Whether working with print journalism or broadcast writing, your primary goal is to be understood. And this is something to keep in mind when writing each and every piece assigned in this class. I prefer creative writing, and I'm all for adding a bit of extra to keep things interesting. However, the type of writing covered in this class is different. You must write differently.
Below, I listed five things that I didn't care to pay attention to before this class but that I learned help make one's writing more understandable:
-Don't use extra words that aren't necessary. For example, the sentence "They met and entered into a meaningful relationship." could easily be written as "They fell in love."
-Don't write in the passive voice. It technically does make sense, but it can be confusing at times. And if trying to really reach your readers or an audience, why leave room for that?
-Avoid adverbs. You should write in a way that doesn't require you to over-explain in order to be understood.
-In regards to broadcast journalism, your tone and pace matter. You have to keep in mind what your listeners might be doing. And just like when having an actual conversation with someone, your voice and tone of choice have an impact on how a piece of information will be received.
-Don't begin with a question. The audience member whose answer is "no" will go on to tune you out or not read your piece. Open in a way that leads the reader/viewer to understand that the information is worthy of them knowing.
It may be easier said than done, and as with the majority of things, it'll take practice. The point of practicing is improving, though. So, good luck; you got this :)
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