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Radio Script

The document provides guidance on writing scripts for radio news stories. It emphasizes brevity given time constraints of radio. Key elements include using simple language, short sentences, and active verbs to paint word pictures for listeners. Proper grammar, punctuation, and formatting are important to allow for clear narration. Essential information like who, what, where, when should be prioritized and unnecessary details omitted to concisely relay the key facts in the limited time available.

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Janmejay Singh
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
48 views

Radio Script

The document provides guidance on writing scripts for radio news stories. It emphasizes brevity given time constraints of radio. Key elements include using simple language, short sentences, and active verbs to paint word pictures for listeners. Proper grammar, punctuation, and formatting are important to allow for clear narration. Essential information like who, what, where, when should be prioritized and unnecessary details omitted to concisely relay the key facts in the limited time available.

Uploaded by

Janmejay Singh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Characteristics and Elements of

Radio Script Writing


News Media Writing
• Sender – Message – Receiver
• Encoding – Decoding symbols
• Integrated New Media
Practice Exercise
•
Newsworthiness
• News value: Characteristics of the audience will determine what type
of information the audience wants
•
Characteristics
• Less Space and Time: Prioritise and summarise information
• Listeners cannot reread sentences: Keep language simple and clear
• Added complexity to print news story: Broadcast news story must
“read”/hear well to the ear
• Listeners cannot see video of narration or actuals or ambience: Must
paint word pictures for the listeners to “see” through verbal
descriptions
• Web media has integrated audio, video and text/print formats:
Elements of Radio Script Writing are integral to news media writing
today.
Elements of Radio Script Writing
• Conversational style: Write the way people speak
• Brief sentences: Each sentence must focus on one idea at a time
• Simple and direct language: Use familiar words and symbol
• Read aloud to hear the appeal to the ear: Important for self-idea of
timing, transition, information flow, and conversation style
• Keep the narrator and producer in mind: Ultimately the narrator has
to present the script and the producer has to mix the tapes
Language
• Brevity and condensation: A good broadcast story has to be between
30 secs~100 word to 90 secs~250 words; no more than headline and
lede of a print story
• Correct grammar: So the narrator does not stumble over mistakes
• Short sentences of 20 words or less: So the announcer may take a
breath
• Write the way people converse: Even sentence fragments are
acceptable as long as they make sense
• Use contractions: “Don’t” instead of “do not” but be careful of
creating confusion
Language
• Use simple SVO syntax
• Active voice and active verbs
• Present tense verbs to express the sense of immediacy
• Use past tense verbs only for an event which is long past
• Write with visual imagery; include ambience for suggestion
• Use a person’s complete name in the first reference, and only second
name thereafter
• Phonetic spellings for unfamiliar words and words which are difficult
to pronounce
Language
• Omit obscure names and places and unnecessary details
• Titles precede names, therefore, avoid appositives E.g. International
School of Management student Rohit
• For age reference, age precedes name E.g. 21-year-old Rohit
• Do not write direct quotations into a news script narration. Use
soundbites or actuals.
• If someone needs to be quoted, set it off with an attribution “In the
words of...” or “As he put it”
• Unlike print stories, the attribution to direct quotations or paraphrased
indirect quotations must come before the quote
Language
• Avoid all abbreviations except Mr, Mrs, and Dr. Miss and Master must
be spelled to avoid confusion for the narrator
• Punctuate commonly used abbreviations with hyphen in between
E.g. U-N for United Nations
• Unlike print stories, avoid symbols like ₹. Write rupees in full.
• Use correct punctuation.
• However, do not use semi colons, and use double dash marks (--) for
comma
Language: Numerals
• Numerals up to eleven are spelt out, numerals are used from 12
onwards
• Use hyphenated combinations for numerals and words for thousand
and above E.g. 33-thousand
• Round off numbers except when the exact is significant
• Unlike print stories, use st, nd, th and rd after dates, addresses, and
numbers above “eleventh”. E.g. Second Division, March tenth, 3rd
month
Language: Format
• Broadcast news stories are typed, double-spaced, and in
uppercase/lowercase
• The sentence at the bottom of a page must be complete. Do not split
the last sentence between pages
• Do not split words or hyphenated phrases between lines
• Instead of using copyediting symbols, cross out and write above
Information
• Do not overwhelm with information. Brevity is important. One idea at
a time.
• Put the important information first: who said it or did it?, what
happened?, where did it happen?, when did it happen?, why it is
important?, how did it happen?

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