a runner, between bases, is pursued by fielders aiming to tag him out. This baseball usage is distinct from its media planning meaning and is often called a pickle.

The term is also used more generally to mean a brief summary or briefing of information, such as a meeting rundown or project rundown, and is related to terms like outline, script, and beat sheet.