Takeaways:
1. Grammar Notes -
PRESENT TENSE (!!!): meant to feel like it is happening; draws people in
Verb-Noun Agreement
2. Attribution is unnecessary.
Start the paragraph after the lead with the attribution.
Example: United States Secretary of the Interior Grace Green says …
3. Broadcast leads need to be shorter than print leads
4. Feature/Throwaway lead
It catches the attention, then is followed immediately with an explanation.
Example: If you’re 19, you’ll be waiting a little longer for that first drink.
Writing for Broadcast [PPT]
Writing for the ear, not the eye → reading aloud is essential
Broadcast Writing Style:
- Use present tense
- Round off numbers and statistics
- Place titles before names
- Avoid abbreviations
- Paraphrase quotes
- Avoid extended description
- Avoid symbols
- Use phonetic spelling for difficult names
The Four C’s:
1. Clarity - the audience needs to understand what you are saying the first time you say it
2. Conciseness - central to broadcast writing more than any other kind of writing;
you are writing for time
3. Color - use words to paint pictures and transport people into stories;
look for telling details that convey meaning to viewers
4. Circle - the story begins with the climax, moves to a cause, and then has an effect at the end;
the climax is the point of the story, also known as the “so what?”
Class Activities: 1. Present Tense Worksheet
2. Practice Writing Assignment: Take one of the stories from the homework, make sure the lead is in the present tense, and continue to write the story
3. Practice Writing Assignment: Colonic Study
HW for 04/08: Pick any news, sports or feature story from the nightly news on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, or CNN. Find the same story in the Post. Write 250 words on the differences you found, and which you liked better, and why. Be prepared to discuss next week in class. Print out a hard copy and turn in after discussion.
1. Grammar Notes -
PRESENT TENSE (!!!): meant to feel like it is happening; draws people in
Verb-Noun Agreement
2. Attribution is unnecessary.
Start the paragraph after the lead with the attribution.
Example: United States Secretary of the Interior Grace Green says …
3. Broadcast leads need to be shorter than print leads
4. Feature/Throwaway lead
It catches the attention, then is followed immediately with an explanation.
Example: If you’re 19, you’ll be waiting a little longer for that first drink.
Writing for Broadcast [PPT]
Writing for the ear, not the eye → reading aloud is essential
Broadcast Writing Style:
- Use present tense
- Round off numbers and statistics
- Place titles before names
- Avoid abbreviations
- Paraphrase quotes
- Avoid extended description
- Avoid symbols
- Use phonetic spelling for difficult names
The Four C’s:
1. Clarity - the audience needs to understand what you are saying the first time you say it
2. Conciseness - central to broadcast writing more than any other kind of writing;
you are writing for time
3. Color - use words to paint pictures and transport people into stories;
look for telling details that convey meaning to viewers
4. Circle - the story begins with the climax, moves to a cause, and then has an effect at the end;
the climax is the point of the story, also known as the “so what?”
Class Activities: 1. Present Tense Worksheet
2. Practice Writing Assignment: Take one of the stories from the homework, make sure the lead is in the present tense, and continue to write the story
3. Practice Writing Assignment: Colonic Study
HW for 04/08: Pick any news, sports or feature story from the nightly news on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, or CNN. Find the same story in the Post. Write 250 words on the differences you found, and which you liked better, and why. Be prepared to discuss next week in class. Print out a hard copy and turn in after discussion.
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