Week 7 – Comm11007

Posted on by

Photo on 6-09-2016 at 8.29 PM

That’s me scoring 100% on the first go of this weeks quiz …. pure legend!!

Welcome to week 7, this is my blog and reflection.

INQUIRY: Review Chapter 11 and summarise

This week’ inquiry is about preparing broadcast copy.  This means writing script that is read by a radio or television presenter on air.

Broadcast must be simpler than print and written as you speak.  The writer must know their audience and have a purpose in writing.  Aim the writing directly at the listener or viewers keeping in mind they are not there.

Writing copy for radio is like painting a word picture.  Writing for TV is creating a fusion of words and visual images.  Both however use the inverted pyramid concept for priorities in writing.

Sentences are to be brief energetic and simple, with one thought per sentence.  The ‘Rule of 20’ can be useful.  Consider that each syllable counts as one unit, 20 units is the maximum a sentence can run and be understood.

ALAN JONES SPONSORSHIP SUSPENSION FILE

(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)

Writers must attract the listeners interest with leading sentence, but not confuse the audience with to much information.  These three leads sentences are most used

  •    Single Act – commence with a who did, what or when it happened.
  •    Umbrella or Comprehensive Lead – ties together related incidents or events.
  •    Chronological Narrative Leads – describing events occuring over time.

Remember to write for two perspectives, the reader of the report and also the listeners. Be specific when referring to people and things by avoiding long descriptive clauses or phrases.

Apply these Tips for Clarity in Writing Broadcast Copy

  1. Use Active Voice; strong, declarative subject-verb-object sentences like  “a lone gunman held up the liquor store.”
  2. Use contractions to give the newscast an informal flavour.
  3. Spell out normally abbreviated words like street or road.
  4. Be sparing in the use of jargon or colloquialisms.
  5. Avoid these of semi colons; use hyphens and colons sparingly for punctuation. Comma is used only where the reader is to pause.
  6. Don’t bother to attribute obvious information or uncontested facts.
  7. Don’t write a sensationalised lead, followed by the name of the source.
  8. Don’t use detailed statistics unless necessary because most listeners and viewers either won’t understand, remember or care.

Fresh news copy is important to invigorate interest.  By adding new information the listener is subtly led to believe that the news operation is keeping ahead of the story. Each story should be composed with an interesting blend of writing techniques.

Be unique with your writing and keep the listener involved.

Reference

NITV, 2016. Criticism mounts over Alan Jones’ ‘we need Stolen Generation’ comment. [Online]
Available at: http://www.sbs.com.au/nitv/article/2016/02/15/criticism-mounts-over-alan-jones-we-need-stolen-generation-comment
[Accessed 6 September 2016].

Whitaker, W. R., Ramsey, J. E. & Smith, R. D., n.d. Media Writing – Print, Broadcast, and Public Relations. Fourth ed. New York: Routledge.

PRACTICAL: Create a broadcast audio script

  • TAKE V/O
  • TAKE VO

TWO CAIRNS YOUNGSTERS HAVE UNCOVERED THE SECRET TO LIVING A LONG, HAPPY AND HEALTHY LIFE.

TWELVE-YEAR-OLD DARCY AND HIS SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD-SISTER CIARA BELIEVE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN LIFE IS FAMILY AND BEING WITH THE PEOPLE THEY LOVE.

  • TAKE SOT ———-
  • Darcy Grossmann SOT
  • [Darcy Grossmann]
  • RUNS=
  • OUTQ:…
  • TAKE SOT

“Family is everything to me.   I love walking on the beach with my family, I feel so safe and secure and happy when we are all together just having fun.”

FAMILY AND CONNECTION HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED BY THE DIRECTOR OF A 75-YEAR-OLD STUDY ON ADULT DEVELOPMENT AS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FINDINGS. THAT GOOD RELATIONSHIPS KEEP US HAPPIER AND HEALTHIER.

  • TAKE SOT ———-
  • Ciara Grossmann SOT
  • [Ciara Grossmann]
  • RUNS=
  • OUTQ:…
  • TAKE SOT

“For me, being with people I care about, achieving my goals and dreams, and experiencing things that bring me joy are my top three most important things.”

  • TAKE V/O
  • TAKE VO

THESE TWO YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR WISDOM ARE A REMINDER FOR US ALL TO SPEND OUR TIME AND ENERGY WITH THE PEOPLE WHO ARE MOST IMPORTANT US.  ACCORDING TO ROBERT WALDINGER, OUR LIVES WILL BE BETTER FOR IT.

  • TAKE SOT ———-
  • ROBER WALDINGER SOT
  • [TED X TALK]
  • RUNS=
  • OUTQ:…
  • TAKE SOT

“It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community, are happier, they’re physically healthier, and they live longer than people who are less well connected.”

Reference

TED , 2015. Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons formt he longest study on happiness.. [Online]
Available at: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_waldinger_what_makes_a_good_life_lessons_from_the_longest_study_on_happiness/transcript?language=en#t-364840
[Accessed 7 August 2016].

TECHNICAL: Complete the quiz

100

Did I mention I got 100% on the first go of this week’s blog?

I found this weeks quiz logical, perhaps I listened to my English teacher in class that day, who knows.

Anyway the result is what counts, I am going to bask in the glory of success, just for the moment ….

6 thoughts on “Week 7 – Comm11007”

  4. Hi Clint,

    Great blog! Love the photo! Well done! What an achievement!

    Just a few minor errors I have picked up in you post.

    You wrote:
    “That’s me scoring 100% on the first go of this weeks Quiz …. pure legend!!”

    Better as:
    “That’s me scoring 100% on the first go of this week’s Quiz …. pure legend!!”
    Week’s has an apostrophe.

    You wrote:
    “Writers must attract the listeners interest with leading sentence, but not confuse the audience with to much information.”

    Better as:
    “Writers must attract the listener’s interest with leading sentence, but not confuse the audience with too much information.”

    You wrote:
    “describing events occuring over time”
    Better as:
    “describing events occurring over time”
    Note the spelling mistake in “occurring.”

    You wrote:
    Remember to write for two perspectives, the reader of the report and also the listeners.

    Better as:
    Remember to write from two perspectives, the reader of the report and the listeners.

    You wrote:
    5. “Avoid these of semi colons; use hyphens and colons sparingly for punctuation. Comma is used only where the reader is to pause”

    Semi-colons is a hyphenated word.

    You wrote:
    “Comma is used only where the reader is to pause.”
    Better as:
    “(A comma or The) comma is used only where the reader is to pause.”
    Missing article – Comma seems to be missing a determiner before it.

    You wrote:
    Each story should be composed with an interesting blend of writing techniques.
    Better as:
    Each story is composed of an interesting blend of writing techniques.
    “should be” is a passive voice, better to write in an active voice.

    You wrote:
    “By adding new information the listener is subtly led to believe that the news operation is keeping ahead of the story.”
    Better as:
    “By adding new information, the listener is subtly led to believe that the news operation is keeping ahead of the story.”

    Read this sentence aloud, and you will pause for breath after information, the introductory clause.

    Hope this helps!
    Good luck
    Tracey

    Like

    Reply ↓

  5. Hi Clint

    Congratulations on receiving 100% on your first attempt at the quiz this week!

    I have noticed a couple of slight grammatical errors in your post. I hope the below feedback helps:

    – ‘This week’ inquiry’ appears to be missing an s.
    – This sentence ‘Aim the writing directly at the listener or viewers keeping in mind they are not there.’ Seems a little disjointed. My suggestion would be:
    The writing needs to be aimed directly at the listener or viewer, keeping in mind that they are not there.
    – ‘Both however use’ should be ‘Both, however, use’.
    – ‘Sentences are to be brief energetic’ – as you’re listing characteristics this sentences should have a comma between brief and energetic.
    – I think ‘Writers must attract the listeners interest with leading sentence’ should be with a leading sentence or with leading sentences.
    – Don’t forget to add a : at the end of ‘These three leads sentences are most used’.

    Excellent work on your script. I like the way you have altered your original interviews into a well thought out Storify for week six and now a fabulous audio-visual script.

    Well done!

    Like

    Reply ↓

  6. Great work Clint, your photo drew me to your blog, made me smile. So satisfying getting 100%, well done.
    I picked up on the same errors as Jesse, double check your grammar and punctuation.
    Cheers, Lisa.

    Like

    Reply ↓

Leave a reply to Lisa Cook Cancel reply