Broadcast journalists must understand audiences’ ability to hear and remember all the information in a story. Thus, stories are kept short and the style is conversational.
Broadcast copy must also be “announcer-friendly.” At some stations, the editor is the announcer, but in many stations, writers and announcers are different people. The copy is often finished minutes before a newscast airs, allowing an announcer only a single quick practice read before going on-air. Therefore, a editor needs to make a story as readable as possible so it can be interpreted aloud by someone else.
Here are common writing tips that broadcast writers use to help announcers:
- Add phonetic spelling: To mispronounce a name on the air is a sin. However, not everyone knows how to pronounce everything correctly. Announcers often need the name of a place or person spelled out phonetically, either directly after or in the space above the word: Juanita Diaz [Wha-NEE-ta DEE-ahz] has placed first in the Rifle Association’s annual sharpshooters’ contest. Sometimes, the same spelling is pronounced differently in different regions of the United States. Thus, “Charlotte” can be [SHAR-lot] in North Carolina or [sharLOT] in Michigan.
- Hyphenate words that go together in a group. Announcers will then avoid taking a breath between these words, saying them as a group: The four-month-old baby was unharmed. About 12-point-three-million people avoid paying taxes.
- Spell out numbers up to and including eleven so that announcers can easily read them at a glance. Use numerals for 12 to 999, unless they begin a sentence or indicate an age, address or date. Use a combination of numerals and words for large numbers (e.g., “40-thousand”). Announcers may pause at the numeral “$10,110,011,” but can glide along more easily when reading (and rounding) “about 10-million-110-thousand-dollars.” For example: Monica Lewinsky has agreed to an interview with the British Television network Channel Four for 664-thousand-dollars. Spell out eleven because it may look like two 11′ s (letter l’ s) instead of two 11′ s (numeral ones). For example, an announcer may pause when reading “11 llamas” instead of “eleven llamas.”
- Use words instead of abbreviations or symbols: Spell out titles, symbols and state names so an announcer can easily recognize and pronounce them: Lieutenant General Smith-not Lt. Gen. Smith Texas-not Tex., nor TX fifty-percent-not 50% 200 dollars- not $200
- Hyphenate some numbers and some abbreviations on second reference. Hyphens let an announcer know that the letters are to be read not as a word, but individually: I-B-M N-C-A-A or N-C-double-A Acronyms, such as NATO and NASA, are written without hyphens because they are pronounced the way they are spelled. In addition, numbers to be read individually need hyphens for easier reading: That telephone number is 6-7-6-3-4-2-2.
- Avoid alliterations or tongue twisters that might trip up an announcer. Also avoid words in a series that have several snaking “s” sounds or popping “P’s.” They don’t translate well into a microphone: She said the sesame seed slice was delicious.
