*In radio, hearing faculty is used.

*In print, it’s intellectual faculty.

*With TV, it’s all three, although the image
is the foremost tool.
*The news is HEARD, the newscaster and the
footages are SEEN and the MIND connects
the rest.
Principles in Broadcast Writing

One thought per sentence

People are only half-listening most of the time.
In broadcast, you have only one chance to say it. Consider
audience comprehension always. Avoid complex sentences.

Be conversational
Don’t think print.

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Avoid jargon
Watch out for more jargon in justice, military and business
beats.
Avoid fancy metaphors.
She is under the weather.
Say, “She is sick”.

Think video/radio
Script should not get in the way of video/radio. Words
should enhance images you are showing.
Think, before writing.

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Use active voice
The natural order of thought: subject, verb, object.
In broadcast, there’s always a sense of urgency. Active
voice gives the snap and punch to your writing.
Example:
 The Freedom of Information Bill was endorsed by the
Congress.
 The Congress endorsed the Freedom of Information
Bill.

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Omit verbal deadwood
Effective writing is concise.
Drop unnecessary words from phrases or sentences.
Examples:
For the reason that because
At the present time now
Tendered his resignation resigned
Affixed his signature signed
United in holy matrimony married

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Use present tense
Broadcast news in general, is all about NOW. You are
reading the news as if it’s just happening.

Sources
Be specific as possible about sources.
Make attribution in your report.

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Consider your lead
Go straight to the heart of the story.
Example:
The jurors in Arroyo electoral sabotage case have made their
decision. They found the former president guilty of
manipulating the 2004 elections.
Former President Arroyo has been found guilty on electoral
sabotage case.

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*If there is ONE RULE in broadcast writing,
it is SIMPLICITY.
*The SIMPLER, the BETTER!
*Don’t confuse or rattle the viewers and/or
listeners; they can only take so much at
the same time.
COMPLEX COMMON
Utilize Use
Proceed Go
Facilitate Help
Contribute Give
Majority Most
Reside Live
Summon Call
Style in Broadcast Writing
If there is one rule, it is SIMPLICITY.

A news item contains a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 5

sentence-paragraphs.
Make your sentences clear, reasonably short.
Use familiar words.
ALL CAPS, Arial or Times New Roman - 12 font size.

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Use hyphens between letters and numbers that you want
pronounced separately.
Examples:
United Nations
U-N
National Bureau of Investigation
N-B-I
Department of Labor and Employment
DO-LE

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As a house rule, write out numbers from one to twelve.
Use numerals for 13 through 999.
For numbers over 999, use a combination of numerals and
words.
Examples:
1,000
one thousand
7,931
seven thousand 931

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Don’t write “a million” or “a billion”, but rather use the word
ONE.
If spoken aloud, “a” sounds like eight.

If a number begins a sentence, spell it out.

Round off numbers to make them easier to understand.

597 converts to “just under 600”
4,467,398 converts to “close to four and a half million”

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Speaking from the Script
Put the necessary marks on your script for easy reading.
Arrange the pages of your scripts loosely.
Be relaxed.
Talk, don’t read.
Speak spontaneously and enthusiastically.
Avoid great dependence on your manuscript.
Be ready for adlibs.
Speak with accurate pronunciation.

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Use a well-modulated voice with varying degrees of rate,
pitch, intensity and appropriate voice quality.
Keep your tone alive and dynamic.
Pause at the right places.
Pronounce foreign words correctly and easily.
Avoid dialectical pronunciation.

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Tips in Broadcast Announcing

Constant, CORRECT practice makes one perfect.

Try to be yourself and not like someone else.
Be natural.
Use your own individual style.
Project your own personality.
Don’t forget to PRAY and ask for guidance.

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Ambush Interview
You control the situation.
Have cameras rolling even while the source is approaching: a
smirk, a smile, the jerk of a hand are precious video materials.
Make sure the question you shoot also goes into the
microphone. It’s good to get initial reaction of the source to
question.

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Speech
Source controls.
Start cameras rolling when the source makes his entrance.
Speakers usually start by greeting honorable this and that, then
crack a few jokes. Shoot for cutaways.
The meaty part is in the middle. Then set up microphone and
start rolling.

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Press Conference
Source controls.
You control when you start asking.
Press conference starts with what’s in the press release.
Depending on what you need, you can shoot now or later
during open forum.

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Set Interview
You control the situation.
You could start by talking off-cam and on paper all necessary
details and facts of story, converse with source and get the
sound bite later.
But in this approach, you are likely to get a less than
spontaneous response from the source.

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TWO POLICEMEN FROM MANILA POLICE
DISTRICT DIED FROM A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT
LAST NIGHT.

VICTIMS WERE PO2 RICHARD LOMBOY AND PO1

RAYMOND ESMELE.

SENIOR POLICE SUPERINTENDENT GUSPER

MIRALLES OF MPD’S CRIMINAL AND
INVESTIGATION DIVISION SAYS THE TWO
POLICEMEN WERE DRUNK.

THEY ARE ON THEIR WAY TO A RAID WHEN A

FAST MOVING TRUCK HIT THEIR POLICE CAR
ALONG AURORA BOULEVARD.

THE VICTIMS WERE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT

TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL BUT WERE
DECLARED DEAD ON ARRIVAL.
TWO COPS DIED FROM VEHICULAR ACCIDENT
JULIUS SEGOVIA

TWO MANILA POLICE DIED FROM A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT

ALONG AURORA BOULEVARD LAST NIGHT.
VICTIMS WERE IDENTIFIED AS P-O-2 RICHARD LOMBOY AND P-
O-1 RAYMOND ESMELE.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION SAYS THE TWO WERE ON THEIR WAY
TO A RAID WHEN A FAST MOVING TRUCK HIT THEIR POLICE CAR.
IT HAS YET TO BE CONFIRMED BUT REPORTS SAY THEY’RE
DRUNK WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
THE VICTIMS WERE BROUGHT TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL
BUT DECLARED DEAD ON ARRIVAL.

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DALAWANG PULIS PATAY SA AKSIDENTE
JULIUS SEGOVIA

DEAD ON ARRIVAL SA OSPITAL ANG DALAWANG PULIS

MAYNILA NANG MAAKSIDENTE SA KAHABAAN NG AURORA
BOULEVARD KAGABI.
KINILALA ANG MGA BIKTIMA NA SINA P-O-2 RICHARD
LOMBOY AT P-O-1 RAYMOND ESMELE.
AYON SA INISYAL NA IMBESTIGASYON, PAPUNTA SA
ISANG RAID ANG DALAWANG PULIS NANG BANGGAIN NG
HUMAHARUROT NA TRUCK ANG SINASAKYAN NILANG
POLICE CAR.
HINDI PA KUMPIRMADO PERO BASE SA MGA REPORT,
NAKAINOM DAW ANG DALAWA.

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