Q Media Writing Lab Broadcast assignment Radio Script Formatting Information This sample radio script is provided to show a wrap or donut format, which uses a sound bite (also called an actuality or audio cut) in the middle of the story. A sound bite is an extraction from a recorded interview. The specific way stories are typed will vary from newsroom to newsroom, but for class assignments, follow this example using all capital letters. Use pronunciation guides for names of people and locations for clarity for the person reading the story on the air. The person writing the story, is often not the person who will be reading it. Also, note how to write the information for the sound bite or actuality: • Folder is a way to indicate, to the sound operator, where the sound bite is located on a digital file or on a CD so that it can be “cued up” or ready to play. • Cisar is the name of the person who is talking on the sound bite in this example. • Runs: 07 sec is the length of the sound bite in seconds • OC: (stands for Out Cue) “...at such speed.” This is the last three words on the sound bite and is important for the reader to know so that he/she knows when to come back in with his/her reading. Fatality (slug) 6 p.m. (time of newscast) 11-1-21 (date of story) Jones (reporter’s name) A LOCAL MAN DIES TODAY WHEN THE CAR HE IS DRIVING COLLIDES WITH AN O-P-P-D TRUCK. (Note: This is the lead, it cues up what the story is about.) POLICE SAY THE DRIVER OF THE CAR WAS HEADING THE WRONG WAY ON THE DODGE STREET OFF RAMP NEAR INTERSTATE 6-EIGHTY. OMAHA POLICE SERGEANT SHAWN CISAR (SEE-ZAR) SAYS 21-YEAR-OLD JOHN SMITH WAS TAKEN TO CREIGHTON UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD…(Note: this is the lead-in to the actuality/soundbite -you must introduce who is talking on the audio and paraphrase what they are saying.) Folder #1: Cisar runs: 07 sec OC: “…at such speed.” 45-YEAR-OLD CURT JOHNSON WAS THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK… HE WAS TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES…. POLICE SAY ALCOHOL MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT. Two parts – do whatever portions your instructor specifies. Part 1 - Do the “Working with Words” workbook exercise, Chapter 4 – Writing for Radio and Television, pp. 12-14. You will need to do your Chapter 4 reading to complete the assignment. You may also need to refer to Chapter 3 on writing for the print media. Part 2 1. Re-write the story in a wrap/donut format as in the previous example 2. Include the actuality/sound bite from Scotts Bluff County Sheriff, Blaine Nuessendorf. 3. You will use statements from the sheriff as if you interviewed him and recorded his comments. 4. This is different from print stories. Do not use the quotes with quotation marks. 5. Use pronunciation guides. 6. Use ALL CAPS and double-space. 7. Double-check your spelling. 8. Make sure you use attribution with says and write in broadcast style. Details: • A broadcast news story should be short (20-30 seconds). • Sentences should be no longer than 20-25 words. • A single story should have a total of three to five sentences. • Be sure to include the slug, time of newscast, date and your last name as the reporter. • Watch your spelling as typing in caps will not trigger the spell check function in Word. Halloween murder. Re-write in a wrap/donut format. Include the actuality/sound bite from the Scotts Bluff County sheriff. You will use statements from the sheriff as if you interviewed him and recorded his comments. This is different from print stories. Do not use the quotes with quotation marks. Use pronunciation guides. Use ALL CAPS and double-space. A Gering, Nebraska, man is charged with murder after a Halloween night that turned violent and deadly. Sheriff’s deputies in Scotts Bluff County said that someone showered the home of Richard Day with eggs and also sprayed it with shaving cream on Halloween night. When Richard Day discovered the vandalism, Scotts Bluff sheriff’s deputies said he became enraged. They said Richard Day got a carton of eggs and then ordered his 12-year-old son to get into the family pickup truck. Then, Day sped off. His first stop was allegedly a house just a few blocks up the road where police said he then got out of the truck and threw eggs at the house. Then, deputies said Richard Day went to another house, one where a family his children knew lived, and proceeded to throw eggs at that house. Investigators said a man who lived there ran out to confront Richard Day and that Day hit him with his truck and dragged him 100 feet. As neighbors tried to help the man, they said Richard Day shouted out the window of his truck, “He got what he deserved.” Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Blaine Nuessendorf said deputies arrested Day at his home. He was charged with murder and was being held without bond. Material to use for the soundbite. In a press conference, Nuessendorf said: “We are still investigating what took place the night of Halloween. Of course, we want justice to be served, but we want to follow proper procedures. That is in the best interest of our community. Mr. Day’s 12-year-old son is also a victim here. We can’t forget that.”