BROADCAST WRITING

JOUR 102 Wenger

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 1. Write for the ear

-People get just one chance to hear what you say -Read what youve written out loud

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 1. Write for the ear

-People get just one chance to hear what you say -Read what youve written out loud

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 2. Be conversational

-Make the language as simple as possible -Avoid jargon and content that is inside baseball

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 3. Write in future/present tense

-Broadcast is all about immediacy -Tell people whats happening now or what is about to happen

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 4. Write in short, declarative sentences

-One idea per sentence -Be as concise as possible, eliminate unnecessary words -Perfect the art of editing yourself

Key characteristics of broadcast writing 5. Write in active voice

-What is it? -The subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb

A word about attribution

In broadcast writing, attribution often

comes first
According to the provosts office, classes will be

canceled The mayor thinks the changes will help the economy.

Lets listen

Lets write

One option
The presidential candidates are

stepping up preparations for their first debate on Wednesday.

Present tense Active voice Short (13 words vs. 30)

Conversational
Written for the ear

Lets write

One option
The Taliban is taking responsibility for

a bomb that killed fourteen people and injured dozens in Afghanistan.

Present tense Active voice Short (17 words vs. 48)

Conversational
Written for the ear

Broadcast Writing Recap

The best broadcast writers exercise

selection, not compression

Over the next two weeks, well be working

on how to select the most important details from the information you gather and present it in broadcast style