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100.0 N.E.W.S.
Module 2, Activity 2.3 - Writing Radio News
Student Page
(teacher lesson for this lesson)

Introduction:

Writing for radio requires precision, clarity, and careful consideration of wording and story placement. In radio news, broadcasters often have less than 20 seconds to try and keep the listeners interested and informed. In this lesson, you will learn the basics of writing for radio through research, feature writing, and a field observation.

Activities:

Task One - Pink Slip
A radio broadcaster must have all the facts and then use that information to create an interesting, informative soundbite for the radio.

For the following task, you will assume the role of a radio journalist.

Your assignment?
Write a radio news story about Ima Moron, an on-air news radio personality who was recently fired for incompetence.

steps Follow the steps on the Breaking News Handout.
Task Two - Finding the Information
You will need to gather as much information as possible before you begin writing.

Here are some useful links regarding writing for radio:

Writing for Radio - CSIRP (Canadian)
Radio News Style Guide - BBC (British)

In order to get quotes for your story, you will either need to interview the guest speaker that your teacher has lined up or read what BBC's
Allan Little has to say about writing for radio.

Task Three - Preparing to Write
Before you begin preparing copy, take a look at an actual radio news script.

Use this as a template for how you will proceed with your assignment. Pay specific attention to the following details:
Objectives:

You will be able to
- recognize the difference between writing for electronic media and writing for print media
- recognize the elements of a news story
- understand the requirements for reporting news using radio, television, and the Internet
- understand and demonstrate copy editing for the electronic media
- write effective headlines
- write various types of news story leads and news stories
- identify the conventions of the electronic media
- apply understanding of print journalism to the electronic media
- recognize writing as a process of constructing meaning for themselves and other
- use a journalism style guide

Resources:

- computer access
- breaking news handout
- radio news script

Task Three - Continued . . .
1. The details of the story
2. The way in which the writer tells the story
3. The types of sentences used by the writer

Task Four - Copy Time
Now you are ready to write a 20 second clip, including a headline, informing the public that Ima Moron has been fired.

Be creative when discussing Ima's termination; however, be sure that you are using all of the tips you have just read about writing radio news.

You would hate to be the next to receive a pink slip! fired
 
   

Last Updated
May 30, 2005

 
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