Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Vocabulary selection
Any language usually has three styles namely:
1. Formal
2. Informal
3. Popular
These are used in radio writing depending upon the nature of the programme. Formal style is
generally used for the written language but in news and current affairs programmes or
programmes on legal matters on radio, a mix of formal and informal style of language is
used. Slangs are unavoidable in our routine speech but as a rule they do not generally find a
place in broadcast writings.
Constructions
When language is spoken in its normal flow, we tend to use contracted forms of sentence or
word phrases or even words. The contractions are preferred over full form only in
conversations. Non contracted forms are used where one is supposed to emphasis where they
sound more authentic and forcible.
Simple sentences
A simple sentence has only one subject and one predicate. Using many clauses in a sentence
makes it heavier and complex and is not advisable to use for a broadcast language.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to express the content using more clauses and making them
lengthy as the content matter does not find expression in small and simple sentences. In such
cases, it is advisable to break the complex structure of the sentence into two or more
sentences.
Incomplete sentence
Incomplete sentence are often used in conversation. An incomplete sentence by itself does
not have a complete thought but it makes sense if it is used in response to a complete thought.
Elimination of verb or subject is a typical characteristic of spoken language. In radio, such
uses can find place in features, plays, interviews, chat shows, phone-in programmes and even
in reports but they are missing from the news and talk programmes.
Dialogue, Character and dialects
A dialogue is a spoken word between two or more characters and moves the story forward,
provide information and contribute to characterisation. Writing natural, real sounding
dialogues is a troublesome task as they should seem real to the listener as well. Usually
contractions, verb less sentences and interruptions between two characters are great for
dialogues.
Consistency, sentence structure, word choice, rhythm and tempo all reveal characters. They
reveal the character’s appearance, ethnicity, background and much more. A dialogue writer
for radio plays and features should keep the character’s voice in mind. Nothing goes wrong if
the dialogue is grammatically incorrect in case the character speaks in that particular way.
Speech is used as a characterisation tool where hearing voices in mind is a necessity for a
radio dialogue writer.
Dialect is about what words are used in speech and how they are pronounced. Usually, the
term dialect is referred to regional speech patterns. A dialect can also be associated with a
particular group of people. For example, use of word ‘crabs’ for carbohydrates is very
common amongst Americans. A dialect of one region differs from the dialect of other regions
in terms of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Narration
Narration is categorized in terms of ‘person’ such as first person narration, second person
narration and third person narration.
A first person makes narration is most often used in radio plays and also in features. In a first
person narration, the narrative is told from the viewpoint of someone involved the story. First
person narration can be done from the perspective of someone inside the story who is
expressing what other characters are thinking.
Second person narration directly addresses the listener as ‘you’. This type of narration invites
the listener to take part in the action and to become a part of it. It is often used in general
radio programme announcements and public service announcements.
Third person narration is most common on radio. Here, the narrator is not involved in the
action. The narrator describes the story about other characters from a distant perspective as in
news programmes.
Editorial
If the newspaper is the mirror of the society, then the editorial is the mirror of the journalists
working in a newspaper as well as its management. Editorial writing along with the news
coverage and newspaper’s design lends a definite identity to the newspaper. Editorials are
written by the editor and his associates after having discussion on the major stories of the
day. Many a times, when there are very important issues, the editor writes an exclusive
editorial that gets published in the first page of the newspaper.
There is no doubt that the editor and the journalist have the freedom to express themselves
fearlessly. The management does not interfere with the editorial staff, but it is also true that
the editorial department like any other department of a newspaper or magazine follow certain
guidelines regarding their work that emanates from the policy, aims and objectives of the
company that runs the business of publishing a newspaper or magazine. The language of the
editorial is a bit more erudite than the news. The editorials are pieces of opinion having lesser
objectivity than news reports. It is not to say that one could altogether forget about the facts.
Feature
A feature is a story that is longer than a standard news story and is presented in a different
style. Therefore, they are not really defined by the subject but by the style of writing. While
news stories simply provide facts, features provide the writers’ interpretation of a story. They
analyse a topic or subject.
Feature writing is one of the creative writings in a newspaper or magazine. It is a sort of
writing which takes refuge in fiction for its readability and glorifies itself in the name of
personalized accounts of the happenings by allowing the journalist to make the reader move
from place to place along with the journalist in such a way as if it is he/she who has been
witnessing the event. Features could be written on people who have been in the news for their
contributions in their fields.
Journalistic interviews
The journalist interview is a specific type of informative interview where the interviews one
or more ‘sources’ to gather the material and all supporting information required to write a
news story. Journalistic interviews are conducted for nearly all forms of mediated news
reporting including newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Interviews can be written up
as regular news stories or in a question and answer format. The first paragraph of the story
should reveal the topic of the interview and the person being interviewed.
Reviews
In earlier times, a large space in newspapers used to be devoted to various types of reviews.
The trend has changed quite a lot, but still there is ample space for such writings. There are
reviews about books, play, musical concerts, and dance performances as well as on painting
exhibitions, sculpture and photography shows.
News writing
News is one of the most important programmes on television. Television news is at its best
when the information in the form of visuals and words complement each other. Television
news is always live and written in haste. The writers of news stories are always under
pressure. As far as the language of the narration is concerned, one has to be very careful in
selecting the right words and in making appropriate sentences. The writer should stick to
short declarative sentences. He should keep the subject close to the predicate for clear
understanding. Grammatically correct sentences with correct spellings are a must so that the
anchor can read the copy easily without fumbling.
Television Serials
Television serials are the most popular of programmes, especially amongst housewives and
children. A serial is a series of episodes about characters appearing on a regular basis.
Television serials are usually written by one or more writes. First the idea of the story is
conceived and a synopsis is written.
The writer of the serial leaves the story incomplete at the end of each episode in order to
encourage viewers to watch the next episode. A serial usually contains more than two plots,
one being the major and the rest being sub-plots. These plots are subtly blended by the team
of writers in a way that holds the viewer’s interest and sustains their curiosity.
Usually, the writing work is divided amongst the team of writers. They can work on all
episodes together or each writer works on one plot. Whatever the case may be, they have a
clear synopsis, work plan and timeline. The main writer plans the structure of the serial.
It is important to note that the writers of television programmes should not only be well
versed with the dialects and languages they use in writing but they should also be aware of
technical language used for cameras, sets, lights and sounds.
Documentaries
A documentary is a documentation of facts. Documentary writing involves the writing of at
least two scripts. The first script is known as pre-shoot script that serves as a conceptual plan
of the documentary and it demands vigorous research. It outlines the idea that the director
wants to convey. It also provides a visual guideline for the shoot. After shooting it may
happen that the director and writer arrive at a concept that differs from the pre-shoot script in
substance and in structure in the first script.
After the task of shooting is done, a second script is constructed by the writer where he uses
the required material obtained from the shoot. This script helps in video editing of the
footage. A third and final script is designed after editing that contains dialogues and
narration. If there is a change in documentary scheduled, then the writer is supposed to write
dialogues or narration for the purpose of dubbing or subtitling.
Often documentary makers first collect the footage without any pre-shoot script but keeping
the idea in mind. Thewriters role in such cases is to tie up the edited visuals in a logical
manner and to write the narration, dialogues, dubbing or sub-titling pieces as per the
requirement.
Reality Shows
A newer trend in the television programming is the production of reality shows. Reality
shows are based on a controlling theme and a central conflict. It is presumed that reality
shows are unscripted as they are spontaneous in their design. Actually, most of the reality
shows are semi-scripted. The writer also writes the linking leads for the anchor of the show.
In reality, hundreds of hours of footage are shot to make a single hour show. The story is
build out for the enormous sized footage to look real.
Internal Communication
Whenever the management wants to communicate with its work force they use various kinds
of writing which could be viewed as public relations writing. Even in a very normal situation,
there is a need for establishing regular contact between the managers and the staff, between
workers at different levels of hierarchies, and such contact and communication is made
possible by newsletters and in-house magazines.
Letters, faxes, e-mails, inter-organization memos, instant messaging, etc., are only a few
examples of such communication. Such communication takes place between various
departments, between managers and employees and between sales personnel and field staff
and vice versa.
The most significant form of internal communication takes place between the managerial
cadre and the employees, and between the employees themselves. The public relations
officers and staff are the most important links between them as they are the facilitators. The
regular newsletters and in-house magazines are two main organs of public relations within a
company or an organization.
External Communication
The house magazines, newsletters, press releases, press conferences, handbills, leaflets,
brochures advertisements and public notices can be considered as external communication
that companies and organizations indulge in. organizations, companies and corporates houses
have to interact with various members of the public other than the internal management and
staff. All types of stakeholders have to be addressed by them for latest developments as well
as general reassurance. The external public for such organizations comprise shareholders,
consumers, clients, governments, other organizations and above all, people at large.
Press Release
Press Releases are the most common in public relations, so much so that many people think
that many people think that PR stands for Press Relations. Press releases are documents
prepared by the PR department of any organization for various media organizations so that
the information contained could be used as a news story.
Nowadays, most press releases are delivered electronically via an e-mail or using a company
branded document. Of course, it is important to put the words ‘Press release’ not only at the
top of the document but as the subject header of the e-mail.
Brochures
A public relations design for brochure printing requires a few points to be kept in mind. Each
part plays a crucial role when such brochures are printed. A good and effective brochure adds
and combines these components to form a, meaningful and coherent whole that appeals to the
readers. Any mistake in leaving out any part can lead to a failure of brochure and a waste of
money.
Newsletters
Newsletters are generally publications ranging from two to sixteen pages. They contain
various types of messages related to changes in rules and regulations affecting the staff,
achievements and promotions of staff, loss of staff and events participated in.
A newsletter is merely a shortened form of newspaper. It is an informational letter that
communicates the ideas and business strategies of the company. It is also used by companies
to sell targeted advertisements. Newsletters are a valuable communications tool for building a
gradual, lasting, long-term relationship with existing and prospective customers.
House magazine
House magazines are of two different types:
1. In-house magazine or journal
2. House journal for external consumption
The content of these magazines depends upon the nature and needs of the organization.
House magazines for internal consumption contain the news about the organization, its
management and staff. The house magazines for members of the external public have the
prime objective of creating and maintaining the identity of the institution, company or
organization.
Readability
Regardless of the style guides and rules, writing for the print media boils down to readability.
There are several tools used to test the readability of an article. These basic tests give a rough
estimate of an article’s readability by calculating the length of sentences and the number of
difficult words used. Difficult words have three or more syllables. When writing for the print
media, it is best to use the simplest and most commonly used words as your work will be read
by all types of people with different educational backgrounds.
To sum up, we can say that writing for the print media is not as spontaneous as speech. It is
not everyone’s cup of tea, but people can master this skill by constantly educating them not
only about the structures and skills, but also to keep themselves well informed and updated.