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Radio Journalism Cheat Sheet Guide

This document provides guidance for writing radio journalism in 3 sentences or less: Use contractions unless emphasizing "is" versus "is not". Employ active voice with subject-verb-object structure. Present tense should be used for headlines and events currently unfolding or under discussion even when describing past events. Keep writing short and simple with minimal "that" and "but", rounding numbers, simplifying honorifics, and writing out words and amounts for clarity. Attribution should precede comments and only name people if important to the story.

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Christopher Hughes
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10 views2 pages

Radio Journalism Cheat Sheet Guide

This document provides guidance for writing radio journalism in 3 sentences or less: Use contractions unless emphasizing "is" versus "is not". Employ active voice with subject-verb-object structure. Present tense should be used for headlines and events currently unfolding or under discussion even when describing past events. Keep writing short and simple with minimal "that" and "but", rounding numbers, simplifying honorifics, and writing out words and amounts for clarity. Attribution should precede comments and only name people if important to the story.

Uploaded by

Christopher Hughes
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

RADIO JOURNALISM

MEGA USEFUL CHEAT SHEET

ONE SENTENCE PER PARAGRAPH

CONTRACTIONS

In most cases use the contraction, e.g shes instead of she is


Unless you are emphasising the is as opposed to is not

ACTIVE VOICE

Subject-verb-object
A journalist records the interview (rather than the interview was recorded by
)
Exceptions Court (Mrs Jones was robbed by a bag snatcher)
Exceptions when object more interesting (Queen Diana is being mourned by
admirers around the world)

USE PRESENT TENSE

Headlines simple present tense


Weatherill sets the date for the election

These first two are often used for events in progress


Weatherill sets the date for an election (simple present)
The Premier is setting the date for the election (present continuous)

This example describes a past event but in a more current manner


The Premier has set the date (present perfect)

says not said even if it was in the past


HOWEVER last week, the Premier SAID

KISS

Keep it short and simple


PRINT: The chief censor said that, whatever her own reservations about the
film, the public has a right to judge for itself.
RADIO: The chief censor says the public has a right to judge the film for
itself, despite her own reservations about the work
but however
Remove that: The Premier says that voting numbers were lower than usual
OTHER HINTS

Only start with peoples names if they are important


However, put attribution before a comment
Round off complicated numbers 15 876 = nearly sixteen thousand
Simplify complicated honorifics

Write exactly what you mean to say


Eg F111 = F-one-eleven; 0 = zero
$24.70 = twenty four dollars and seventy cents
$4 million = four million dollars
35% = thirty five per cent

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