Writing Radio News How to write radio news

Writing Radio News How to write radio news scripts

How many of you listen to the radio? What stations do you listen to ▪ Why When do you listen to the radio ▪ Why How does the Radio compare to other media ▪ when it comes to news

Radio is Ubiquitous You can listen to it anywhere ▪ When you can’t get online ▪ When you can’t see T. V. ▪ Radio can be there Radio reports ▪ Often provide many people with breaking news

When developing radio news stories Good quality audio ▪ Is very important Background noises ▪ Add to sense of mood and place Audio Ingredients of radio news ▪ Voices of reporters ▪ Natural sounds from scenes/events ▪ Eyewitness sound bites

High Energy News Radio news ▪ Is highly condensed information ▪ Short, rapid fire stories ▪ High story count ▪ Usually starts a radio program ▪ Is on a cycle ▪ That repeats on the station throughout the day

Technology & terminology ▪ Can vary from station to station ▪ You should be flexible and willing to adapt ▪ (1 st Paragraph Pg 87) Two basic kinds of radio news stories ▪ Reader/Actualities ▪ Story content read by on air person ▪ Wraps ▪ On air person reads opening ▪ Followed by voiced report from reporter

Most radio news stories are VERY short 30 seconds or less ▪ Written with the bare minimum Be clear and concise ▪ Ideas should be succinct ▪ Sound bites should be tight ▪ What’s necessary for the story

Elements/directions to include ▪ Beginning ▪ ▪ ▪ Title (With# if multiple versions) Air Date Talent Clip # Kill ▪ Middle ▪ Clip # ▪ Outcue ▪ Runs Length of bite

Life in the Biz ▪ Long hours, Constant deadlines Challenges ▪ Writing short ▪ Tougher than writing long ▪ Just the facts (important ones)

Radio news writers need to remember ▪ 1. Write in the present or future tense ▪ 2. Write with a sense of urgency or the event itself ▪ 3. Choose the sound bite with the most “Zing” ▪ The shorter the bite the better The LEAD ▪ A good lead can make a radio story ▪ It’s what gets the listener’s attention ▪ Think carefully about the words and sounds at the beginning

Example Breaking news radio strategy ▪ Hostage situation ▪ Radio reporter finds house across the street ▪ Looks up home phone # in directory ▪ Calls home to see if someone can describe the scene ▪ Broadcasts comments/description over the air

Radio station personnel Large stations ▪ Lots of different roles Small stations ▪ Few people wear many hats

Commercial Radio reporters Have to create a lot of copy Are usually on a tight deadline May write 4 -5 different stories a day ▪ In multiple versions Need to write fast ▪ & develop a variety of leads Will often multitask

There are many formats For delivering radio news ▪ NPR ▪ News/Talk ▪ Local All News Radio Be adaptable Remember the strength of radio is portability