1. How to write radio news scripts

2.  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

3.  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

4.  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

5.  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

6.  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

7.  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

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

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

10.  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

11.  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

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

13.  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

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