MAJ103 WRITING FOR MEDIA

Q.No.1. Discuss spoken word programmes in detail.

Answer: -Spoken language is about understanding how and what we speak. There is hardly
any formal training involved in learning the spoken language. However, writing requires
formal training and it becomes more necessary when writing for a medium like radio. Spoken
language is spontaneous and has simple constructions, repetitions, intonations and pauses. In
general, spoken language is unplanned because when you speak you do not have time to
frame the next sentence or choose the right word. In radio, writing the scene is different. It
has to be planned and written.
Vocabulary selection
Any language usually has three styles namely:
1. Formal
2. Informal
3. Popular
These are used in radio writing depending upon the nature of the programme. Formal style is
generally used for the written language but in news and current affairs programmes or
programmes on legal matters on radio, a mix of formal and informal style of language is
used. Slangs are unavoidable in our routine speech but as a rule they do not generally find a
place in broadcast writings.
Constructions
When language is spoken in its normal flow, we tend to use contracted forms of sentence or
word phrases or even words. The contractions are preferred over full form only in
conversations. Non contracted forms are used where one is supposed to emphasis where they
sound more authentic and forcible.
Simple sentences
A simple sentence has only one subject and one predicate. Using many clauses in a sentence
makes it heavier and complex and is not advisable to use for a broadcast language.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to express the content using more clauses and making them
lengthy as the content matter does not find expression in small and simple sentences. In such
cases, it is advisable to break the complex structure of the sentence into two or more
sentences.
Incomplete sentence
Incomplete sentence are often used in conversation. An incomplete sentence by itself does not
have a complete thought but it makes sense if it is used in response to a complete thought.
Elimination of verb or subject is a typical characteristic of spoken language. In radio, such
uses can find place in features, plays, interviews, chat shows, phone-in programmes and even
in reports but they are missing from the news and talk programmes.
Dialogue, Character and dialects

A dialogue is a spoken word between two or more characters and moves the story forward,
provide information and contribute to characterisation. Writing natural, real sounding
dialogues is a troublesome task as they should seem real to the listener as well. Usually
contractions, verb less sentences and interruptions between two characters are great for
dialogues.
Consistency, sentence structure, word choice, rhythm and tempo all reveal characters. They
reveal the characters appearance, ethnicity, background and much more. A dialogue writer
for radio plays and features should keep the characters voice in mind. Nothing goes wrong if
the dialogue is grammatically incorrect in case the character speaks in that particular way.
Speech is used as a characterisation tool where hearing voices in mind is a necessity for a
radio dialogue writer.
Dialect is about what words are used in speech and how they are pronounced. Usually, the
term dialect is referred to regional speech patterns. A dialect can also be associated with a
particular group of people. For example, use of word crabs for carbohydrates is very
common amongst Americans. A dialect of one region differs from the dialect of other regions
in terms of vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation.
Narration
Narration is categorized in terms of person such as first person narration, second person
narration and third person narration.
A first person makes narration is most often used in radio plays and also in features. In a first
person narration, the narrative is told from the viewpoint of someone involved the story. First
person narration can be done from the perspective of someone inside the story who is
expressing what other characters are thinking.
Second person narration directly addresses the listener as you. This type of narration invites
the listener to take part in the action and to become a part of it. It is often used in general
radio programme announcements and public service announcements.
Third person narration is most common on radio. Here, the narrator is not involved in the
action. The narrator describes the story about other characters from a distant perspective as in
news programmes.
Q.No.2. What are the different kinds of Journalistic Writing? Discuss.
Answer: - As already mentioned, there are many types of journalistic writings. News
reporting and news writing is the most common of them all. Every newspaper has a definite
viewpoint and it is this unique way of looking at things that makes its identity or USP.
Editorial writing is very important in any newspaper or magazine from this perspective.
It is therefore necessary for newspapers and magazines to write about art, music, dance,
theatre, cinema and various other cultural aspects. Such writings are found in the form of
short news or regular review columns. There are also certain aspects of realities around us
which need to be focussed from time to time. Features are the best form of journalistic
writing, that allow us to talk about specialized subjects and achievers or the important people
and celebrities that make news.
News

News could be defined as newly received information of note about any recent or important
event. In simple words, it is any information about recent events, especially as reported in the
dailies, radio, television or periodicals.
Editorial
If the newspaper is the mirror of the society, then the editorial is the mirror of the journalists
working in a newspaper as well as its management. Editorial writing along with the news
coverage and newspapers design lends a definite identity to the newspaper. Editorials are
written by the editor and his associates after having discussion on the major stories of the day.
Many a times, when there are very important issues, the editor writes an exclusive editorial
that gets published in the first page of the newspaper.
There is no doubt that the editor and the journalist have the freedom to express themselves
fearlessly. The management does not interfere with the editorial staff, but it is also true that
the editorial department like any other department of a newspaper or magazine follow certain
guidelines regarding their work that emanates from the policy, aims and objectives of the
company that runs the business of publishing a newspaper or magazine. The language of the
editorial is a bit more erudite than the news. The editorials are pieces of opinion having lesser
objectivity than news reports. It is not to say that one could altogether forget about the facts.
News Analysis and Opinion Articles
Apart from the editorial writing, newspapers have another very important writing known as
opinion writing or news analysis that gets published as lead articles just in front of the
editorials. In most of the articles about news analysis and opinion, the newspapers do not
forget to indicate that the views expressed in the article are those of the author. Such lines
have to be added as most of the writers of lead articles are subject experts or journalists
working elsewhere; hence they need not follow the policy guidelines of the newspapers.
Feature
A feature is a story that is longer than a standard news story and is presented in a different
style. Therefore, they are not really defined by the subject but by the style of writing. While
news stories simply provide facts, features provide the writers interpretation of a story. They
analyse a topic or subject.
Feature writing is one of the creative writings in a newspaper or magazine. It is a sort of
writing which takes refuge in fiction for its readability and glorifies itself in the name of
personalized accounts of the happenings by allowing the journalist to make the reader move
from place to place along with the journalist in such a way as if it is he/she who has been
witnessing the event. Features could be written on people who have been in the news for their
contributions in their fields.
Journalistic interviews
The journalist interview is a specific type of informative interview where the interviews one
or more sources to gather the material and all supporting information required to write a
news story. Journalistic interviews are conducted for nearly all forms of mediated news
reporting including newspapers, magazines, television and radio. Interviews can be written up
as regular news stories or in a question and answer format. The first paragraph of the story
should reveal the topic of the interview and the person being interviewed.

Reviews
In earlier times, a large space in newspapers used to be devoted to various types of reviews.
The trend has changed quite a lot, but still there is ample space for such writings. There are
reviews about books, play, musical concerts, and dance performances as well as on painting
exhibitions, sculpture and photography shows.
Q.No. 3. Write a long note on the types of television writings.
Answer: - Television provides a number of programmes on various subjects like politics,
social issues, religion, education, science, agriculture, sports and many more. Programmes on
shopping, real estate, cookery, family problems, etc., are a newer trend on television. These
subjects are presented in definite structured formats like documentaries, serials, quiz shows,
news programmes and bulletins, etc. some requires formal structured scripts whereas some
choose to be informal in their styles of presentation. Whatever the case may be, each one of
them requires some sort of writing.
News writing
News is one of the most important programmes on television. Television news is at its best
when the information in the form of visuals and words complement each other. Television
news is always live and written in haste. The writers of news stories are always under
pressure. As far as the language of the narration is concerned, one has to be very careful in
selecting the right words and in making appropriate sentences. The writer should stick to
short declarative sentences. He should keep the subject close to the predicate for clear
understanding. Grammatically correct sentences with correct spellings are a must so that the
anchor can read the copy easily without fumbling.
Television Serials
Television serials are the most popular of programmes, especially amongst housewives and
children. A serial is a series of episodes about characters appearing on a regular basis.
Television serials are usually written by one or more writes. First the idea of the story is
conceived and a synopsis is written.
The writer of the serial leaves the story incomplete at the end of each episode in order to
encourage viewers to watch the next episode. A serial usually contains more than two plots,
one being the major and the rest being sub-plots. These plots are subtly blended by the team
of writers in a way that holds the viewers interest and sustains their curiosity.
Usually, the writing work is divided amongst the team of writers. They can work on all
episodes together or each writer works on one plot. Whatever the case may be, they have a
clear synopsis, work plan and timeline. The main writer plans the structure of the serial.
It is important to note that the writers of television programmes should not only be well
versed with the dialects and languages they use in writing but they should also be aware of
technical language used for cameras, sets, lights and sounds.
Documentaries
A documentary is a documentation of facts. Documentary writing involves the writing of at
least two scripts. The first script is known as pre-shoot script that serves as a conceptual plan
of the documentary and it demands vigorous research. It outlines the idea that the director

wants to convey. It also provides a visual guideline for the shoot. After shooting it may
happen that the director and writer arrive at a concept that differs from the pre-shoot script in
substance and in structure in the first script.
After the task of shooting is done, a second script is constructed by the writer where he uses
the required material obtained from the shoot. This script helps in video editing of the
footage. A third and final script is designed after editing that contains dialogues and narration.
If there is a change in documentary scheduled, then the writer is supposed to write dialogues
or narration for the purpose of dubbing or subtitling.
Often documentary makers first collect the footage without any pre-shoot script but keeping
the idea in mind. Thewriters role in such cases is to tie up the edited visuals in a logical
manner and to write the narration, dialogues, dubbing or sub-titling pieces as per the
requirement.
Reality Shows
A newer trend in the television programming is the production of reality shows. Reality
shows are based on a controlling theme and a central conflict. It is presumed that reality
shows are unscripted as they are spontaneous in their design. Actually, most of the reality
shows are semi-scripted. The writer also writes the linking leads for the anchor of the show.
In reality, hundreds of hours of footage are shot to make a single hour show. The story is
build out for the enormous sized footage to look real.
Reporting or Piece to Camera
Piece to camera is also referred as PTC. It is a term used in television reporting when a
reporter or any other person speaks to the audience through a camera. Most of the times,
PTCs are recorded but it can be live as in breaking news.
Reporters gather the information and write it in spoken words or in the manner in which they
wish to present it. Most PTCs are recorded and sometimes to make it interesting for the
viewers, various news channels use the recording in the live telecast in a manner whereby
they manage to show as if the reporter is actually speaking from the spot of the happening.
There is no hard and fast rule for writing the script for a piece to camera. The style and
language depends on the kind of event the reporter is covering. Sometimes a proper writing is
done and sometimes only notes are jotted down and referred to while the reporter is on air.
Q.No.4. Write a long note on the types of writing in PR.
Answer: - Writing is an important activity of public relations like any other communication
activity in any organization, company or institution. There are various kinds of writing in
public relations. These writings are meant for different types of internal and external
communications.
Internal Communication
Whenever the management wants to communicate with its work force they use various kinds
of writing which could be viewed as public relations writing. Even in a very normal situation,
there is a need for establishing regular contact between the managers and the staff, between
workers at different levels of hierarchies, and such contact and communication is made
possible by newsletters and in-house magazines.

Letters, faxes, e-mails, inter-organization memos, instant messaging, etc., are only a few
examples of such communication. Such communication takes place between various
departments, between managers and employees and between sales personnel and field staff
and vice versa.
The most significant form of internal communication takes place between the managerial
cadre and the employees, and between the employees themselves. The public relations
officers and staff are the most important links between them as they are the facilitators. The
regular newsletters and in-house magazines are two main organs of public relations within a
company or an organization.
External Communication
The house magazines, newsletters, press releases, press conferences, handbills, leaflets,
brochures advertisements and public notices can be considered as external communication
that companies and organizations indulge in. organizations, companies and corporates houses
have to interact with various members of the public other than the internal management and
staff. All types of stakeholders have to be addressed by them for latest developments as well
as general reassurance. The external public for such organizations comprise shareholders,
consumers, clients, governments, other organizations and above all, people at large.
Press Release
Press Releases are the most common in public relations, so much so that many people think
that many people think that PR stands for Press Relations. Press releases are documents
prepared by the PR department of any organization for various media organizations so that
the information contained could be used as a news story.
Nowadays, most press releases are delivered electronically via an e-mail or using a company
branded document. Of course, it is important to put the words Press release not only at the
top of the document but as the subject header of the e-mail.
Brochures
A public relations design for brochure printing requires a few points to be kept in mind. Each
part plays a crucial role when such brochures are printed. A good and effective brochure adds
and combines these components to form a, meaningful and coherent whole that appeals to the
readers. Any mistake in leaving out any part can lead to a failure of brochure and a waste of
money.
Newsletters
Newsletters are generally publications ranging from two to sixteen pages. They contain
various types of messages related to changes in rules and regulations affecting the staff,
achievements and promotions of staff, loss of staff and events participated in.
A newsletter is merely a shortened form of newspaper. It is an informational letter that
communicates the ideas and business strategies of the company. It is also used by companies
to sell targeted advertisements. Newsletters are a valuable communications tool for building a
gradual, lasting, long-term relationship with existing and prospective customers.

House magazine
House magazines are of two different types:
1. In-house magazine or journal
2. House journal for external consumption
The content of these magazines depends upon the nature and needs of the organization.
House magazines for internal consumption contain the news about the organization, its
management and staff. The house magazines for members of the external public have the
prime objective of creating and maintaining the identity of the institution, company or
organization.
Q.No. 5. Discuss the print media genre.
Answer: - The emergence of the print medium has been a big achievement for the people as
it has not only allowed them to communicate in numerous ways. Books were the very first
form that was printed and distributed and later the periodicals came which soon gave place to
newspapers. People used print for pamphlets and handbills for advertising and political
propaganda. Magazines in weekly, fortnightly, monthly and bimonthly periodicity found their
way in at a later stage.
Printing has covered a long journey starting from wooden block printing that was in practice
in China and Korea much before Johannes Gutenberg designed movable types made out of
molten metal alloy and a printing press in mid-fifteenth century.
Newspapers and magazines are the life line of the modern democratic societies. Books were
the very first form that were printed and distributed and later periodicals came which soon
gave place to newspapers. Non-fiction includes reference books which provide information
about various topics as opposed o stating an essay, story, commentary, or otherwise
supporting a viewpoint.
A periodical is a published text that appears on a regular interval of time. It can be a weekly,
monthly, bimonthly, quarterly or an annual. A newspaper is also a periodical. It publishes at
regular intervals. Reports, articles, editorials, features, notices, advertisements, cartoons and
photos are some of its contents.
From the earlier times, people have been using posters in various forms like placards and
poster bills. UNESCOS Institute of Statistics defines a pamphlet as a non-periodic printed
publication of at least 49 pages exclusive of the cover pages.
Flyers or handbills are single-page unfolded leaflets usually meant for advertising services or
products. They can be used by individuals in promoting their business, product, services or
any special cause. Flyers can be handed to people in shopping complexes. They are costeffective and considered as a very reliable form of direct marketing or advertising.
A Brochure is a type of pamphlet or leaflet. It can be a single sheet or comprise multiple
sheets. In the latter case, it is stapled on the creased edge. A brochure uses high-quality paper;
it is more colourful and is folded. Brochures are often printed on glossy paper. Professional
and high quality brochures are produced using in design, quarks express and adobe illustrator.

There are various types of brochures like sales brochures, corporate brochures, travel,
company and marketing brochures.
Q.No.6. Discuss print media writing basics.
Answer:- Whenever anybody takes to writing for the print media, the most important thing
he/she has to learn is to differentiate various structures in which print media writings are
done. There are other important things to take care of to make the writing in print media more
lucid and effective.
The written word is considered as more authoritative than the spoken word. Hence,
everything that we write should be properly authenticated, and that can be done by citations.
Unlike much of writing on the web, the print media requires extensive and accurate source
citations. A writer must learn the basic styles for formatting footnotes and end-notes,
especially if the document being produced is an academic or research paper for publication.
Content and Language
A libel case can easily be filled against a writer and his parent company if the writer cannot
support the claims in the article. To avoid this problem, a writer for print media must always
ensure the accuracy and clarity of anything he writes. Print media can be more formal and
straightforward or very creative, depending on the publication.
Readability
Regardless of the style guides and rules, writing for the print media boils down to readability.
There are several tools used to test the readability of an article. These basic tests give a rough
estimate of an articles readability by calculating the length of sentences and the number of
difficult words used. Difficult words have three or more syllables. When writing for the print
media, it is best to use the simplest and most commonly used words as your work will be read
by all types of people with different educational backgrounds.
To sum up, we can say that writing for the print media is not as spontaneous as speech. It is
not everyones cup of tea, but people can master this skill by constantly educating them not
only about the structures and skills, but also to keep themselves well informed and updated.