Contest tips - Radio News Writing

TIPA Rules
Radio News Writing
Writing deadline is one hour.

Contestants may cover a news event, witness a situation, view an activity (event, situation or
activity may be live or a video presentation) and/or work from documents and related materials.

Copy will be between 30 and 45 seconds, containing an audio insert (written verbatim as cue). Must note the time of all copy, including the audio insert. Use conventional copy format.

Criteria: Attention-getting lead, organization of story, fairness and balance, accuracy, use of audio insert, style, correct story length, grammar, good sentence length, etc.

Resources:
Here's a good overview of how to write a radio news script

Materials needed : Writing contests may be on either computer (laptop or portable computer with USB) or hand written in blue or black ink. Contestants may use tape recorders with earphones only. Contestants must provide note pad and writing instrument for taking notes. AP Stylebooks, thesaurus and dictionaries may be used.

TIPA 2009 Winning entries

1st Place
Radio News Writing
By David Boon
UT-Brownsville


(Intro)
Vice mayor Belinda K. Cooley of Dallas me with members of the Texas Intercollegiate
Press Association to announce support of a bill that violates the freedom of speech. The
bill, if passed, would require those involved in the journalistic process to be certified
before publishing in a medium readily available to the public. When members of TIPA
questioned the impact of government control on the media, Cooley responded:
(Cooley)
In the world today, control of the media, may be a good thing, not necessarily as bad
thing.
…maybe the government does know better than organizations, corporations. You people
in the media, who are you to tell me what I think?
(Closer)
Cooley also commented on a lack of professionalism in the news media, citing it as the
cause for the recent bankruptcy of newspapers. The press conference was cut short when
Cooley took a personal cell phone call and abruptly left.


2nd Place
Radio News Writing
By Naxiely Lopez
UT-Pan American

Slug: Cooley conference
Runtime: 45 seconds
Reader (Actuality) Pkg
At the top this evening, a Dallas official speaks out against freedom of the press.
Vice Mayor Belinda Cooley proposed strict control over journalists at a press conference
earlier today.
In it, she urged the F-C-C to compile a standard licensing test for journalists and called
for the abolishment of the shield laws.
(Cooley-Actualityp-7 secs)
“They exclude other people. It’s a terrible thing. Everyone should be able to inquire or
attend.”
Cooley supports her stance by claiming other countries regulate the press, and adds that
national media outlet Univision shares her views.


3rd Place
Radio News Writing
By Kasey Smith
Texas A&M-Commerce

Good afternoon. You’re listening to 88.9 KETR and for the news.
Vice Mayor of Dallas Belinda Cooley held a press conference today at the Sheraton Hotel
to express her concerns on media in today’s society.
Vice Mayor Cooley is against the current shield laws that protect journalists and feels all
journalists should be licensed, by taking tests. When asked about who would make up the
tests vice mayor stated F-C-C. Although vice mayor Cooley has not contacted F-C-C
about this and has no power to enact these changes she is talking to a number of different
organizations including Univision, who also agree with a controlled media.
Vice mayor Cooley brings up the issue of a number of newspapers going out of business,
stating “Its in the numbers,” going on to make an issue about journalists writing
irrelevent material, is what leads to companies to bankruptcy. Journalist Blanca Duran
did not agree.
SB in: {With the world to day, its unfair to base bankruptcy on a company from one
specific thing. I believe journalists give citizens fair information and some journalists
have different techniques on how they express the information but it’s the citizens’ right
OUT: to read, listen to or watch what they enjoy.”
Vice mayor Cooley feels places like Fox News is a fair and balanced environment for
media. And having licensed journalists that go through testing would fix the problem.
When asked “what are you hiding,” vice mayor Cooley said “nothing” and continued.
Vice mayor Cooley left a room filled with a number of unanswered questions.