EDITING BROADCAST COPY
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the method
of editing broadcast copy.
Unlike print journalism, in which copy usually
passes through several reviewers, broadcasters do not
usually exercise that type of control. Depending on the
deadlines of the broadcast facility, they might rewrite
your release entirely. On the other hand, the local
newscaster could simply adopt the old “rip and read”
policy and read your release “cold.” Naturally, the
second method does not speak too highly of the news
staff, but unfortunately, some commercial and military
broadcasters continue to do this.
Absolutely clean copy — free of mistakes — is the
rule for copy prepared for release to radio stations.
Sloppy copy is disconcerting to any announcer.
For in-house productions, editing marks may be
used sparingly, but only those editing marks easily
understood by an announcer are acceptable. Do not use
print media copy-editing marks. Use only the broadcast
editing methods covered in the following text:
l Correct misspellings by blackening out the
misspelled word completely and printing or
typing in the correct version above it. Do not
attempt to correct a letter within a word.
Broadcast copy has no editing mark to correct a
single letter within a word. Rewrite the entire
correct word as in the following example:
Delete a word by blackening out the word and
bridging the gap. Consider the following
example:
Delete words on more than one line by using a
curved line to reconnect, as shown in the
following example:
SPOT ANNOUNCEMENTS
LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Identify the two
types of radio spot announcements and
recognize the techniques used in writing them.
The sustaining point of a commercial radio station
is the commercial. Although neither the Navy nor the
Armed Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS)
use them, commercials have a valuable counterpart in
Navy public affairs. That counterpart is the spot
announcement. Figure 13-3 shows a basic spot
announcement format.
Spot announcements are usually 60 seconds or less
and come in two forms — the selling spot and
information spot. Both are covered in the following text.
SELLING SPOT
Insert words or phrases by printing or typing
the desired words above the line and indicate the
point of insertion. Note the following example:
Separate run-together words by using a single
line, as shown in the following example:
The selling spot is designed to make the listeners
take some type of action as a result of the ideas you
present to them. The spot also can be used to change
attitudes. Examples of these are “Be there!,” “Do it
now!” and “See your recruiter today.”
There are many ways for you to structure the selling
spot. One way is the three-pronged approach —
attention, appeal and action. First, you form your basic
idea and attention-getting lead sentence. Then you
present the merits, advantages and appeal of the idea.
Finally, you motivate your listener to take action to gain
the benefits you were promoting in the spot
announcement.
13-13
