Week 4 summary of reading 'Writing for Broadcast'

Writing for Broadcast

• "We are aspiring to be heard as someone who is describing the world- the stories we've decided to pay attention to- to someone we feel pretty close to, whose intelligence we respect, whom we like, and whom we're helping to explain things to."  - Robert Siegel 
• People listent to radio with the same set of ears that they listen to their spouses, family and friends.
• "The script should be a theatrical script, a dramatic script" - RS
• Great hosts write in their own voices- using words and sentence structures that come naturally to them. Write how you want to sound. You on a really good day. 'Perform' yourself.
• Say your sentences before you write them down. Express yourself in short, declaritive sentences.
• Avoid meaningless attributions and overused terms 'critics' 'experts'. Use titles sparingly. 
• Write in active voice (identifying the person and also creating vivid image for listener).
• Don't use rhetorical or hypothetical questions.
• Re-write awkward phrases- even if they are 'correct'.
• Recognize cliches and look for alternatives.
• Don't overwelm people with too many names and numbers.