PRINCIPLES OF RADIO SCRIPTWRITING

Treatments/approaches in developing script

◦ Guides on how to put flesh into the script

◦ A short paragraph to justify or explain the choice of treatment
◦ A detailed summary designed to share the writer’s (or scriptwriters’) plan for the script with
others before an actual script is written

Kinds of Treatment

1. Straight narration / teacher approach

• Includes narration of facts and messages in a straight forward manner

• Usually written in Third Person
• Most formal and basic way of presenting the subject matter

2. Dramatic Approach

• Consists of characters depicting various roles

• Presentation has a conflict, climax or anti-climax and resolution

3. You Approach

• Audiences are addressed directly by the word YOU

• Employs the second person point of view
• Script is written as if the writer is talking directly to the listeners

4. Dialog Approach

• Basic element: conversation

5. Documentary Approach

• Combination of approaches, with the use of voice clips, sound effect to make
the presentation more realistic and credible

6. Abstract / Symbolic Approach

• Includes sounds or abstract visuals

• Ideas may not be stated explicitly and audience makes own interpretation of the
information presented
 Principles in Writing for Radio

1. Be brief.

Broadcasting is constrained by time

2. Personalize.

Adjust the style, language and content of your writing to your intended audience
3. Be clear.

• Choose simple words

• Avoid a long word when a short word will do.

4. Be precise.

• Use words carefully to provide specific meanings

• “Say what you mean”

5. Be concise.

Every word used must have a purpose for being there.

6. Be concrete

Avoid vague and abstract words.

7. Be informal and conversational.

• Speak to the audience, not read to them.

• Involve the listeners, talk to them in a normal conversation.
• Write for the ear, not for reading.

8. Be readable.

• Broadcast copy must be smooth and readable.

• Avoid sibilant words (words with letters “s” and “z”) and tongue twisters.

9. Avoid alliteration (repetitions of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring

words or syllables)

10. Avoid homonyms, (each of two or more words having the same spelling or pronunciation

but different meaning and origins)

Examples:

address (to speak to / location) fair (equitable/ beautiful)

bright (smart or intelligent / filled with light)

11. Observe the one-idea one-sentence rule.

Avoid “overcrowding”(too many ideas in one sentence)

12. Repeat the message if necessary. This will make it more memorable for the audience.

13. Use acronyms/abbreviations sparingly and properly.

Example:

The Department of Justice or D-O-J has started to…

The Department of Health or D-O-H has announced…

14. Handle figures properly. Round off figures.

Example:

Almost thirty million in U-S didn’t have enough to eat last week.

15. Avoid beginning sentences with a person’s age, and in general, with any number.

16. Spell out “dollars”, “cents”, “pesos””percent”, “kilograms”and “meters”.

17. Spell-out fractions like “one-half”, “five and a half”.

18. Spell out numbers from one to ten and use numerals for 11 to 999.

THANK YOU!

ARTBIE APELADO SAMSON, EdD

School Head
Colubot Elementary School
SAN MANUEL DISTRICT
 THE VOICE AND Infomercial (Radio DRAMA)

Voice Quality

◦ It is very clear and easy to understand even when speaking quickly.

◦ Place his/her voice well to fit the storyline
◦ Shows expression of interest, enthusiasm and confidence.

Voice Recognition

◦ Clear modulated voice

◦ Presents appropriate pace and volume
◦ Consistently audible throughout the presentation
◦ Can easily be heard

Voice Enunciation

◦ Pronounce/articulates words in distinct manner

◦ Utilizes various voice inflections to enhance meaning of the lines
◦ Stretches a word to a desired length to emphasize or give the appropriate meaning

What is RADIO DRAMA?

Radio drama (or audio drama, audio play, radio play, radio theatre) is a dramatized, purely
acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media. With no visual component, radio
drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and
story.

Elements of RADIO DRAMA

1. Role
Persons in the play

2. Setting.
When the action takes place

3. Plot.
Series of event of the story.
Features of RADIO DRAMA

◦ Radio drama uses sound to convey ideas to the audience. The sound may be in the form of
dialogue, sound effects, or music.
◦ Actors can play more than one part from moment to moment as only voice needs to be altered.
◦ Actors use voice alone to convey character. They do not need to use action, gesture, or facial
expression as the audience cannot see it.
◦ There is no need for blocking or stage business in a radio drama.
◦ Radio drama scenes are often shorter that stage plays.
◦ Radio drama may not be 'live' in front of an audience.
◦ Actors don't have to learn their lines.

SAMPLE OF SCRIPT OF RADIO DRAMA

ARTBIE APELADO SAMSON, EdD

School Head
Colubot Elementary School
SAN MANUEL DISTRICT