RADIO BROADCASTING

AND SCRIPTWRITING

HERMAN B. ATIP, JR.

 FUN FACTS

DID YOU KNOW…

1. That the ears can only receive 160

words per minute, while the eyes can
read up to 1000 words per minute.
2. The eyes can see the whole sentence
in just one glance, but the ears need to
grasp word-for-word in every sentence.

The listener should wait until the end

of the sentence to get the message.
What will happen if the listener fails to
hear a part of the news?
As a broadcast writer, your challenge
is to
format that information
• for your listeners’ ear
• so that they can understand it
• the first - and most likely only -
time they’ll hear it.
 THE SIX “CS”: IN RADIO
1.Clear BROADCASTING
2.Concise
3.Conversational
4.Complete
5.Current
6.Correct
 1. CLEAR
• Write in a simple, understandable
style.

• Write to express an idea, not to

impress your audience.

• Basically, limit sentences to one

main thought.
2. CONCISE
• Broadcast copy is short.
Thomas Jefferson once said,
“The most valuable of all talent is that of
never using two words when one will do.”
• Get to the main point.
• Use only essential words.
• Eliminate wordiness.
• Make your point and move on.
3. CONVERSATIONAL:

• We basically “converse” using a

simple, common language.

• Write a story much the same way

you'd tell it to a friend.
4. COMPLETE:

• Your copy must answer the five Ws

(who, what, when, where, and why),
except, perhaps, “why.” That may be
unknown at airtime.

• But don't raise new questions or leave

old
questions unanswered.
5. CURRENT:

• Current copy is timely copy – both in

content and the way it sounds.
• One way you can make your copy
sound timely is by using (but not
forcing) one of the present verb
tenses whenever it's possible (and
correct)
6. CORRECT

• The most important “C.”

• One mistake could potentially ruin a career.
• Your copy must be free of factual errors.
Double check for correct names, dates,
times, etc.
• Correct copy also means correct use of
spelling and grammar.
• Use a dictionary.
BROADCAST NEWS STRUCTURE:
Broadcast news writing uses a different
structure than print journalism.

• While the print journalist uses the

inverted pyramid style, you'll employ
the upright pyramid style.
• Instead of the summary lead,
including the who, what, when,
where, and why of the story,
you'll focus on the central fact
– or news peg – for your lead.
• Then, instead of using the print
style of the facts in order of
importance, you'll round out
your story by completing the
five “Ws.”
• While the newspaper reporter
might take 700 words to tell
the story, you'll often have no
more than 75 to 80.
Three Main Tasks of
Broadcasting

1. News Gathering
2. Scriptwriting
3. Delivery
TOOLS FOR
BROADCASTING

1. Effective Speaker
2. Sound and Efficient
Equipment/Functional
Facilities
3. Clean directional policies
PRINCIPLES OF RADIO BROADCASTING

1. It is spoken- We should be natural and use

the words we know the meaning, of and
which are in our spoken vocabulary. Use the
spoken words of everyday speech. The
broadcast style must be natural.
2. It is immediate- Broadcast scripts are
written in an immediate format.
Broadcast is a “NOW” medium. But in
print, we can publish even history or
something which is not immediate.
3. It is person-to-person- It is like a YOU
AND ME medium. It means that if you
write a script to be transmitted through
radio or television, you are supposed to
deliver this script in a person-to-person
format. They should feel that they are
attached to this script or drama or any
information.
4. It is heard once- When we write a
script for Radio and Television, we
should keep in mind that the words and
dialogue spoken are heard once and
they cannot be referred to as in the case
of print media. So, always use easy,
simple short sentences and
understandable language and words.
5. It is sound/picture- Do not use vague or
ambiguous language in script writing.
Punctuation is vital. When eyes see a mark
on the page, the brain reacts in a certain
way and the sentences, and dialogues are
delivered in the right way. Always your
first sentence should be catchy and
attractive.
Basic Guidelines for Radio News Scriptwriting
A. First of all, the writing of news to radio
listeners write only, NOT TO READERS OR
AUDIENCE.
To better understand writing news, please follow
the following:
a. Remember that writing news focused mainly
on listeners, so the writing should be clear and
easily understood.
b. Without any words difficult to pronounce or
require more words to explain the dictionary.
B. Pre-Writing Skills
(Steps before write news)
a. Create outline. Identify the elements of the
story. Ask yourself: Who? What? Where?
When? Why? And How?
b. Write teaser. Will be used to give the
audience a foretaste before airing the news.
Must not longer than sentence .
c. Write basic sentences (lead sentence). It is
used to get the attention of the listener. Be
KLARO and BEWARE the words used in
your first paragraph.
d. Write the body of the story. Include ALL relevant
information, as and POINTS. In a news radio, usually
runs only thirty seconds (65 words) to one minute
(130 words).
e. Write a conclusion. Where is the story? How do you
end the story? Must mention the essential point of the
story.
f. Must QUICK LOOK UNDERSTAND
IMMEDIATELY script and content. Especially the
right word to use APPLICABLE TO HEARING.
Show script copy-editor you can specify the wrong
stories.
g. Have Timekeeper word count:
i. 10 seconds = 25 words
ii. 15 seconds = 35 words
iii. 20 seconds = 45 words
iv. 30 seconds = 65 words
v. 60 seconds =130 words

h. Copy Editor jobs. Keep SARIWA. DO NOT

REPEAT content teaser at the lead. It's usually mistake
news.
i. Quick pass encoder's final report on the computer.
C. Holistic Warning Radio News Writing
a. Limit the number one news. As much as, more
confusing.
b. LESS make the sentences to better stifle the reporter.
c. Activating the sentence: "He climbed the roof of the
house" rather than "The roof of the house is reached by
a man. "
d. Make Currently ongoing news. Containing the most
recent event.
e. DO NOT mix opinion news.
f. Do not mimic or copy the contents of each word
contained in any story
g. Contribute a better translation
h. Do not mimic or copy the contents of each word
contained in any story news sources.
D. Setting your Word Document before
encoding:

I. Under HOME Tab

1. HIGHLIGHTING Shortcut: (Ctrl + A)
2. BOLD Shortcut: (Ctrl + B)
3. FONT: Arial SIZE: 12 Shortcut: (Ctrl + Shift
+ F)
4. PARAGRAPH:
a. JUSTIFIED Shortcut: (Ctrl + J)
b. LINE SPACING click “2.0”; click (Ctrl +
A); click “Remove Space After Paragraph "
III. Additional Shortcuts (FOR FASTER ENCODING)
1. COPY AND PASTE: (Ctrl + C ; Ctrl + V)
2. PRINT: (Ctrl + P)
IV. General Guidelines for Technical Scriptwriting
3. All Character Notations are in CAPS (ex. OF. 1; OF 2;
MOTHER; CHILD)
4. All Technical (SFX and MSC) designations are also in
CAPS
a. Sound Effects (SFX 1: HEADLINE STINGER)
b. Music MSC 2: ‘TITLE’ (TECH. INSTRUCTIONS)
i. Ex: MSC 2: ‘THE LAZY SONG’ (FADE IN… UP…
DOWN TO BG LEVEL)
ii. *Only Music Notations are underlined
c. Talents i. Ex: MOTHER: (GENTLY)
Things to Remember in Script Writing
1. Double or triple space-typewrite all
lines and paragraphs.
2. Type copy in big letter/font so the
newsreader can easily read it.
3. All spoken lines should be written in
big and small letters.
4. All instructions and non-spoken lines
should be typed in capital letters
5. Have a duplicate of each copy.
6. Make each sentence a paragraph.
7. Write a page number in your script.
8. End each page with a paragraph
before using another paper.
9. Make your script clean.
10. Make the script short and simple.
11. Do not use words that are hard to
pronounce.
12. Break down long sentences for
readability.
13. Attribute the source of your news
either at the beginning or at the end of
the news.
14. Use easy, conversation words.
15. Avoid “this, that, the former, the
latter”
16. Use adjectives with care.
17. Do not string together a collection
of ideas with “and”, sentences should
be kept short.
18. Use the active voice.

Sample Wrong: Ang naganap na sunud-

sunod na nakawan sa mga paaralan ay
ipinasisiyasat ni Mayor Pilot Bihasa.

Correct: Ipinasisiyasat ni Mayor Pilot

Bihasa ang sunudsunod na nakawan sa
mga paaralan.
19. Use the active voice.

Sample Wrong: Ang naganap na sunud-

sunod na nakawan sa mga paaralan ay
ipinasisiyasat ni Mayor Pilot Bihasa.

Correct: Ipinasisiyasat ni Mayor Pilot

Bihasa ang sunudsunod na nakawan sa
mga paaralan.
20. Round-off figures/numbers

Example:

Change 2.6213 million to more than 2 and a half

million 35.7002 percent to nearly 36 percent

Umabot sa may 10.356 milyong piso to Umabot

sa mahigit sampung milyong piso

Write out symbols and fractions Avoid

abbreviations.
Provide phonetic spelling
21. Speech has rhythm, and this
should be kept in mind when writing
a script.

22. Key repetitive statements would

help the listener get the message.
Basic Steps/Process in Radio Script Writing

1. Get a good briefing/know your listener

2. Do research about the topic
3. Prepare a content outline
4. Write the first draft.
5. Read it aloud.
6. Time the material.
7. Visualize the script
8. Review the script
9. Revise for style, correct timing, and
accuracy
 Timing the Newscast Program

05:00 Newscast Program

01:30 Ads and Infomercial/s
00:10 Station ID
00:30 Intro, Bumpers, and Teasers
02:50 Time left for News
BUMPER, TEASER, and BILLBOARD

BUMPER
Is used between the news and
commercial breaks.
It tells the listener that there is a break
but there is still more news coming up.

Example: “We’ll be back for more news

after these words from our sponsors.”
TEASER
It is used to stimulate curiosity so that
listeners will stay tuned in to the news.

Example:
“Waling waling to replace Sampaguita
as our national flower?”
“Bea Alonzo at Gerald Anderson,
nagkakamabutihan na nga ba?
BILLBOARD

Is usually heard after the news. It tells the

listeners who sponsored the news or
infomercial.

Example: “This infomercial is brought to you by

the Department of Health and this station.
FORMAT in Writing a Radio Script (Title Page)

PROGRAM TITLE: Express Patrol STATION:

DWSJ 99.9
Airtime: 8:00-8:05 a.m. daily
Date of Newscast: August 30, 2016

Talents:
Anchor: ______________
Reporters: ______________
Field Reporters: ______________
Sound Technician: ______________
Director: ______________
STORY TAGS

The final step is to indicate the story has

ended or has more details on the next page.

1. Put ### at the end of the page to indicate that

the story has ended or put (more) at the end of
the page to let the broadcaster know that there
is another page.
2. If you must split a story into two pages, never
break a sentence. Always end a page with a
complete sentence.
 Terms Used on a News Wheel

ENGLISH FILIPINO

Headlines Ulo
National Pambansa
Local/Provincial Probinsiya
Infomercial Patalastas
Foreign Ibayong Dagat
Showbiz Showbis
Sports Palakasan
Weather Lagay ng Panahon