Writing for the ear instead of the eye of the audience Have the courage to write simply Merv Block BROADCAST NEWS WRITING Writing for television and radio Keep in mind Listenersviewers cannot flip back and review the information ID: 577087
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Slide1
Broadcast News Writing
Writing for the ear instead of the eye of the audienceSlide2
Have the courage to write simply.-Merv BlockSlide3
BROADCAST NEWS WRITING:
Writing
for television and radio
Keep
in mind
Listeners/viewers cannot “flip back” and review the information
Writing is more for the ear
Writing is
linear
—
Shorter
, sharper, strongerSlide4
WRITING SIMPLY MEANS:
Shorter
Say
only what needs to be said in the simplest way possible
Sharper
Precise
and concise - make each word count
Stronger
Speak
with an active
voice
Waste
no wordsSlide5
HOW DO I DO THAT?
Remember, you are just relating the events of a story
How would you tell it to your best friend?
How would you tell it over the phone?
Use short sentences
A single thought per sentence
Speak in an ACTIVE
voice
Subject Verb ObjectEXAMPLE: Taco Bell was robbed by an armed gunman last night.SHOULD BE: An armed gunman robbed Taco Bell last night.Slide6
THE ZOMBIE TEST
How do you know you are using active voice?
If you can add “by zombies” to the sentence and it makes sense, it’s passive.
EXAMPLE: Taco Bell was robbed… by zombies. (PASSIVE)
SHOULD BE: Zombies robbed Taco Bell. (ACTIVE)
HINT: Usually if the sentenced ends with any part of speech other than an object or direct object, it’s passive. Slide7
GETTING TENSE:
Broadcaster
speak
s
in the present tense…
The viewer sees and hears it as it is happening (video)
The commentary should be equal to that experience
Create a false present tense to create a sense of immediacy (after all, this is the NEWS!)Slide8
MAKING EVERY WORD COUNT:
Remember the construct: subject verb
object
Add in the necessary denotative articles to make it make sense
Use attribution to give your story
credibility
Attribution
comes BEFORE the quote - tell the viewer who they are going to see or hear before they see or hear itALWAYS READ YOUR STORY OUT LOUDALWAYS USE THE SUBJECT - OBJECT - VERB CONSTRUCT Slide9
Broadcast News Writing
Writing for the ear instead of the eye of the audience