- 1). Keep the listener in mind. Avoid long, complicated sentences that are excessively wordy. These types of sentences may make it hard for the listener to follow the story. For radio scripts simple sentences, consisting of just a subject and verb, work best. Avoid words like "moreover," "however" and "therefore." In prose, these words are used to tie thoughts together and make connections. When the listener is hearing a news broadcast on the radio, they should be able to make those connections for themselves. Likewise, words like "who," "which" and "where" should be avoided as well. For example, you should not write "John Doe, who plays basketball for the red team, was attacked today in his home." Instead, write "John Doe plays basketball for the red team. He was attacked today in his home."
- 2). Determine the length of your news story. A typical news bulletin is between two and three minutes in length. Since the average person speaks at around three words a second, a 30-second news story should only contain 90 words. As you write, keep track of your word count and do not exceed the appropriate word count for the length of your story.
- 3). Write as you would normally speak. Avoid sounding too formal. Your script should sound conversational but not excessively so. Read your script aloud to ensure it conveys the information in the appropriate manner. Avoid being repetitious. If you find yourself repeating a particular word, choose an alternative word that evokes the same meaning. Replace any words that are tricky to pronounce.
- 4). Focus on who, what, when, where and why. The purpose of any thorough news report is to present the facts. Make sure you have covered all the major details of the event. Read your story to someone else and ask them if they fully understand the details of your report. If they do not, adjust your script accordingly and read it to them again. Continue to do this until they understand.
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