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

Skills and Responsibilities for Radio

Radio stations have many people with different skills and responsibilities. There are those who voices are heard on the air, like talk show hosts and reporters, and there are also people who work behind the scenes like sound engineers, producers, marketing managers, researchers and call-screeners.

Sometimes one person may take on several roles. In smaller radio stations, a talk show host may also do research or a news reader may file reports from the field. Even at larger stations, producers are often involved in research and booking guests. Whatever the structure or size of the station, remember that successful radio depends on teamwork and all roles are equally important.

This module focuses on the responsibilities and fundamental skills that a radio journalist needs to do her job.

Responsibilities

Professional journalists, whether they work in radio, television or print, are expected to adhere to basic principles. Journalists should be:

Accountable

Balanced

Independent

Journalism associations or unions in many countries have established codes of ethics for the practice of journalism. Many media companies have also established their own ethical standards. Find out more about codes of ethics from these websites:

• EthicNet - European Codes of Journalism Ethics
• International Journalists' Network
• Society of Professional Journalists
• Guiding Principles for the Journalist - Bob Steele, The Poynter Institute

Skills

This module explains three core skills of radio:

• Writing
• Presenting
• Conducting interviews

These skills can be used in different ways, depending to the kind of program being scripted or presented. For example, the style used to present a news bulletin is different from the style used in a late-night music show. Understanding the core principles of writing, presenting and interviewing for radio will help you adapt these principles for different programs.