We calculate the timing of newscasts on the basis of reading a lineof copy in three seconds. Using that formula, how many lines of news contentdo you need to write if you have a five-minute newscast that contains actualitiesof 15, 18 and 27 seconds in length and a 30-second weather forecast?

In broadcast style, how would you write the initials of the followingorganizations?

A. FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION___________________________

B. YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION_________________________

C. NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION________________________

D. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION_____________

E. GRAND OLD PARTY___________________________________________

Good broadcast writing has oomph. Active verbs are preferred. Twoversions of partial scripts are listed below. Check the one that is thebetter of the two:

___ 1. The streaking plane went through the building.

___ 2. The plane tore through the building.

___ 1. The fast-moving police officer suddenly took the gun away.

___ 2. The police officer snatched the gun.

___ 1. Fire destroyed the building.

___ 2. The building was destroyed by fire.

___ 1. The woman was attacked by the man.

___ 2. The man attacked the woman.

___ 1. Tornadoes and high winds ripped across Tennessee last night.

___ 2. Thunderstorms brought tornadoes and high winds to Tennessee lastnight.

Change the formal words listed below to more conversational wordsthat are used more commonly in broadcast news copy. You may use the dictionary.

Why should you avoid using the first person perspective (I, me, we,my, our, etc.) in your news stories?

Why should your lead be in the present tense?

Why should you avoid starting your stories with unfamiliar names inleads?

Avoid writing leads with long introductory phrases or clauses. Why?

What's a hanging lead-in? Why should you avoid writing them?

Should attribution in broadcast copy come before or after the statement?

Why is it a good idea to separate individual letters with hyphens whenwriting an abbreviation?

What's the difference between voicers and wraparounds?

In writing lead-ins for the anchor to read preceding a voice reportor wraparound, one must avoid "parroting" or the "echo chamber"effect. Why?

Scripts that include inserts for actualities, voicers and wraparoundsshould always include information about the length of the sound bite andthe sound bite outcue. Why is this information essential for the news reader?

Correct the following stories below that do not conform completelyto broadcast writing style.

OHIO CONGRESSMAN LOUIS J. STOKES SAYS HIS BROTHERS DEATH IS A LOSS FORTHE ENTIRE NATION. CARL STOKES, 68, DIED EARLY TODAY OF CANCER.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS FACTORY ORDERS DROPPED 1.4% IN FEB., THEBIGGEST DROP IN 9 MONTHS. BUT CONSUMER SPENDING AND PERSONAL INCOME WEREUP SHARPLY, RECOVERING FROM JAN. WHEN BAD WEATHER KEPT BOTH GAUGES DOWN.

RUSSIA AND BELARUS SIGNED A BILATERAL TREATY AIMED AT INTEGRATING THEIRECONOMIC AND POLITICAL SYSTEMS. BORIS YELTSIN, RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT, CALLEDTHE TREATY A HISTORIC MOMENT THAT WILL OPEN A NEW ERA FOR THE 2 NATION'S

THE KY. WILDCATS ARE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS AGAIN. THE WILDCATS DEFEATEDTHE SYRACUSE ORANGEMEN 76-TO-67 LAST NIGHT TO WIN ITS FIRST N.C.A.A. CHAMPIONSHIPSINCE 1978. IN LEXINGTON, THE FANS WENT WILD. POLICE ESTIMATE 10,000 FANSRALLIED AFTER THE WIN.

THE GRAVY TRAIN FOR TOP COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS HAS SLOWED A LITTLE.GONE ARE THE DAYS WHEN, AS A ROOKIE, LARRY JOHNSON COULD SIGN FOR $84 MILLIONDOLLARS OVER A DOZEN YEARS WITH THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS. THE NATIONAL BASKETBALLASSOCIATION HAS PUT A CAP ON THE AMOUNT A ROOKIE CAN EARN. THE FIRST PICKIN THE N-B-A DRAFT WILL GET $8.8 MILLION DOLLARS OVER THREE YEARS, ANDTHE LAST PICK IN THE FIRST-ROUND WILL RECIEVE $1.7 MILLION.