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