1. Broadcast Journalism Ten Differences Between Broadcast and Print

2. #1: BE CONVERSATIONAL  In broadcast, you write the way you talk  Your language will be more relaxed, to a point  Watch out for construction delays if you’re driving on Sessoms tomorrow.  Tomorrow, today, last night, tonight…

3. #2: KEEP IT SHORT  Broadcast sentences are incredibly short and simple  Avoid lengthy introductory clauses  Clauses are not your friend in broadcast writing  PRINT: John Smith, a San Marcos taxi driver who claims a passenger was drunk and insulted him Monday night, was arrested and charged with assaulting the passenger.  BROADCAST: A San Marcos cab driver is in jail, accused of attacking a passenger.

4. #3. GET RID OF INVERTED PYRAMID  Broadcast stories have beginning, middle and end  You want the viewer or listener to stick with the story and keep watching/listening  Final line typically advances the story  The San Marcos city council will vote on the issue tomorrow.

5. #4: USE PRESENT TENSE WHEN POSSIBLE  Timeliness is a major difference between broadcast and print  PRINT: A San Marcos man was hospitalized Monday night after he was hit by a train.  BROADCAST: A San Marcos man is recovering this morning after being hit by a train.  Don’t be afraid to use past tense, but you should always look for fresh story angles

6. #5. MOST CONTRACTIONS ARE OKAY  Because we’re writing like we talk, you can use contractions in broadcast writing  The only time to avoid contractions are when they are audibly confusing  Are, aren’t, jury’s, etc.

7. #6. QUOTES/ATTRIBUTION ARE DIFFERENT  Attribution goes at the beginning  PRINT: Jones confessed to murdering his wife, police said. He could face the death penalty if convicted.  BROADCAST: Police say Jones confessed to murdering his wife.  PRINT: “I felt like I was at home,” said President Obama.  BROADCAST: President Obama says he felt like he was at home.

8. #6. QUOTES/ATTRIBUTION ARE DIFFERENT  Important notes about quotes/attribution:  In broadcast, it’s better to just use the actual sound from someone than trying to paraphrase what they said.  Always use some kind of title or descriptor  Vice President Joe Biden  Police chief Howard Williams  Texas State president Denise Trauth  Mass comm major Vaughn Wolfe  San Marcos resident Steven Torres

9. #7. PRONUNCIATION IS IMPORTANT  If you have a tough-to-pronounce word or name, you need to let talent know how to say it  Mahmoud (Mock-mood) Ahmadinejad (Ack-ma-dee-nah- jad)

10. #7. PRONUNCIATION IS IMPORTANT  One important note about names:  If the name isn’t vital to a broadcast story, don’t include it  Most spot news/crime stories will not have names associated with them

11. #8. PUNCTUATION HELPS YOU READ  Dashes and/or ellipses show when to pause  Quarterback Tony Romo says he’ll be ready to play…and win…this next season.  Let talent know when a word needs emphasis  City council *has* to pick a firm by tomorrow.

12. #9. AVOID ABBREVIATIONS  In broadcast, spell out just about everything  ST: Is that saint or street?  DR: is that doctor or drive?  Well-known acronyms are used (with hyphens)  F-B-I, I-R-S, N-C-DOUBLE-A or N-C-A-A  If pronounced like a word, no hyphens  NATO, NASA

13. #9. AVOID ABBREVIATIONS  An important note:  Avoid symbols in broadcast writing  $ = dollars  % = percent  At and And  d-b-2-8-4-5-5 at Texas State dot e-d-u

14. #10. ROUND OFF NUMBERS AND SPELL THEM OUT  Numbers can create massive chaos in a broadcast story (and take incredibly too long to read)  PRINT: The thieves stole $397,945 worth of jewelry.  BROADCAST: The thieves stole nearly 400-thousand dollars worth of jewelry.

15. #10. ROUND OFF NUMBERS AND SPELL THEM OUT  A few important notes about numbers:  0: zero  1-11: spell out as words  12-999: use numerals  More than 999: use a combo of numbers and words (13- thousand, etc.) and round off if possible

16. Broadcast Journalism  DON’T FORGET  You get one shot for your story to make sense in broadcast  You have to make it as easy as possible for the talent to read clearly  Viewers/listeners can’t re-read the story if they’re confused