Writing%20for%20Broadcast

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Writing for Broadcast

• Broadcast 1

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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.

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Similarities

• Both broadcast journalism and print journalism
• require background research.
• emphasize similar news elements.
• require good writers and spellers to be effective.

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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.

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Writing the story

• Broadcast 1

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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 dont understand it, how will your
  audience?

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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!

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Rewriting

• 4. Without looking back at the original, begin
  rewriting the story IN YOUR OWN WORDS!
• Remember
• Dont 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 doesnt have to be better than the
  original, but it does have to be different.

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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.

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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.

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Short, Simple Sentences

• Use skinny sentences!
• Dont 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!

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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.

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Brevity

• Although you must be brief, make sure you include
  all necessary detail. Dont 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.

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Brevity

• Remember
• You must tell a complex story in only a few
  seconds, so keep it short.
• Include only necessary details.
• Dont leave out important information.
• YOU must decide what is important for the
  audience to know.
• Always ask WHY.

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Helping Listeners

• Dont 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.

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Helping Listeners
Use Dont Use
Anger Need Cuts Try Question Give Start Dead Indignation Require Lacerations Attempt Interrogate Contribute Ignite Deceased
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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.

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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.

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10 Tips for Broadcast Writing

• 1. Be original and tell stories in your own
  words, not the sources.
• 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.

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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.

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Now its 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.
• Heres what you do
• 1. Find a story from the internet or a current
  newspaper.

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Now its 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 articles 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.