Writing for Television, Radio, and New Media

by Hilliard, Robert L.

• ISBN13: 9780534561246
• ISBN10: 0534561241
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-07-30
• Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing

Summary

This text covers the principles, techniques, and approaches of writing for a variety of formats for television, radio, and the Internet. This text includes a variety of formats, including interviews, sports, advertisement, and scripts, as well as news.

Author Biography

Robert L. Hilliard (Ph.D., Columbia University) has written, produced, directed, and performed in professional television and radio. Currently professor of Media Arts at Emerson College, he is former chief of the Educational (Public) Broadcasting Branch of the FCC and was Chair of the Federal Interagency Media Committee in Washington, D.C.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
About the Author	xiv
The Mass Media	1	(14)
Demographics	3	(1)
The Electronic Media	4	(1)
Television and the Mass Audience	5	(2)
Radio and the Mass Audience	7	(2)
The Internet Audience	9	(1)
Subject Matter	9	(6)
Censorable Material	10	(1)
Controversial Material	11	(4)
Basic Elements of Production	15	(24)
Television	16	(11)
The Studio	16	(1)
The Camera: Movement	17	(2)
The Camera: Lenses	19	(1)
The Camera: Shots	20	(2)
Control Room Techniques and Editing	22	(5)
Sound	27	(1)
Radio	27	(11)
The Microphone	27	(3)
Sound Effects	30	(3)
Music	33	(2)
Sound and Music Techniques and Terms	35	(2)
The Studio	37	(1)
The Control Room	37	(1)
More Radio Terminology	38	(1)
Application and Review	38	(1)
Television	38	(1)
Radio	38	(1)
Format and Style	39	(20)
Format	39	(2)
Script	41	(7)
Television	42	(1)
Film	43	(1)
Radio	44	(4)
Style	48	(6)
Writing for the Ear and Eye	48	(2)
Simplicity	50	(1)
Grammar	51	(1)
Punctuation	52	(1)
Abbreviations	52	(1)
Gender	52	(1)
Accuracy and Research	53	(1)
The Computer	54	(5)
Software Types	56	(1)
Software and Formatting	56	(1)
Computers and the News	57	(1)
Computers in Production	57	(2)
Commercials and Announcements	59	(52)
Ethical Considerations	61	(1)
Lengths and Placement of Commercials and Announcements	62	(5)
The ID	63	(1)
The PSA	64	(3)
Writing Styles	67	(1)
Techniques	68	(15)
Audience Analysis	69	(1)
Familiarization with the Product	69	(1)
Appeals	70	(8)
Organization of the Commercial or Announcement	78	(5)
The Television Storyboard	83	(4)
Formats	87	(21)
The Straight Sell	87	(3)
The Testimonial	90	(2)
Humor	92	(2)
Music	94	(2)
The Dramatization	96	(7)
Format Combinations	103	(5)
Special Considerations	108	(1)
Application and Review	109	(2)
News and Sports	111	(54)
News	111	(43)
Sources of News	111	(2)
Style	113	(6)
Technique	119	(2)
Objectivity	121	(2)
Accuracy	123	(1)
Personality	124	(1)
Organization	124	(1)
Format	125	(15)
Approach	140	(8)
Radio: Audio	148	(1)
Television: Visuals	148	(1)
Rewriting	149	(1)
Special Considerations	150	(1)
Legal Considerations	151	(3)
Sports	154	(9)
Types of Sports Programs	154	(1)
Organization	155	(3)
The Live Contest	158	(5)
Application and Review	163	(2)
Features and Documentaries	165	(46)
Writing Techniques	168	(15)
Form	168	(1)
Approach	169	(1)
Process	169	(1)
Technique	170	(1)
The Feature: Application	171	(12)
Documentaries	183	(7)
Types	183	(1)
Point of View (POV)	184	(5)
Structure	189	(1)
Biographies	190	(11)
Minidocumentaries	201	(6)
Special Considerations	207	(3)
Application and Review	210	(1)
Interviews and Talk Programs	211	(34)
The Interview	212	(14)
Types	212	(1)
Preparation	213	(5)
Research	218	(1)
Format	219	(4)
Structure	223	(2)
Technique	225	(1)
Production Considerations	225	(1)
Format Tips	226	(3)
The Entertainment Interview	226	(1)
The News Interview	226	(3)
Discussion Programs	229	(6)
Approach	229	(1)
Types	230	(5)
Speeches	235	(2)
Special Considerations	237	(7)
Women's Programs	237	(3)
Ethnic Programs	240	(4)
Application and Review	244	(1)
Music, Variety, and Comedy	245	(26)
Music: Radio	246	(9)
Format Types	247	(1)
Theme	248	(3)
Organization and Technique	251	(4)
Music: Television	255	(6)
Variety and Comedy	261	(9)
Program Types	261	(1)
Approach and Organization	262	(1)
Comedy	263	(7)
Application and Review	270	(1)
Corporate, Educational, and Children's Programs	271	(74)
Corporate Programs Procedure	273	(4)
Objectives	273	(2)
Treatment or Outline	275	(1)
Research	275	(1)
Production	276	(1)
Evaluation	276	(1)
Writing Techniques	277	(3)
Application: Video---Internal Training	280	(30)
Application: Slides and Audio---Internal Training	310
Application: Video and Film---External Professional	295	(6)
Application: Video---Training and Information Series	301	(18)
Application: Video---External Information and Public Relations	319	(13)
Formal Education Programs	332	(6)
Approach	332	(1)
Techniques	333	(5)
Children's Programs	338	(5)
Approach	338	(1)
Format	338	(1)
Writing Techniques	339	(1)
The Manuscript	339	(4)
Application and Review	343	(2)
The Play	345	(66)
Sources	347	(2)
Structure	349	(1)
Concepts of Playwriting	350	(9)
Unity	351	(1)
Plot	352	(2)
Character	354	(2)
Dialogue	356	(1)
Exposition	357	(1)
Preparation	358	(1)
Setting	358	(1)
Developing the Script	359	(19)
The Treatment, Scenario, or Outline	359	(2)
The Script: Analysis	361	(17)
Play Analysis	378	(17)
The Filmed Play	378	(1)
The Taped Play	379	(16)
Special Play Forms	395	(12)
The Soap Opera	395	(2)
The Miniseries	397	(1)
The Sitcom	398	(1)
The Cartoon	399	(1)
Reality Programs	399	(8)
Special Considerations	407	(3)
The Children's Program	407	(1)
Women	408	(1)
Racial and Ethnic Stereotyping	408	(2)
Problems and Potentials	410	(1)
New Media	411	(16)
Interactive Technique	415	(1)
Approach	416	(1)
Process	417	(2)
Technique	419	(8)
Television	419	(1)
Radio	420	(1)
Film	421	(6)
Professional Opportunities	427	(22)
Playwriting	431	(3)
Commericals and Copywriting	434	(2)
News	436	(4)
Corporate Media	440	(1)
The Proposal	441	(1)
Program Pitch	442	(2)
Copyright	444	(1)
College Preparation	445	(4)
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations	449	(8)
Selected Readings	457	(3)
Index	460