Writing for Broadcasting
COMM 1720
Professor: Troy Hunt Office: SAC 101
Office Hours: Office Phone: 613-5668
E-mail: troy.hunt@ceu.edu Classroom: SAC 107
Class Time: TR 1:00-2:30
Course Description: Writing factual and fictional materials for broadcast media. Assignments include news, commercials, public service announcements, interviews, documentaries, and other types of scripts. Students will be taught proper script formats for both radio and television writing.
Prerequisites: COMM 1560: Radio Production, COMM 1660: Introduction to Television
Textbook: Hilliard, Robert L. (2004). Writing for Television, Radio and New Media. (8th ed.).Belmont, CA:Wadsworth Publishing Co.
Course Outcome Assessment:
Part A: At the end of this course students should have:
1: Improved knowledge of basic writing techniques.
2: Improved critical thinking skills.
3: Improved ability to organize content.
4: A grasp of the basic principals and ethics of journalism.
5: The ability to write for the ear.
6: The ability to write good radio and television news copy.
7: The ability to write good radio and television promotional and commercial copy.
Part B: Students will be evaluated strictly on the quality of their writing assignments. Each writing
assignment will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
1: Does it demonstrate that the writer understands the material through clear organization and
attention to accuracy.
2: Is the writing simple and clear?
3: Does it demonstrate an understanding of grammar, particularly grammar emphasized during
class?
4: Does it show care and attention to detail, including punctuation and spelling?
5: Is the writing creative and original?
Requirements and Course Assignments:
Participation: You have a significant responsibility to contribute to class discussions, ask questions to clarify
lecture material, and be prepared to discuss assigned readings.
Attendance: You are expected to take responsibility for class attendance. Poor attendance will affect the assessment of your participation in the class
Written Material:
News Stories: During in-class exercises you will be writing stories from "fact sheets" or you may be rewriting newspaper stories in broadcast style. On some occasions you will be writing short newscasts. These news stories will be formatted for radio and television. They will include “readers”, NAT/SOTs, VOs, live reports, and actualities.
Radio Commercial Assignment: You will write three versions of two radio commercial: :60, a :30, and a :15. The two commercial types will be described to you during class meetings.
Radio Underwriting Assignment: We will examine the FCC rules and guidelines associated with non-commercial sponsorship messages. You will then write an approved style underwriting credit for the campus radio station. Your messages will be produced and aired on 107.9 The Edge.
Television Commercial Assignment: You will conceptualize and create a storyboard for a TV commercial. This will include the entire script and a basic storyboard structure. (Don’t worry if your art skills aren’t superb. They don’t have to be.)
Television Underwriting Assignment: We will examine the FCC rules and guidelines associated with noncommercial sponsorship messages. You will then write and storyboard an approved style underwriting credit.
Interview questions: You will choose a celebrity and prepare a series of interview questions. We will discuss the interviewing process and appropriate questions.
Radio Drama: You will write a 15-minute dramatic radio script. We will analyze a variety of radio scripts in preparation for this assignment. These scripts will be produced by the advanced radio class at CEU. They may not be produced this academic year, but will be used for future endeavors.
Teleplay: You will write a 15 to 20-minute teleplay. This will include the script, a script treatment, and a written proposal to sell the script. We will discuss all these processes.
Documentary: You will research and write a script for a radio documentary.
Grading Calculation
You grade will be calculated on a straight percentage basis. Each script will have a different point value. The total number of points earned will be divided by the total number of points possible. This will give you your final percentage from which your grade will be derived.
Grading Scale
A = 94- 100 %
A- = 90 - 93%
B+ = 87 - 89%
B = 84 - 86
B- = 80 - 83%
C+ = 77 - 79%
C = 74 - 76%
C- = 70 - 73%
D+ = 67 - 69%
D = 64 - 66%
D- = 60 - 63%
F = 59% or less
Additionally: I reserve the absolute right to deviate from this syllabus. Changes will be announced.
Daily Schedule of Events
Date
January 4
6
11
13
18
20
25
27
February 1
3
8
10
15
17
22
24
March 1
3
8
10
15
17
22
24
29
31
April 5
7
12
14
19
21
Reading Assignment
Introduction to Class
Chapter #1
Chapter #2 (Television)
Chapter #2 (Radio)
Chapter #3 (Format & Style)
Chapter #4 (Commercials and Announcements)
Radio Commercials
Television Commercials
Chapter #5 (News & Sports)
Radio News
Television News
Sports
Chapter #6 (Features and Documentaries)
Radio Documentary
Television Documentary
Chapter #7 (Interview and Talk Programs)
Radio Interview
Television Interview
Chapter #10 (The Play)
Spring Break
Spring Break
Chapter #8 (Music, Variety & Comedy)
Chapter #9 (Corporate)
Children’s Programs (Children’s Television Act)
Chapter #11 (Professional Opportunities)
No Class (NAB Conference)
No Class (NAB Conference)
Assignments Due