Tip #5 – Qualities of a Good Actuality

1. COLOR

2. EMOTIONAL IMPACT

3. INFORMATIONAL CONTENT

4. GOOD SOUND QUALITY

5. LENGTH

LEAD-INS

1. Continue telling the story

2. Prepare listeners for SOT : Identify the upcoming voice!

3. Always stick with active verbs, and inform your audience. Example:

“Johnson was asked how the wheat agreement will affect bread prices…” WRONG

“Johnson says wheat subsidies will not raise American bread prices…” BETTER

GOAL: TO WRITE BLIND LEAD-INS

1. Could the lead-in stand on it’s own without the SOT?

2. You need to summarize the SOT without being redundant and parroting or echoing what the person will say. Example:

“Firemen call it one of the hottest and most violent fires ever seen”

SOT: “That was one of the hottest and most violent fires I’ve ever seen…” WRONG

3. Use complete sentences and avoid grammatical cliffhangers before a SOT. Example:

“City Commissioner Joseph Wheeler says…” WRONG

“City Commissioner Joseph Wheeler says he won’t vote for the bill.” BETTER

SOT: “This whole measure is a scam. It will benefit the rich real estate interests and will punish poor, working class residents in the neighborhood.”