Broadcast 1 Writing for Broadcast

Why is broadcast writing different? Broadcast news and print news are different because of their intended audience. Broadcast news must be written differently because - Broadcast news is meant to be heard, not read. Unlike print, which lasts forever, once words are spoken on a broadcast they are gone. Broadcast news is meant for quick, up-to-the-date information, not detailed stories. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Similarities Both broadcast journalism and print journalism… require background research. emphasize similar news elements. require good writers and spellers to be effective. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Writing for a Listener Broadcast journalists must think in terms of listener time. People are often doing other activities while watching or listening to broadcast news. Competing activities, audiences’ short attention spans, and the task of writing for the ear make broadcast writing challenging. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Broadcast 1 Writing the story

Rewriting A lot of broadcast newswriting involves rewriting. Most broadcast news stories come from wire copy, news releases, scripts, and notes and must be rewritten. It is very important to understand what you are rewriting. If you don’t understand it, how will your audience? Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Rewriting To successfully rewrite a story for broadcast, follow these steps: 1. Read the source copy a couple of times, then put it aside. 2. Ask yourself the 6 major questions of jouralism – who? what? when? where? why? and how? – to make sure you understand the story. 3. Retell the story to yourself or someone else IN YOUR OWN WORDS! Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Rewriting Remember… Don’t just rearrange words – make it your own. 4. Without looking back at the original, begin rewriting the story IN YOUR OWN WORDS! Remember… Don’t just rearrange words – make it your own. Everyone else is using similar source material – you have to make your version of the story unique. Your story doesn’t have to be better than the original, but it does have to be different. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Short, Simple Sentences When rewriting for broadcast, remember to keep sentences short and simple. A good sentence in a broadcast story should be no more than 20 words. Even though sentences should be short and simple, avoid “choppy” writing like “See Spot run. Spot runs fast.” Create a conversational flow and rhythm to your writing. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Short, Simple Sentences Alternate short and long sentences. Alternate simple, declarative sentences with sentences starting with and, but, or because. The subject-verb-object format is best for broadcast writing. Example: The boy caught the ball. Example: The criminal robbed the bank. Example: The hurricane destroyed the town. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Short, Simple Sentences Use skinny sentences! Don’t “fatten” your sentences with excess words like adjectives and adverbs. Let verbs give color to your writing. Remember… Broadcast writing is written for the ear, so it should sound like a conversation. Simple sentences work best for broadcast. Write the way you talk! Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Brevity Unlike print journalists, broadcast writers must deal with time constraints. Aside from deadlines, most broadcast journalists must write their stories to fit a 30 second time slot. In just a few seconds, you must tell the news, explain why it is news, and give as many important details as possible. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Brevity Although you must be brief, make sure you include all necessary detail. Don’t leave out essential information or distort the meaning of the story. YOU have to be the editor – decide what is important for your audience and tell them. Always ask WHY and include reasons for events and actions. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Brevity Remember… You must tell a complex story in only a few seconds, so keep it short. Include only necessary details. Don’t leave out important information. YOU must decide what is important for the audience to know. Always ask WHY. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Helping Listeners Don’t cram sentences with several separate facts. Most sentences should be limited to one single fact or image. Take each story one step – or sentence – at a time. Use a simple vocabulary – there is no room for “10-dollar” words in broadcasting. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Helping Listeners Use Don’t Use Anger Need Cuts Try Question Give Start Dead Indignation Require Lacerations Attempt Interrogate Contribute Ignite Deceased Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Helping Listeners Remember… Use only one main idea per sentence. Take stories one sentence at a time. Keep vocabulary simple – use “nickel and dime” words rather than “10-dollar” ones. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Talk it Out Remember that broadcast writing is meant to be heard. It often helps to say sentences out loud before writing them down. After you have written your story, read it aloud and listen to how it sounds. Stories should sound as if they are being told, not read. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

10 Tips for Broadcast Writing 1. Be original and tell stories in your own words, not the source’s. 2. Use short sentences, but create a conversational flow. 3. Use “skinny” sentences without many adverbs or adjectives. 4. Be brief and concise. 5. Only include important details, and be sure to include the WHY. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

10 Tips for Broadcast Writing 6. Only use one major fact per sentence, and take stories one sentence at a time. 7. Use simple vocabulary – there is no room for 10-dollar words in broadcast writing. 8. Talk it out! Make sure everything sounds right. 9. Make sure stories are easy for announcers to read. 10. Think and write like you talk. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Now it’s your turn… You are now taking on the role of a broadcast journalist. From now until the end of the semester, you will be responsible for rewriting one broadcast story per week. This will be called a copy card. Here’s what you do… 1. Find a story from the internet or a current newspaper. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting

Now it’s your turn… 2. On a piece of paper, write the name of the source, the author of the original article, and the date of the original article’s publication. 3. On you paper, rewrite the original article as if it were being written for broadcast. 4. Staple the original article to the back of your copy card before you turn it in. Copy cards will be due each Wednesday at the beginning of class. Copy cards will be worth a 150 point daily grade. Source - Reporting for the Media and Beginning Radio-TV Newswriting