SJC-style-and-production-guide-2012

JACradio News Style GuideRadio newsrooms use different computer programs including iNews, NewsBoss and NewsRoomto:• compile their rundowns;• write and time their news scripts, and,• edit, store and play audio inserts such as voice reports, interview grabs or sound bites.Although the technology has evolved, the elements of radio journalism, basic terminology andlayout of news copy remain the same.1. Double space between lines;2. Double-double space between paragraphs;3. Use a 12-point font;4. Write one sentence to each paragraph;5. Spell out numbers and money amounts in full, except years.They should be written numerically ‘1999, 2001’. (Examples: October the twenty-seventh,2002; Two-point-two million dollars).6. Write all words with difficult or unusual pronunciations in their phonetic pronunciation at thetop of the copy in brackets and in upper-case letters. Example: ‘Mr Smith says his rheumaticcondition …’ would be accompanied by the phonetic ROO – MAT- ICK at the top of the story.This includes your own name if it is difficult to pronounce or if it is a relatively straightforwardpronunciation but is unusual to the eye. This helps the news reader who may not have had timeto pre-read the bulletin.7. Adopt the following layout for your story:• top left, the date;• under the date, the exact time you write the story;• top right, the catchline or name of the story - one or two words that clearly indicate what thestory is about;• all audio to go with the story MUST have exactly the same catchline.(This is to ensure there is no confusion especially if there are stories with similar names beingused in a program or saved in the computer file for different purposes.)UQ SJC STYLEBOOK 2012 – PAGE 86