Writing for the Ear
Rules: See Broadcast Stlye Rules
*One main idea per sentence
*present tense to portray timeliness
* X says "...."
Never use names in the lead if the name is unfamiliar to the audience.
When using names, first + last name on first reference, then last name only
context matters: describe time of day rather than a.m. or p.m.
What is the completed circle?
Broadcast writing does not use inverted pyramid (want ppl to stay tuned in)
written in a unified; story is complete functioning unit
stories instead written to fit exact amount of time
3 words per second --> 30 second story = 90 words
What is dramatic unity?
Most common structure for broadcast: 3 parts
Climax: point of the story; the "so what"
Cause: why it happened or circumstances surrounding the event
Effect: context of the story; insight into what the story means
(pg 187)
*One main idea per sentence, even if it sounds choppy
Selection of News
- Timeliness
- immediacy and impact
- often considered most imp news value
- news must be up-to-date- it's what viewers expect
- Information, not explanation
- look for stories that dont need a lot of explanation
- time: average length is 20-30 secs
- radio: could even be just 10 sec or less
- Audio/ Visual Impact
- sometimes, stories chosen b/c of this
- is a criticism
- Four Cs (not 5 ws, 1 h): correctnoess, clarity, conciseness, color
- correctness (accuracy)
- clarity
- clear, precise language
- simple sentences
- know what youre talking about
- conciseness:
- tight phrasing
- simplify and condense (bring it back to the basics)
- avoid passive
- color:
- allow listeners to paint a picture of the story being reported
- include pertinent and insightful details through personality
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