Tip #3 – Good Broadcast Skills

WRITING/SCRIPTING

1. WRITING FOR THE EAR AND NOT THE EYE

• Writing as we talk
• More limited vocabulary
• Rework print writing skills

2. USE SIMPLE SENTENCES

• Short sentences – less than 20 words
• One main idea per sentence

3. SENTENCE STRUCTURE (S-V-O)

• Put subject first in the sentence
• Keep subject and verb together

4. USE STRONG VERBS!

• Use action verbs instead of “linking” verbs
• Avoid “to be” verbs (is, are, we, were) which only indicate a state of being and not action

5. USE ACTIVE VOICE!

• Have an active subject
• Make the line of action clear

Anatomy of Active Voice

WHO DID WHAT TO WHOM/WHAT

Anatomy of Passive Voice

WHO/WHAT HAD WHAT DONE TO IT BY WHOM

6. TENSE

• Power of present tense
• Immediacy-now, happening
• Universality-broad applicability (‘says’ vs. ‘said’)

7. ORAL STYLE

• Titles and attributions first
• Numbers

8. LEADS AND CLOSES

9. READ COPY OUT LOUD!

10. KNOW THE RULES

ONCE YOU MASTER THE RULES, YOU CAN AND WILL BREAK THEM TO BE MORE EFFECTIVE.