Module Outline Introduction Skills and Responsibilities for Radio What to Say: Finding the Angle What to Say: Writing for Listeners What to Say: Tips for Scripting What to Say: What Not to Say Review: Writing for Radio How to Say it: Talking to One Listener How to Say it: Body and Voice How to Say it: Presentation Tips Review: Presentation on the Radio Radio Interviews: Types of Interviews Preparing to do an Interview Tips for Interviews Conducting an Interview Review: Interviewing Summary Additional Resources Evaluation Course Outline

Module 2: Skills for Radio Journalists

How to Say It: Presentation Tips

Before going on the air:

• Avoid stressful situations.

  • Get plenty of rest to feel free and alert.

  • Allow plenty of time to prepare.

  • Check for necessary items, such as script, reading glasses, water, etc.

  • Wear loose, comfortable clothing.

  • Use the relaxation exercises from the previous page.  

• Prepare the voice.

  • Avoid fizzy drinks and milky liquids. They can cause a film on the throat, which causes throat clearing.

  • Don't eat sweets or chocolate. Sugar thickens saliva.

  • Allow time for voice warm-ups and breathing exercises, like those reviewed on the previous page.

• Prepare your body and posture.

  • Take a minute to relax your neck and shoulders. Do deep breathing to focus your mind and body.  Breathe from the diaphragm.

  • Check your posture and make sure the microphone is in a good position.

  • Focus your thoughts and regulate your breathing.  

  • Remember to gesture.

  • Finally, remind yourself that you are ready.  Try saying to yourself:

  • I'm going to talk to one listener, just beyond the microphone.

  • I'm exactly where I want to be.

  • I'm well-prepared.

On the air:

• Equipment and materials

  • Wear headphones over one ear so you can monitor how you sound and still be alert to what is happening in the studio.

  • Always have pen and paper ready.

• On-air discipline

  • Be prepared with cues. A cue is the introduction that a studio presenter gives to a pre-recorded story or a live interview. A good cue will lead the listener naturally into whatever follows. 

  • Avoid giving long lists of what's coming up. Nobody will remember and lists are boring anyway.

  • Before announcing the time, make sure it's correct.

  • Give frequent station IDs and throw aheads. 

• Professional discipline

  • Don't take personal phone calls.

  • Listeners are the first priority, even when visitors are in the studio.

• Scripts

• Use these guidelines for reading scripts:

  • Prepare. Unless there's a real emergency, never read anything on air that hasn't been practiced aloud. Tongue-twisters are not always apparent until they are spoken aloud.

  • Understand. Never read anything that could be confusing to your listener. Your voice will reflect it. Take the time to re-write the script before reading.

  • Mark the script. Underline key words, mark pauses (with "/" or another symbol), write phonetic pronunciations for foreign words.

  • Choose the appropriate tone of voice. How much emotion/feeling should be conveyed? Should the tone be light-hearted or serious?

  • Look ahead. Don't look at the script word by word. Train yourself to take in whole blocks of words.

  • Handle mistakes professionally. If you make a mistake, don't panic. If it's a big error--one that could cause confusion or misunderstanding-- apologize and correct it. Otherwise, take a breath and carry on. Don't draw attention to stumbles.