The document discusses several key mechanics for writing broadcast news copy, including formatting requirements for radio and television scripts. For radio scripts, the standard format is to set margins at 65 spaces with 10 space margins on each side and double or triple space the lines of copy. Television scripts use a split page format that divides the page into two columns, with technical instructions and video/graphic cues in the left column and the script and audio cues in the right column. The document also provides guidance on avoiding abbreviations, splitting words or sentences across lines or pages, and using indicators like "MORE" or arrows to signal continued copy on the next page.

1. Broadcast News Writing Mechanics
Before you can get a driver’s license, you have to learn how to drive a car.
Before you write broadcast news, you must learn good grammar and know
how to use a typewriter or computer. You also must understand what news is
and how writing broadcast news copy differs from other types of writing. You
must quickly learn about accuracy and responsibility. You also need to learn
the vocabulary of broadcast journalism, terms such as wrap, voice-over,
standup, and cutaway.
Mechanics of broadcast news writing is small thing, but it is essential details
of preparing a script correctly. Learning these mechanics is like learning how
to use the controls on a dashboard.
Some basics
Computers are rapidly replacing typewriters in news rooms and classrooms,
but there are still plenty of type writers in use. Regardless of which machine
you use, the following instructions for typing broadcast copy on 8,5 by 11 inch
paper are standard for radio news. Television newswriters work with what is
called the split page.
Set the margins for 65 spaces, leaving approximately 10 spaces, or one inch,
on each side of the page. Depending on the make of typewriter, type the copy
double or triple-spaced to allow enough room between the lines to make
corrections, if your typewriter has large, bulletin-sized type fonts, or if you use
a computer, double-space.
On a computer, you set these margins and spaces electronically, but the basic
format remains the same. The major difference is that corrections will not be
made between the lines on a computer screen. Corrections and changes in
copy will be made electronically to the lines of copy themselves. The result is a
much neater, easier-to-read script.
The Split Page
Preparing a TV script is somewhat more complicated than preparing a radio
script. A TV script is divided into two vertical sections and is known as the
split page. All technical instructions and identification of video and graphics

2. appear in the left portion of the split page, and the script to be read by the
anchor or reporter appears in the right column along with sound bite outcues
and times. There will be a number of examples of split pages and how they are
used, throughout this book.
As you examine those scripts, you will notice that each station has its own way
of using the split page. Experienced broadcast journalists adjust easily to the
slight variations as they move from station to station.
Avoiding abbreviations
All words in broadcast news copy, with a few exceptions, must be spelled out,
abbreviations are not permitted because they would force anchors to interpret
their meaning, thus inviting confusion and mistakes.
Wrong Right
Lt. General Lieutenant General
Ass’t. Sec. of State Assistant Secretary of State
Union Pres. Jokowi Union President Jokowi
John St. and Norfolk Ave John Street and Norfolk Avenue
Abbreviations are used if the names of organization are better knows by their
initials than by their full names-for example, FBI, NBC, and CIA. However, to
make it easier for anchors to read, place hyphens between the letters.
F-B-I N-B-C C-I-A
Avoiding Split Words and Sentence
If there is not enough room on a line of copy to complete a word, the entire
word must be carried over to the next line. Words should not be hyphenated
because splitting words at the end of a line could confuse the anchor.
The same is true with sentences that cannot fit on one page. Part of a sentence
should not be carried over from one page to another. Forcing anchors to jump
from the bottom of one page to the top of the next when they are in the middle
of a sentence invites trouble. It cannot be stressed too often that writers must
avoid anything that increases the chance that anchors will stumble over copy.

3. If a sentence cannot be completed on a page, it should begin on the top of the
next page. Type the word MORE at the bottom of the page so the anchors
know that there is more to the story on the next page. Otherwise, they may
pause unnecessarily, believing a new story starts on the following page. Some
newsrooms prefer to use an arrow at the end of the page to indicate more copy
is coming.