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1. Scriptwriting For Radio
Assignment-1

2. Scriptwriting
A large a mouth of radio broadcasting is scripted before transmission, even when it may seem to
listeners to be completely spontaneous. Many different radio genres require the use of pre-written
scripts, including continuity announcements, music sequences, speech packages, radio features,
magazines, documentaries and discussions.
Topics may cover science, lifestyle, health, natural history, business, entertainment, archive
material, investigative reports, consumer issues and more.
• The purpose of scripted material is to ensure coverage of all intended content and to meet the
requirements of schedules and predetermined timeslots by avoiding overrunning or under-running
of radio programmes. The variety of dialogue that is pre-scripted is, perhaps,
underestimated, particularly in music sequence production where music track introductions
and back-announcements are sometimes scripted centrally and distributed via the internet
daily to radio stations, leaving often only a small amount of time in the middle of a link
available for the presenter to ad-lib.

3. A lot of radio stations script there show in advance to make sure they know what they are going to
talk about in the show.
• These are some of the advantages of scripting a radio show:
• They are prepared for the show
• It gives them time to do research so they don’t make mistake (eg: having an interview with a
celebrity they don’t know much about, they will be able to do research)
• Nothing will get left out
• It sounds more professional
• It gives shape and structure.

4. Radio Aspects:
• Write for the ear, not the eyes
• Spoken language, not written language
• Must read the script out loud (what might seem good on paper or in your head might not
always be the same out loud)
• Must be written for one person (aimed at each listener individually)

5. Conventions:
• In radio there is different contractions that need to be used when it come to write a script
• Linguistic Conventions:
• Abbreviation: is when you shorten word or phases (eg: It is becomes it’s, I will becomes I’ll)
they do this to make sure they have enough time to say everything but when it come to names
or professions to make sure they know exactly what they have to say.
• Writing numbers: When they use numbers especially bigger numbers they round they up (e.g:
8012 will become 8000) this is to make sure the presenter won’t make a mistake and so they
know exactly what number they are saying.
• Expanding acronyms: is a word that is formed from the initial letter of the words. (eg: BBC
British Broadcasting Cooperation)
• Punctuation: full stops and commas are very important when writing a show, it makes sure
that the presenter is able to breath and take a rest. It also makes the show go slow past and
clear to the audience.

6. • Colloquial language: is when the language used is informal (eg: Discover becomes find out)
They use informal language to make it more realistic and gives a friendly atmosphere. It could
also relate to regional dialogue (eg: Metro in Newcastle would use ‘geordie words’).
• Formal language: compared to colloquialism they use formal language when it is sutable to
the show for example they will use formal language on Radio 4, they do this to sound more
professional and the language relates to the audience.
• Jargon: is a group of specific word group that are used by a particular profession (eg. In radio
there is a term for headphones they call them cans)

7. Style Conventions
• Writing for the ear: The language the presenters use is very important as the audience can not
see them (eg: the presenters need to interact with the audience and make conservation). It will
show that it won’t bore the audience and it will seem that they talking directly to the
audience.
• Natural speech rhythms: The speech rhythm is very important for the presenter to ne able to
sound natural as possible (eg: 3 words per second), it shows that there is pace in their voice
and that they will have time to say everything they need to say.
• Continuity links: They use continuity links to promote the radio stations (eg You are listening
to metro).

8. Recognised Genres:
• Music scripts: There is scripts for music show that are always planned and written before the
show. It will include sections where the music will be played so the presenter knows when to
play the song. http://www.slideshare.net/andym1982/example-radio-script
• Live features material: This is when a section of the show is live such as a artist performing
their song live. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v2-
eRSni3g&list=PL1CA6335E0D3699B6&index=47
• Speech packages: They are shows that are speech shows such as radio 4 drama segments
which include acting in them. http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/scripts/neurotics-anonymous.
pdf
• Documentary Programmes: They are shows that are fully scripted which includes in and out
cues, the interviews wouldn’t be necessarily scripted but they are more cues.