T.V. and Radio Writing

When writing news for television or radio, writers emphasize timeliness, information, audio and visual impact, and people.

The most important criterion of news writing for t.v./radio is timeliness. As most of us know, breaking news is top priority in a newscast. When an event occurs determines whether it will be included or excluded from the broadcast.

In t.v. and radio, airtime is valuable and costly so getting the most important information in the newscast is crucial. Writers have to sum up the important parts of the story in as little as 20 to 30 seconds.

Newspapers lack the ability to evoke strong emotions from people the way t.v. and radio news can. By showing video footage of a sad event or allowing people to hear a powerful Presidential speech, citizens feel strongly about the news.

People is another crucial aspect of writing news for t.v. and radio. By interviewing other citizens on camera or with a recorder, viewers can get a stronger feel for their pain or emotions. It also makes viewers feel more connected to the story.

When writing news for t.v. and radio is it important to give the most important information immediately, write in a conversational style, be short and to the point, and to always be clear.