Radio Broadcasting Script
RADIO BROADCASTING AND SCRIPT WRITING
prepared by: Heilana Mari
The Radio Broadcasting Script
Radio Broadcasting Script
A script is a written text of
a broadcast with instructions
used for production.
A 5-minute radio
broadcast should include an
infomercial, which may
depict health, environment,
politics, and social issues,
and four (4) news articles,
which may be based on
press releases, and raw data.
The infomercial shall have
a maximum length of (1)
minute and shall use the
language that the program
uses.
Scripts should be:
- encoded using Arial font
size 12
- with directorial instructions
in capital letters
- double-spaced with
normal margin (one inch
on all sides)
- printed in A4-sized bond
paper (8.27×11.69 inches)
Source: DepEd Memorandum No. 176, s. 2019
The first page of the script should be a title or cover page. It includes one
of the most important information about the broadcast; the name of the
program, station id., the broadcasting team and the role or position of
each member.
Program Name
Station Name
Broadcasting Team
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Directorial Instructions -
instructions serving to direct the
technical application specialist
Instructions for the specialist are
highlighted to make the script
scannable especially during
while on air.
Directions (that I use) and their
meanings:
- MSC - music
- SFX - sound effects
- SBT - sound bite
- UP - increase volume to
foreground
- UNDER - lower volume to
background
- INSERT - play an audio file -
FADE IN - gradually increase
to level
- FADE OUT - gradually
decrease to inaudible
- (#) SEC - span of interval
between directions
Line Reader
The name of the broadcaster
must be indicated during their
first line.
MSC UP (3 SEC)... MSC UNDER
Increase music volume to
foreground, then play for three
more seconds, lower volume to
background
Script Information
The program name, station Opening Billboard (OBB)
name, transcription date, and - also known as opening break
page numbers should be bumper, is a break dedicated for
indicated on the script the identification of the program
information.
or the station id and its the anchors.
identified sponsors
It may be recorded, live, or a
combination of both.
News Rundown - a line up
on the news stories in a newscast
Headlines should use present
Opening of the Program
tense verbs and be in active
The opening is dedicated for the
voice.
introduction of the program, and
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The Radio Broadcasting Script
Sound Effects - electrical,
vocal, or mechanical sounds that
gives better flavor to the
production
Make sure the stinger or shock
chord used to cue transition is
not distracting that it may
disrupt listener’s attention, but
not dull.
FADE OUT
INSERT SFX
MSC UP... MSC FADE OUT news story and the news
Gradually decrease playing presenter
music until inaudible, play the Avoid repeating information
audio file, play next music to found in the news story or just
foreground then gradually reusing the headline. Lead Ins
decrease until inaudible may also include banters.
National news beat is a news
beat that covers news about
current events of interest to
the nation. News of national National News
beat fall under hard news
(coverage of serious events).
Other news beat that usually
tackle hard news are local
and international news. Lockout - news presenter’s cue
that their newscast has finished
Lockouts are usually unique to
each presenter.
Lead In - introduction of the
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Local News
Sound Bite /
Actuality - recording of a newsmaker
speaking that adds to the report
(Ex.: opinion of a jeepney driver
in the rally)
Do not dub the recording.
Bumper - cue for an upcoming
break
The bumper may include a
teaser (promotional tactic done
by announcing a bit of the
upcoming newscast) or a happy
talk (casual, light-hearted chatter
between the anchors).
Local news beat tackles events that
would not be of another locality’s
interest. Banters, and Radio On
Scene Reports (ROSR), or broadcasts
from the scene of the breaking news
story, are usually involved in the
newscast of local beat, though may
be involved in newscasts of news of
any other news beat. Banters and
Ad libs are not written in the script.
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The Radio Broadcasting Script
Line Reader
In infomercials that involve voice
acting or multiple readers, all the
line readers should be labeled.
(Ex. “Voiceover 1”, “Voiceover
2”, “Aling Rosa”, “Mang Alan”)
Sponsorship Cues
An infomercial is an informative
and objective promotion. The
infomercial features a wide
variety of topics; from the most It may be in a form of a jingle,
controversial to the most trivial. play, live read, etc.
It shall have a maximum length
of (1) minute and shall use the
language that the program uses.
announcement of the local
standard time
It is recommended that time
checks be spoken by anyone
elsewhere in the production (not
the anchors).
Infomercial
Time Check / Signal -
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Sports News
Sports news beat deals with
reports on matters pertaining to
sporting topics and
competitions. Sports news is a
type of soft news, therefore,
usually comes up at the end of
the news lineup. Sports lingo
used in broadcasting and writing
are different, though fairly
related.
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The Radio Broadcasting Script
Showbiz News
Showbiz news beat is an
another beat whose reports
are considered soft news. It
covers topics regarding the
entertainment industry.
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Outro
The outro is the standard
conclusion which usually
includes the reiteration of the
name of the program and
anchors. It may involve happy
talk, news rundown, plug, and
more.
End Symbol
The end symbol is usually a ‘#’,
but may also be a ‘30’, or even
an ‘— END —‘.
Bibliography:
Sevilla, A. M. (2019, November 23). 2020
national schools press conference
[Memorandum]. Department of Education.
https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/
uploads/2019/11/DM_s2019_176.pdf
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