Radio
Broadcasting
Scriptwriting for Radio
It
is writing for the ears of
the listeners
Difference
between writing
news in print and writing
news for radio is:
news in print uses the
inverted pyramid structure
while writing news for radio is
based on how the writer
Script for radio must be:
Brief
Simple
Fast
pacing
Emphasizes
on humaninterest angle to capture the
interest of the listeners
Take note..
Ears can receive 160 words per
minute
Eyes- can read more or less 1,000
words per minute.
It is important for the radio
scriptwriter to eliminate
unimportant words that might
clutter the story.
Advantages of the Radio
1. It is the fastest transmitter of news
and other information
2. It can be used even in areas with no
electricity.
3. Production cost for radio program is
less costly.
4. Illiteracy is not a barrier.
5. Actual reporting from the field
where the news happens is easier.
Disadvantages of the Radio
1.
It relies mainly on sound.
2.
It is subjected to
atmospheric interference.
3.
It can only have clipped
news.
4.
Its news and other
information are highly
perishable.
Principles of Radio
Broadcasting
1.
It is spoken.
2.
It is timely.
3.
It is person to person.
4.
It is heard only once.
5.
It is consist of sound
only.
General Guidelines in Radio Scriptwriting
1. Know the nature of radio
It is a personal and companion/intimate
medium
It is a theater in mind.
It is not appropriate for detailed
information.
Its listeners do not tune in one at the
same time.
It competes with a lot of destructions.
It is mobile.
It cannot be used to teach reading and
writing.
Its production cost is relatively low.
2.
Write to be heard not to be read.
3.
The newscaster is heard only once.
4.
There is lack of immediate feedback
from the audience.
5. There is a possibility of a mass
audience of small and diverse
group.
6.
Know your audience, age,
gender, occupation, educational
attainment, economic status,
etc.
7.
Set communication objectives.
Preparing for a Newshole
Timing the Newscast Program
Every minute or second in radio
broadcasting counts.
Each program should begin and end
with the exact time allotment.
If the time frame for a newscast is
for five minutes only, then all the
contents should be for that time
allotment only, no more, no less.
Timing the Newcast Program
How:
List down all the prepared features
and non-news reports with the
corresponding timing .
Example:
For a 5 minute newscast program
01:30 ads and infomercials
00:10 station ID
00:30 intro, bumper and teasers
02:50 time for news
Timing the Newscast Program
What to do with the remaining 2:50 minutes?
-It must be apportioned to the news
stories for the day by using the following
steps:
1. Each story will be given a tentative
length of time assignment. Writers will be
given a time frame for the their news.
2. After the preparation of each news
story, the first rundown begins to see to it
that each news story fits in to the assigned
time frame.
3. If the overall time of all the news
exceeds the time frame, haggling or
sacrificing some of the least
important stories begin.
4. After all the haggling, striking out
of least important parts or sacrificing
of some news stories, final program
rundown follows, making sure all the
news stories hit the time frame
exactly.
BUMPER
Radio uses bumper between the news
and commercial breaks.
Its function is to tell the listeners that
there is a break but that there will be
some news coming up.
Example:
Well be back for more news after
these reminders from our sponsors
Kamiy
magbabalik pagkatapos
ng ilang paalala
TEASE
It
is used to stimulate
curiosity so that the listeners
will stay tune to hear what its
all about.
Example:
Waling-waling to replace
Sampaguita as national
flower?
BILLBOARD
Is usually heard after the news.
It reminds of what product
sponsored the said news.
Example:
This news is brought to you by
Dunkin Donut, ang pasalubong
bayan.
Selecting Topics for Writing a Radio Broadcast
Script
A radio broadcast scriptwriter should
choose topics that can be covered on
radio in such a way that a listener can
take the lesson and actually go and do
something with what they have learned.
For the competition: RSPC and NSPC
news clips are given
DSPC-news clips are given or
newspapers are provided
Writing Script for Radio
Broadcast
Follows The Seven Cs of Effective
Communication
1. Command attention
2. Cater to the heart and head.
3. Call to action.
4. Clarify the message.
5. Communicate a benefit.
6. Create trust.
7. Convey a consistent message.
Editing the Script
1. Is the listener told at the beginning what the
program is all about and what they will learn?
2. Is the listener given a map so that he will
have some idea of how the materials are
organized and structured?
3. Are there signpost throughout the scripts to
allow the listener to know where they are,
where they have been and where they are
going?
4. Are the main points emphasized and
reinforced?
Editing the Script
5. Does it cover the subject adequately?
6. Are the main sections clear? Do they follow
from one to the next?
7. Are there sufficient examples and illustrations?
8. Is the language appropriate to the audience?
9. Are the conclusions clear and relevant?
Editing the Script
It is about the right duration?
Final Step in Writing a Radio Broadcast Script
- it is preparing the script for microphone
presentation.
- A well-written script can be ruined by poor
delivery at the microphone. Lay it out so
you can read it easily and confidently in the
radio.
1. Type it or write it out clearly so that you
dont have to struggle to read it.
2. Lay it out on one side of the paper so
that you dont make unnecessary noise
when turning pages.
Final Step
3. Double or triple space it so
that when you read it you will
have space to write in any
corrections that you want to
make during rehearsals.
4. End each page on a full stop
( end or sentence or even better,
end of paragraph? So that when
you move from one page to the
next, you can do so with a
natural pause.
Final step
Leave wide margins so that there
is room to write in production or
technical notes.
5.
6. Number the pages clearly.
7. Indicate the source, in CAPITALS ,
for each part of the program in the
left-hand margin ( or the right-hand
margin if you write from right to
left) . For example: ANNOUNCER,
MUSIC/CD, SIGNATURE, etc.
Final Step.
8. Identify the pre-recorded sources
briefly. For example: In the margin,
write CUE IN. In the body of the
script, write Sounds of livestock
feeding.
8. Hand-mark the script sparingly
( e.g. underlining key words or
phrases, using a slash to indicate a
pause) if you feel it will help your
delivery.
Things to remember in Radio Scriptwriting
1. Double or triple space-typewrite
all lines and paragraphs.
2. Type copy in big letters so that
the newscaster can easily read it.
3. All spoken lines should be types
in big and small letters.
4. All instructions and non-spoken
lines should be typed in big or
capital letters.
Things to remember
5. Have a duplicate of each copy.
6. Make each sentence a paragraph.
7. Word should not be split at the end
of the line or margin.
8. Write a page number on each script.
9. End each page with a paragraph
before using another paper.
10. Make your script clean.
Things to remember
11. Mark x or cross-out erroneous word.
12. Make the script short and simple.
13. Do not use words which are hard to
pronounce or tongue twister words.
14. Do not text-write.
15. Avoid being wordy.
16. Each sentence should not exceed 12
words. Break down long sentences for
easy readability.
Things to remember
17. Attribute the source of your story
at the beginning of the sentence.
18. Round off number to the nearest.
For example 2, 570,000, you can say,
over two million five hundred
thousand or you can say, less than
two million and five hundred thousand
19. Using tape-recorded statement
from interview adds credibility to the
story.
Things to remember
20. Length of script
`10 seconds = 25 words
20 seconds = 45 words
30 seconds = 65 words
45 seconds = 100 words
60 seconds = 125 words
Three Stages in Radio Broadcast Scriptwriting
Introductory Stage
- to get the attention of the listeners
and could be a word, a phrase or a short
sentence which may not be
grammatical.
Body message Stage
- putting up of substance in installment.
The answers of the who, what, where,
when, why and how are broken up into
shorter sentences.
Three stages
Summation Stage
- it repeats and affirms the message.
Structure of the Radio Broadcast Script
1. Date of the report- usually placed on the top of
the right corner of the copy.
2. Slug- it is composed of one or two words that
tells the essence of the story and placed under
the date.
3. Time- under the slug or catch line,write the
time of the broadcast.
4. Body- it gives the text of the story.
5. Source- at the bottom left hand of the copy,
put the source of the story. It includes surname
or initial of reporter/source or beat and contact
number.
Sample Radio News Script
Davao City Congressman Vincent Garcia is pushing for
making waling-waling as the national flower of the
Philippines.
Congressman Garcia argued in his House Bill No. 2326
that sampaguita, the countrys present national flower,
is not native plant.
Director of the National Museum Dr. Eduardo
Quisumbing and UP-Los Banos Professor, Dr. Vicente
Saplala, discovered that sampaguita came from India
and Arabia.
Sample
Sampaguita became the national flower
of the Philippines through Executive
Proclamation No. 652 issued by
Governor Frank Murphy in February 1,
1934.
Waling-waling is an orchid, which is
commonly found in Mt. Apo of Davao
and Zamboanga del Sur.
Fcdavid/kongreso/09109990000
Radio News Script with Audio Insert
Tapes reports and interviews add the
credibility and immediacy of the news
story. Some big radio networks have
various on the sport reporting from
different parts of the country.
Example:
9/4/13
GARCIAS
CONVICTION
6:00
PM
President Benigno Aquino III commanded
yesterday the Armed Forces of the
Philippines or A-F-P for the speedy trial of
the corruption case against retired Army
Major General Carlos Garcia, former A-F-P
comptroller.
Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye said the
President lauded the General Court Martial
for coming out with the landmark decision.
Randy Bilbao has more on this report:
CUE
IN: As commander-inchief
CUE
OUT
: rule of law and
the Constitution.
Duration:
38 seconds
Interview/bilbao/09101112222
