WRITING FOR

RADIO
• ANJALI GUPTA
• SARTHAK KUMAR
Radio is a way to send
electromagnetic signals over a
long distance, to deliver
information from one place to
another. A machine that sends
radio signals is called a
transmitter, while a machine that
"picks up" the signals is called a
receiver or antenna. A machine
that does both jobs is a
"transceiver".
 CHARATERSTICS OF RADIO

• Radio Makes Pictures

• Radio speaks to individual/ an intimate medium
• Radio speaks to millions/ A Mass Medium
• The speed of radio/ medium of immediacy
• Radio is a mobile medium
• Radio has no boundaries
• Radio lacks space
• The personality of radio
• Radio teaches
• Radio has music
• Radio can surprise
 Differences between reading and listening
READING
• Reading is a primary activity. When we read, we do not do
anything else at the same time. We only concentrate on the
text.
• Readers can read an article at any time they like.
• Readers can re-read information they do not understand.
• Readers can determine how fast they read and when to take
a break.
• Readers see how long an article is and can decide whether
they want to read the whole text. While reading, they
always know how much more there is.
LISTENING
• Listening to the radio is frequently a secondary activity. We
often do something else simultaneously (drive a car, prepare a
meal, etc). We do not concentrate 100% on what is being said.
• Listening to the radio depends on the broadcast times.
• Listeners only hear information once.
• Listeners have to follow the speed of the speaker or radio
journalist. If they stop listening for a moment, they miss pieces
of information
• Listeners can not tell how long a piece on the radio will be.
They never know what comes next in the report.
 WRITING FOR RADIO
• Radio is a fast, easy media that targets everyone, from highly educated
people to less knowledgeable ones.
• Radio texts have to be well presented, logically structured and easy to
understand. If listeners stumble over unfamiliar words or cannot follow
your train of thought, you lose their attention. Radio scripts should be
informal, direct and polite.
 STEPS FOR WRITING FOR RADIO
• Make short sentences
Research shows that listeners find it difficult to understand sentences with more than 15 words.
• Repeat important terms
It is confusing for radio listeners, if you replace nouns or names with pronouns. It is better to repeat the name or noun.
This may not sound elegant, but it guarantees clarity.
• Synonyms, foreign words and abbreviations
Radio language should be lively. But it is even more important that it should be understood immediately. Synonyms
may seem like a good idea to make a script livelier.
• Numbers and figures
Radio is not the medium for detailed figures and numbers. Printed texts or online articles are much better for conveying
this kind of information
• Comparisons
When you talk about sizes, amounts or quantities of objects, it helps radio listeners visualise
what you are saying if you draw comparisons.

• Graphic language
Using descriptive words and expressions is essential for a radio script. Keep in mind that you
only tool to convey information to your listeners is the medium of sound – words.

• Active verbs
If possible, write your radio script in the active voice. This will make it sound livelier and less
stilted. The passive voice often makes texts sound like official announcements: boring and
wooden.

• Quotes
When you are quoting what someone said in your script, your listeners cannot see where you’ve
put the quotation marks. They may sometimes not understand where the quote begins and where
it ends.
 Radio Programmes
Radio broadcasting is teamwork that involves a combination of creativity,
technology, and social mission.

RADIO PROGRAMMES

NEWS NON NEWS

PROGRAMS PROGRAMS
 Types of NEWS radio programs
• News Bulletin
• Radio Newsreel
• Radio Documentaries or Features
• Current Affairs Programs
• Talks
• Discussions
 Types of NON NEWS radio programs
• Musical Programs
• Radio Drama
• Docudrama
• Skit
• Phone in Programs
• Radio Bridge
• Jingle
 Types of Radio Broadcasting
• Public Service Broadcasting - Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is financed and controlled by the public and for the
public. In principle, PSB is neither commercial nor state-owned and free from political interference.
• Commercial Radio - Commercial radio stations are owned and managed by private enterprises. Their survival is
based on airing advertisements.
• Community Radio - Community Radio facilitates individuals, groups, and communities to share their experiences
and is considered a participatory development communication initiative. These radios preserve local language and
culture, traditions, and social norms.
• Ham Radio - Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is a popular hobby and service in which licensed Amateur Radio Operators
(Hams) run the communication equipment. Amateurs operate radio as a hobby with no monetary benefits.
• Internet Radio - Internet radio (also known as web radio, net radio, streaming radio, e-radio, online radio, etc.) is an
audio service transmitted via the internet. Internet radio services are usually accessible from anywhere in the world if
an internet connection is available.
 Radio Programme Production
• Pre Production - During the pre-production stage, we identify story topics, characters, sounds, and scenes.
Developing the ideas on the program and research to gather background information materials are the two
steps at this stage.
• Production - Production in radio programming is basically recording the sound. It may occur indoors or
outdoor. They are called ‘studio production’ and ‘field production’ respectively.
• Post Production - Editing and mixing are the activities at the post-production stage of a radio program.
• Mixing - It is the combination of the balance and control of the amplitude of multiple sound elements.
• Transmission - For the propagation and interception of radio waves, a transmitter and receiver are employed. A
radio wave acts as a carrier of information-bearing signals.
• Feedback - It gives an opportunity to have an ongoing dialogue with the most regular users and can judge the
result of the presented programs.
 Radio Program Presentation
The fundamental principle in radio presentation is the harmonious
unification of the other sound elements with your voice. Apart from the
quality of the voice of the speaker, pacing, tone, and choice of words are all
important. Hence the presenter needs to remain compelling, composed, and
confident.
 Qualities of a good Radio Presenter
• Be Prepared and Avoid Rambling
• Try to inject some hum
• our and lightness
• Listen and learn
• Record every bit of your output and listen back to it and analyse it
• Good radio voice
 Radio Newsreader
Radio newsreaders read the news on
radio stations. Good newsreaders may
have solid training in writing,
reporting, and digital media
techniques. They must have excellent
oral communication skills and a
passion for news and media. The best
voice for radio news reading is natural
and relaxed.
 Radio Jockey
A Radio Jockey is a person who
hosts a radio talk show where
the RJ selects the music to be
played, or topic of discussion,
by interacting with the
audience; the interaction is
often via telephone, but may
also be online, or via email.