Exam 11: Preparing Broadcast Copy

Avoid editorializing in news copy. Just write and report the news and leave the interpretations to the listeners or to commentators.

Choose the most important element of a story and make that your lead. In writing, think about how you would share the information with a friend.

Times have changed: it's now acceptable to use dialects in broadcasting and, with the advent of "shock jocks" in radio, profanity and obscenities are permitted to be used on the air if the language was used while recording a news event.

Being able to scoop the newspaper is one of the joys of working in broadcasting, so when a news flash or bulletin comes across the wire service, get it on the air immediately!

What are transitions, and why are they used?

While working journalists often find many stories to be routine, you can't let your writing become routine. Each story should be composed with an interesting blend of writing techniques: lead with what is most important, tell as many of the details as possible, and give the significance of the news story.

Quotations should be used frequently in broadcast copy so that listeners will know what news sources had to say. Quotes can easily be identified when listening because a good announcer will change voice inflection when reaching phrases enclosed by quotation marks.

The best rule for abbreviations is

News programs should have an ebb and flow, with some hard news stories mixed with lighter feature material, some of which may be suggested or provided by public relations professionals.

What is a pronouncer and how is it used?

Don't begin broadcast copy with numbers, figures or facts crucial to the story.

Broadcast writing differs from print writing in that verb tenses can be mixed, because radio-TV copy often describes events that are taking place now, have taken place, or will take place.

How do you make statistics, figures and numbers understandable in broadcast copy?

What is the "Rule of 20"?

Good broadcast copy should have rhythm and cadence, an ordered flow of sounds that makes it interesting.

Radio-TV copy is written for the ear, not the eye, giving it far fewer limitations than for print copy.

Writing is the essential ingredient in radio and television news broadcasting. No matter how dramatic the sounds or visuals, it is the writing quality-interesting leads and crisp copy-that attracts and holds listening and viewing audiences.

Unlike print writing, begin sentences with attribution to enhance credibility, especially where the statement may be controversial.

Personal pronouns should be used sparingly in radio-TV writing, and when used should be close to whatever they refer.

Whenever possible, broadcast leads should begin with names: names make news; go with "who."