Scripting for Radio Don’t just write it - Tell me about it Don’t just write it - Tell me about it Write the script for delivery Write the script for delivery Write it for the ear - not the eye Write it for the ear - not the eye Use good conversational English Use good conversational English Read aloud as you write Read aloud as you write If it sounds wrong - it is wrong If it sounds wrong - it is wrong Make it speakable with directness, simplicity, conciseness and precision Make it speakable with directness, simplicity, conciseness and precision Speak to just one listener Speak to just one listener

Writing For Radio Broadcast Journalists write words that have to be spoken and sound natural Broadcast Journalists write words that have to be spoken and sound natural The audience needs to understand the story immediately on first hearing The audience needs to understand the story immediately on first hearing Decide who you are talking to Decide who you are talking to Write directly for the person you are talking to Write directly for the person you are talking to What do you want to say? What do you want to say? How would you tell it to a friend? How would you tell it to a friend?

Radio Journalism Journalism is gathering, writing and publishing news and factual information Journalism is gathering, writing and publishing news and factual information There remains a demand for professionally produced news content There remains a demand for professionally produced news content Listeners want journalists to inform them about the world. To tell them what is going on and to explain and interpret how the developments may affect them and the world around them Listeners want journalists to inform them about the world. To tell them what is going on and to explain and interpret how the developments may affect them and the world around them

Story Telling Story telling is at the heart of journalism Story telling is at the heart of journalism The stories we tell are true stories The stories we tell are true stories Journalists present factual information in a way the audience can relate to and understand Journalists present factual information in a way the audience can relate to and understand We gather, check and order facts We gather, check and order facts We distill the pros and cons of arguments We distill the pros and cons of arguments We engage our audiences We engage our audiences

Think About The listener Who are you talking to? Who are you talking to? Age, gender, education, interests Age, gender, education, interests Time of day, mood, busy or relaxed Time of day, mood, busy or relaxed Demographic location, Demographic location, What do you want say? What do you want say? What do you want her/ him to know or remember What do you want her/ him to know or remember How will you get and hold their attention How will you get and hold their attention Free writing may help you get started Free writing may help you get started Your opening sentence may be written last Your opening sentence may be written last

Your Voice As A Tool Of Good Communication Your voice is a versatile instrument Your voice is a versatile instrument The subtleties of inflection The subtleties of inflection It is possible to convey It is possible to convey Enthusiasm Enthusiasm Anger Anger Irony Irony Pleasure Pleasure Shade and Light Shade and Light Simply by changing tone and pitch Simply by changing tone and pitch

Some Dos Do use specific words (such as Red and Green not brightly coloured) Do use specific words (such as Red and Green not brightly coloured) Do use concrete words (such as snow or fog not abstract words like adverse climatic conditions) Do use concrete words (such as snow or fog not abstract words like adverse climatic conditions) Do use plain words (such as began, said, end rather than commenced, stated, terminated. Do use plain words (such as began, said, end rather than commenced, stated, terminated.

Timing Scripts We speak at about 180 words per minute that is three words per second We speak at about 180 words per minute that is three words per second A single typed line is 3 to 4 seconds A single typed line is 3 to 4 seconds Making a double-spaced page of A lines or 270 words Making a double-spaced page of A lines or 270 words Thus a 30 second voice report needs about 90 words Thus a 30 second voice report needs about 90 words A three minute piece about 540 words A three minute piece about 540 words

Understanding The Story As a reporter you must understand the story yourself As a reporter you must understand the story yourself Your job then is to tell the story, putting it in an understandable, logical sequence that answers the listeners questions such as … Your job then is to tell the story, putting it in an understandable, logical sequence that answers the listeners questions such as … What has happened? What has happened? When and where did it happen? When and where did it happen? Who was involved? Who was involved? How did it happen and Why ? How did it happen and Why ? There is no room for complexity, vagueness or obscurity There is no room for complexity, vagueness or obscurity

Delivering Your Script Preparation - Practice - Confidence leads to successful delivery Preparation - Practice - Confidence leads to successful delivery A script is a way of storing words A script is a way of storing words Delivery - brings it to life Delivery - brings it to life It is the Art of retrieving talk out of storage It is the Art of retrieving talk out of storage Ownership of your script Ownership of your script If you find some words or phases are difficult to read - change them to suit your own delivery style If you find some words or phases are difficult to read - change them to suit your own delivery style Read your script at least FIVE times before you bring it near a microphone Read your script at least FIVE times before you bring it near a microphone

Tips For Radio Reading Sound interested Sound interested Be interested in what you are delivering Be interested in what you are delivering If you don’t care it may very well show If you don’t care it may very well show Aim to sound (not like you are reading but) like you are telling someone something interesting Aim to sound (not like you are reading but) like you are telling someone something interesting Understand The Story Understand The Story If you don’t the chances are the listeners will have no hope of following it If you don’t the chances are the listeners will have no hope of following it

Characteristics Of Effect Speech Pace Pace Too high a word rate makes content difficult to comprehend. Variety in speed but neither too fast nor too slow (most beginners read far too fast) Too high a word rate makes content difficult to comprehend. Variety in speed but neither too fast nor too slow (most beginners read far too fast) Diction Diction Clear pronunciation of words Clear pronunciation of words Pause Pause Suitable silences used to separate ideas Suitable silences used to separate ideas Particularly between stories to indicate “next story” Particularly between stories to indicate “next story” Before quotes to make them stand out as “quotes” Before quotes to make them stand out as “quotes” Effective pauses give your listeners time to process the meaning of what is being read Effective pauses give your listeners time to process the meaning of what is being read

Projection and Punctuation Projection is the amount of vocal energy we use in delivery Projection is the amount of vocal energy we use in delivery Project your voice - find a comfortable clear level not mumbling on one hand or shouting on the other Project your voice - find a comfortable clear level not mumbling on one hand or shouting on the other Punctuation - Punctuation - Apart from a key role in conveying clear meaning, punctuation literally gives you breathing space Apart from a key role in conveying clear meaning, punctuation literally gives you breathing space Pauses that are intended to be longer than a comma can be indicated by a dash Pauses that are intended to be longer than a comma can be indicated by a dash

Breathing Is Vital Breath Control Breath Control It is vital not to run out of breath in the middle of script delivery It is vital not to run out of breath in the middle of script delivery Speaking is a physical activity - posture plays an important part. Your sitting position should be comfortable to allow good breathing and movement Speaking is a physical activity - posture plays an important part. Your sitting position should be comfortable to allow good breathing and movement Sit up straight, (try to)relax and breathe properly Sit up straight, (try to)relax and breathe properly Take a few deep inhalations before you start Take a few deep inhalations before you start Use breaks - for audio reports / music / adds etc - to take deep breaths if you feel nervous Use breaks - for audio reports / music / adds etc - to take deep breaths if you feel nervous Never run to a studio - if you are out of breath you can’t speak or read properly Never run to a studio - if you are out of breath you can’t speak or read properly

Pronunciation Be careful to convey CLEAR MEANING Ate and Eight Ate and Eight Fatal and Facial (injury) Fatal and Facial (injury) Attacks on tourists / a tax on tourists Attacks on tourists / a tax on tourists Foreign or unfamiliar names or place names can be a problem - spell then phonetically - that is as they sound Foreign or unfamiliar names or place names can be a problem - spell then phonetically - that is as they sound Use of Contractions - are a must in conversation and are fine in scripts Use of Contractions - are a must in conversation and are fine in scripts can’t, wouldn’t, we’ll, she’ll, wasn’t, and didn’t can’t, wouldn’t, we’ll, she’ll, wasn’t, and didn’t

Script Structure Build up logically - Attention grabbing start Build up logically - Attention grabbing start Give the story a beginning, middle and end Give the story a beginning, middle and end Scripts should be lively rather than worthy Scripts should be lively rather than worthy Serious does NOT mean boring treatment Serious does NOT mean boring treatment Sorting out your content Sorting out your content E - Essential, N - Necessary, D - Desirable E - Essential, N - Necessary, D - Desirable When in doubt - Cut and Cut / Edit again When in doubt - Cut and Cut / Edit again