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Broadcast Terminology

The document defines common terminology used in broadcast journalism, including terms for script elements like leads, readers, and tags. It also covers production elements like packages, voiceovers, and natural sound. Stylistic conventions for broadcast writing are discussed, emphasizing simplicity, active voice, and keeping information up to date.

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Cynthia Luay
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3K views7 pages

Broadcast Terminology

The document defines common terminology used in broadcast journalism, including terms for script elements like leads, readers, and tags. It also covers production elements like packages, voiceovers, and natural sound. Stylistic conventions for broadcast writing are discussed, emphasizing simplicity, active voice, and keeping information up to date.

Uploaded by

Cynthia Luay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Broadcast Terminology

BROADCAST TERMINOLOGY

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272498429_Script_writing_for_Radio_and_Television

LEAD

A short sentence selling the story, similar to the function of a newspaper headline. For anchor reads,
usually one sentence; for reporter packages, usually 3 sentences, the third sentence containing the
reporter’s name, written in all capital letters

READER

A news story that has no matching video, read by the anchor with his/her face on camera through the
length of the story, usually stories that are not considered “big enough” to send a crew to cover it, but
worth mentioning in the newscast, written in all caps

VO (Voiceover)

A script read by a reporter or anchor where their voice is literally talking over video with the words
matching the pictures in the story, generally runs 20-30 seconds, written in all caps

VT (Voice Track)
A track of audio (narration) read by a reporter within a package, written in all caps

SOT (Sound on Tape)

Any interview recorded on tape, also called “sound bites” that generally run 7-13 seconds, written in
upper/lower case

VO/SOT (Voice over to Sound on Tape)

Script read by the anchor/reporter with video of the story and using parts of an interview to support the
story, written in all caps for VO; upper/lower case for SOT

NATS (Natural Sound)

Any natural noise recorded on tape, such as sounds of traffic, a baby crying, a dog barking; lets the
listener/viewer feel as if they are at the scene, written in all caps

PKG (Package)

A self-contained story on video that includes reporter voice tracks (VT’s or narration) and interviews
(SOT’s or sound on tape), and preferrably natural sound (NATS), generally runs one minute, 30 seconds
SIG OUT (Signature Out)

The reporter’s name and news organization’s name. The sig out is the last audio of a news report. Your
sig out is “(Your Name), HCC News.”, written in all caps

CG: (Character Generator or “super” which stands for superimposition)

On screen written graphic that identifies people, titles, and locations, written in all caps

RAW VIDEO

Video shot by photographer, unedited footage

LOGGING VIDEO

Transcribing video shots, natural sound, and interviews on a log sheet

BUTT TO

Editing 2 or more sound bites back to back of the same interviewee


TRT (Total Running Time)

The total running time of packages, usually one minute, 30 seconds.

WS, MS, CU

Abbreviations for common shots used in photography, logging video and scripting production
instructions); WS = wide shot; MS = medium shot; CU = close up

TAG

Anchor reads on camera following reporter package, serves as the conclusion to the story, often
provides additional information or late updates.

ACTIVE VOICE vs. PASSIVE VOICE

In news writing, use the active voice. Active voice is someone doing something and passive voice is
something being done to someone or something. Examples of both:

Active: “The governor gave a speech.”

Passive: “A speech was given by the governor,”


The key to writing in active voice is to make sure the action is preceded by the actor.

Passive writing is bad because it is hard to follow, and uses more words.

ELLIPSIS

The “…” in news writing indicates the anchor reading the story should pause.

SLUG

Title of scripted broadcast story

STORYTELLING STYLES

Diamond Approach: starts with an individual affected by an issue, then broadens to discuss the issue,
then returns to the individual discussed at the start of the story

Narrative Approach: presents the bulk of the story in more or less chronological order

Both styles revolve around real people… referred to as “people-izing” the story.
KIS

In broadcast writing, Keep It Simple.

UP TO DATE WRITING

In broadcast writing, to ensure the copy is fresh and updated, use present or future tense in all leads. To
determine this, ask yourself 3 questions: Who are the characters involved in the story? What are they
doing now? What might they be doing later?

LIVE SHOT

An anchor in the studio introduces a reporter who is live in the field – not on tape like a PACKAGE. The
reporter may interview someone live, talk about the scene with or without live interviews or introduce a
story with video such as a PACKAGE OR VO/SOT

ON CAM (OR OC)

Means on-camera, a script command to show which anchor will be on camera


TAKE

A command a director uses to call up the next shot needed in the program. For example, to get an
anchor on screen, the director might say, “Take camera one.” To get a super on the air, the command
might be “Take super”.

© 2016 Houston Community College. All rights reserved.

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