Radio–TV Newswriting: A Workbook

Radio–TV news must be written in a simple, direct manner so anewscaster can read the copy easily and communicate effectively ina way that will help listeners and viewers understand complexissues and events the first time they hear about them. Radio –TV Newswriting: A Workbook, Second Edition gives studentsabundant opportunities to learn, practice and develop soundfoundations for writing radio–TV news.

More than 100 pages of true–to–life writing exercises involvestudents in practicing techniques, skills and situations. Radioexercises include writing reader stories, actuality stories,wraparound stories, voicer stories, live reports and newscasts. TVexercises include writing reader stories, full–screen graphicsstories, voice–overs, studio packages (VO/SOT), soundbites,reporter packages and live shots. Students will write stories fromwire copy, news releases, fact sheets and reporters notes.New to this edition is a section devoted to writing for a stationor network web site, including exercises in web writing.

Introduction.

Midcity,USA.

Radio–TV News Terminology.

Acknowledgment.

Part 1. Radio TV Newswriting Philosophy, Style AndMethods.

Rewriting.

Make it Interesting.

Take Control.

Keep It Simple.

Talk Up, Not Down.

Rhythmic Writing.

Sound Matters.

Write Tightly.

Names Make News.

Pronounce It Right.

United Press International Pronunciation Guide.

Weird Words.

First and Last Names.

Unknown Names.

Middle Names and Initials.

Identification.

Titles.

Addresses.

Ages.

Subsequent References.

Attribution.

Attribution Words.

Quotes.

Contractions.

Adjectives and Adverbs.

Verbs.

Tense.

Voice.

Numbers.

Approximations.

Translate Numbers.

Fractions and Decimals.

Ordinals.

Time Elements.

Numbers Exceptions.

Symbols.

Abbreviations.

Individually Voiced Elements.

Grammar,Spelling and Punctuation.

Editing.

Copy Preparation.

Leads.

Emphasis Lead.

Blanket Lead.

Narrative Lead.

Question Lead.

Verbless Lead.

Vaque or Teaser Lead.

Body.

Ending.

Introductions.

Actualities and Soundbites.

Voicers,Wraparounds, and Packages.

Writing for Video.

Methods.

Guidelines.

Matching.

Pauses.

Newscast Organaizations.

Formats.

Transitions.

Bumps,Tosses,Teases, Headlines, and Promos.

Writing for R–TV Web Sites.

Attributions.

Numbers.

Symbols.

Time of Day.

Abbreviation.

Titles, Ages and Addresses.

On–Air v. Online.

Style Concerns.

Script Formats.

Radio Reader.

Radio Actuality.

Radio Voicer.

Radio Wraparound.

TV Reader.

TV Graphic.

TV Voice Over.

TV Soundbite.

TV VO/SOT.

TV Reporter Package Introduction.

R–TV Web Site.

Review.

Part 2. Legal and Ethical Concern in Radio TVNewswriting.

Libel.

Elements.

Truth and Accuracy.

Quoting Others.

Living People.

Organizations and Businesses.

Size of Groups.

Alleged .

Offences.

Malice.

Defenses.

Invasion of Privacy.

Categories.

Defenses.

Ethical Concerns.

Copyright Infringement.

Concerns.

Fair Use.

Ethics.

Sensationalism.

Fairness/Balance.

Codes of Ethics.

Ethical Decision–Making.

Practice Ethical Decision– Making.

Broadening Your Horizons.

Review.

Part 3. Radio– TV Newswriting.

Exercises.

Style Test 1.

Style Test 2.

Style Test 3.

Style Test 4.

Style Test 5.

Style Test 6.

Style Test 7.

Style Test 8.

Style Test 9.

Style Test 10.

Briefs 1.

Briefs 2.

Briefs 3.

Briefs 4.

Briefs 5.

Radio Reader 1.

Radio Reader 2.

Radio Reader 3.

Radio Reader 4.

Radio Reader 5.

Radio Reader 6.

Radio Reader 7.

Radio Reader 8.

Radio Reader 9.

Radio Reader 10.

Radio Reader 11.

Radio Reader 12.

Radio Reader 13.

Radio Reader 14.

Radio Reader 15.

Radio Reader 16.

Radio Reader 17.

Radio Reader 18.

Radio Reader 19.

Radio Reader 20.

Radio Reader 21.

Radio Reader 22.

Radio Reader 23.

Radio Reader 24.

Radio Reader 25.

Radio Reader 26.

Radio Reader 27.

Radio Reader 28.

Radio Reader 29.

Radio Reader 30.

Radio Actuality Story 1.

Radio Actuality Story 2.

Radio Actuality Story 3.

Radio Actuality Story 4.

Radio Actuality Story 5.

Radio Wraparound Story 1.

Radio Wraparound Story 2.

Radio Wraparound Story 3.

Radio Wraparound Story 4.

Radio Wraparound Story 5.

Radio Voicer Story 1.

Radio Voicer Story 2.

Radio Voicer Story 3.

Radio Voicer Story 4.

Radio Voicer Story 5.

Radio Live Report(ROSR)1.

Radio Live Report(ROSR)2.

Radio Live Report(ROSR)3.

Radio Live Report(ROSR)4.

Radio Live Report(ROSR)5.

Radio Newscast 1.

Radio Newscast 2.

Radio Newscast 3.

Radio Newscast 4.

Radio Newscast 5.

TV Reader 1.

TV Reader 2.

TV Reader 3.

TV Reader 4.

TV Reader 5.

TV Full– Screen Graphics 1.

TV Full– Screen Graphics 2.

TV Full– Screen Graphics 3.

TV Full– Screen Graphics 4.

TV Full– Screen Graphics 5.

TV Soundbite 1.

TV Soundbite 2.

TV Soundbite 3.

TV Soundbite 4.

TV Soundbite 5.

TV Voice Over 1.

TV Voice Over 2.

TV Voice Over 3.

TV Voice Over 4.

TV Voice Over 5.

TV Studio Package (VO/SOT) 1.

TV Studio Package (VO/SOT) 2.

TV Studio Package (VO/SOT) 3.

TV Studio Package (VO/SOT) 4.

TV Studio Package (VO/SOT) 5.

TV Reporter Package 1.

TV Reporter Package 2.

TV Reporter Package 3.

TV Reporter Package 4.

TV Reporter Package 5.

TV Live Shot 1.

TV Live Shot 2.

TV Live Shot 3.

TV Live Shot 4.

TV Live Shot 5.

Web Site 1.

Web Site 2.

Web Site 3.

Web Site 4.

Web Site 5.

Appendix 1:Pronunciation Guide.

Appendix 2: Learning Opportunities.

Appendix 3: Logging Sheets.

K. TIM WULFEMEYER is a Professor in the Department of Journalism, School of Communication at San Diego State University and serves as the Coordinator of their Journalism Degree Program. He has extensive radio–TV news experience, both on–the–air and behind the scenes as writer, reporter, producer, photojournalist, newscaster and sportscaster for radio and television stations in California, Iowa, New Mexico, Texas and Hawaii.