ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces the reader to broadcast and digital newsgathering. We begin with a discussion of what news is, why we write as we speak and how broadcast news writing is different from other genres. Readers will see examples that show how different this type of script writing is, and why broadcasters write in a conversational style—for the ear. This chapter drives home the importance of working on and meeting deadlines. We show the specific differences between broadcast and digital news writing with examples of contractions, punctuation for broadcast, quotes and attribution, active voice, pronouncers and numbers. Readers will learn about the “now, new, next” mantra. Also included in this chapter is background on the TelePrompTer and news rating periods.
