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

What to Say: Tips for Scripting

Like other kinds of writing, scripting involves several steps:

• Researching
• Creating a structure
• Writing
  

Research

Research is the foundation of any story. Consider these sources:

• News events related to the topic
• Stories previously written or aired about the topic
  
• People who can talk about the topic (interviews)
• Organizations involved in the story

• The Internet. Use search engines to research a topic, find organizations or resources related to stories and locate archives of earlier stories. Some of the most popular search engines are AlltheWeb, Google and Yahoo.
• Publications. Newspapers, magazines and books can provide ideas and resources for stories.
• Contacts. Talk with colleagues and friends to find out what they think about a topic. They may be able to suggest people to interview.
  

Script Structure

The structure of a script depends on its purpose. Is it a news report? Is the purpose to entertain? To persuade? Or to share something important?

Be clear about how the script will flow. What pieces of information will be included? In what order? While a news story requires a more formal style and approach, these tips can be useful for scripting:

• Imagine talking to a friend. What questions does the friend ask? Answering these questions one-by-one will help you write with the listener in mind.
• Draft a rough outline based on the "talking to a friend" exercise above. Decide whether to tell it chronologically, with the most important facts first or some other way.
• Start with an arresting sentence--called a "hook"--at the beginning to attract and hold the listener's interest.
• End the story by satisfying listeners that all important questions have been answered.
  

Content

Use the following tips to write for the ear. Remember that these general tips will need to be adapted accordingly when writing news stories.

• Write in short phrases. Keep it short, punchy and direct. Use only one idea per sentence.
• Round off complicated numbers and write them in words.
• Try to humanize statistics, facts and figures.
• Use verbal signposts such as "and," "but" and "so" to show structure in longer chunks of talk and to help listeners know where they are.

• Paint pictures with words. Remember, listeners have to use imagination to visualize what is happening.
• Write as if talking to only one person and create a connection with listeners by using personal words like "you" or "we."
• Use contractions like "can't," "won't" and "we'll." They will make the story sound more natural. 

Tone

Getting the content right is not enough. The tone, or voice, is equally important. Listeners should not be insulted or embarrassed by an inappropriate tone. 

The tone for news writing should be:

• Unemotional.
• Direct and dynamic, but not sensational.

In other kinds of radio programs, such as talk shows or magazine programs:

• Be warm, friendly and enthusiastic.
• Treat listeners with respect. Don't patronize them.
• Talk to listeners but don't lecture them. 

Creativity

All good writing springs from creativity, including news reporting even though it is more formal in style than other programs.

Creativity involves:

• Selecting specific details that paint pictures and allow the listener to imagine what is being described.
• Avoiding generalizations and adjectives such as beautiful, nice and lovely. Describe the scene in detail and let the listener decide whether it is truly beautiful.