An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media: Scriptwriting Essentials Across the Genres

by Musburger, PhD; Robert B.

• ISBN13: 9780240808529
• ISBN10: 0240808525
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-02-02
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

"Wonderfully practical....just what every media writer needs." Christopher H. Sterling George Washington University * Learn what it takes to write for commercials, news, documentaries, corporate, educational, animation, games, the internet, and dramatic film & video productions * Outlines the key skills needed for a successful media writing career The demand for quality and knowledgeable multi-platform writing is always in high demand. An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media presents a survey of the many types of electronic media you can write for, and explains how to do it. Musburger focuses on the skills you need to write for animation versus radio or television news versus corporate training. Sample scripts help you learn by example while modeling your own scripts. Production files illustrate the integral role writers' play in the production process, and individual movie frames allow you compare these to the real scripts. Armed with the skills developed in this book, a media writer can apply for a variety of positions in newsrooms, advertising firms, motion pictures or animation studios, as well as local and national cable operations. Robert B. Musburger, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Communication, University of Houston, USA. He has worked for 20 years in professional broadcasting, serving as camera operator, director, producer, and writer. Musburger has received numerous awards for his video work and teaching and he continues to work in electronic media with his Seattle, WA,. consulting firm, Musburger Media Services. "[An] authoritative and clearly written description of the processes involved in writing for film, radio and television production." Raymond Fielding, Dean Emeritus Florida State University *Provides you with an overview of the different types of media they might write for *Sample scripts illustrate the various approaches to conveying information *Outlines the key skills needed for a successful media writing career

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xiii
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Getting Started: Loading the Application and Sharpening the Pencil	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Background	p. 1
Script Variations	p. 11
Media Differences	p. 11
Basic Writing Skills	p. 13
Language of Discrimination	p. 25
The Law and Censorship	p. 27
The Audience and Distribution	p. 30
Summary	p. 32
Be Sure To...	p. 32
Exercises	p. 32
Additional Sources	p. 33
Media Production for Writers	p. 35
Introduction	p. 35
Writer's Relationship with Production	p. 36
What Is Production?	p. 37
Why Production for Writers?	p. 38
The Language of Production	p. 39
Video Production Techniques	p. 45
Audio Production Techniques	p. 48
Digital and Web Production Techniques	p. 49
Summary	p. 50
Be Sure To...	p. 50
Exercises	p. 51
Additional Sources	p. 51
Spots: Public Service Announcements, Program Promotions, and Commercials	p. 53
Introduction	p. 53
Background	p. 54
Public Service Announcements	p. 56
Promotional Announcements	p. 57
Commercial Announcements	p. 58
Audience Analysis	p. 60
Ethics	p. 64
The Law	p. 66
Writing Spot Copy	p. 74
Copywriting	p. 77
Copy Formatting	p. 81
Instructions for Dual-Column Format Using Microsoft Word	p. 82
Instructions for Single-Column Format Using Microsoft Word	p. 85
Production Values	p. 89
Summary	p. 90
Be Sure To...	p. 91
Exercises	p. 91
Additional Sources	p. 92
News	p. 93
Introduction	p. 93
The Fourth Estate	p. 94
Print Newswriting Basics	p. 94
Electronic Newswriting Basics	p. 98
Newswriting Guidelines	p. 99
Interviewing	p. 105
Know Your Stylebook-Objectivity and Fairness	p. 106
Radio Newswriting	p. 108
Television Newswriting	p. 117
Internet Newswriting	p. 130
Summary	p. 134
Be Sure To...	p. 136
Exercises	p. 136
Additional Sources	p. 137
Documentaries	p. 139
Introduction	p. 139
Background	p. 140
Types of Documentaries	p. 143
Script and Production Patterns	p. 144
Sponsored Documentaries, Biographies, and Docudramas	p. 146
Docudramas	p. 147
Documentary Preproduction Process	p. 148
Documentary Formats	p. 149
Writing a Documentary	p. 151
Summary	p. 153
Be Sure To...	p. 153
Exercises	p. 154
Additional Sources	p. 154
Informational Productions	p. 157
Introduction	p. 157
Background	p. 158
Writing Corporate Media Scripts	p. 161
Writing Educational Media Scripts	p. 175
Summary	p. 176
Be Sure To...	p. 177
Exercises	p. 177
Additional Sources	p. 178
Animation	p. 181
Introduction	p. 181
Background	p. 182
The Production Process	p. 184
The Writing Process	p. 187
Writing Techniques	p. 194
Summary	p. 199
Be Sure To...	p. 200
Exercises	p. 200
Additional Sources	p. 201
Games	p. 203
Introduction	p. 203
Background	p. 204
Types of Games	p. 206
Writing Game Scripts	p. 208
Script Formats	p. 212
Developing Plot and Action Lines	p. 213
Summary	p. 215
Be Sure To...	p. 216
Exercises	p. 216
Additional Sources	p. 216
Drama	p. 219
Introduction	p. 219
Background	p. 220
Stages of Scriptwriting	p. 223
Dramatic Script Formats	p. 240
Summary	p. 248
Be Sure To...	p. 249
Exercises	p. 249
Additional Sources	p. 249
The Internet	p. 251
Introduction	p. 251
Background	p. 251
Types of Internet Messages	p. 254
E-Mail	p. 254
World Wide Web	p. 256
Types of Web Sites	p. 257
E-Commerce	p. 260
Streaming Media	p. 260
Audio Streaming	p. 261
Video Streaming	p. 263
Writing for the Internet	p. 264
E-Mail, Chat Lines, and Instant Messaging	p. 265
Newsgroups and Blogs	p. 266
Interactive Producing	p. 268
Interactive Writing	p. 270
Electronic Commerce	p. 272
Internet Problems	p. 274
Summary	p. 275
Be Sure To...	p. 276
Exercises	p. 276
Additional Sources	p. 277
Future	p. 279
Introduction	p. 279
The Search	p. 280
Networking	p. 281
Internship	p. 283
Resume	p. 284
Cover Letter	p. 289
Portfolio	p. 290
Interviewing	p. 293
Freelancing	p. 296
Representation	p. 297
Summary	p. 298
Be Sure To...	p. 300
Exercises	p. 300
Additional Sources	p. 301
	p. 303
	p. 305
	p. 308
Glossary	p. 313
Index	p. 329
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