Goals and Objectives
This course helps students to master the diverse writing styles and formats used in writing for broadcast, on radio, television and cable. These include public service announcements (PSAs), station IDs, promotional announcements, script formats, commercials, news copy and program materials. Emphasis is on developing broadcast copy style, distinguishing words directed toward the ear and the eye. Objectives include:

• An understanding of the basics of audience analysis, writing for the eye/ear, and script formats necessary for good electronic media writing.
• Exposure to a diverse selection of the writing styles/formats used in television, radio, cable, corporate communications, industry and advertising agencies.
• Proficiency in writing various types of scripts for audio and video, including commercial, news, entertainment, documentary, corporate and non-fiction writing styles.
• Critical analysis of the electronic media and its writing.
• A knowledge of the legal, cultural, and social aspects of electronic media writing styles and their effect on society.

Assignments encompass both news and commercial aspects of electronic media writing, with an emphasis on real-life events and outreach into the community. In addition, because this course encompasses both radio and television, we will be moving between those formats throughout the semester. Some assignments are geared more toward one format, while others require both a radio and TV script. The successful writer will:   

• Know Your Purpose

• Know Your Audience

• Focus on News Elements

• Focus on Content, Not Process

• Write Like People Talk

• Write Cleanly and Concisely

• Write to the Sound and Picture

• Use Correct English

• Follow Station Style Guidelines

• Follow Professional Journalistic Ethics

My Expectations

In order to engage in a productive discourse about the practice of journalism, as well as be an informed and aware citizen, you have to actually read and watch the news. This should be a given. At a minimum, a literate citizen should be:

• Reading a daily newspaper.

• Reading at least one weekly news magazine.

• Watching a daily form of TV news--not punditry--or listening to a radio news broadcast such as NPR, available on WAER or WRVO.

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