Foundational concepts on broadcast writing from Write Like You Talk

1. Achieving a
Conversational
Style
JCM 331

2. Achieving a Conversational Style
1. W.I.I.F.M.
2. Cop Speak
3. Journalese
4. Acknowledge the Period
5. One Sentence, One Thought

3. W.I.I.F.M.
The SEC will stick to an eight-game conference football schedule for the
foreseeable future. Greg Sankey, the leagues’ commissioner, said the
SEC is pleased with its current format and indicated a move to nine-
game conference schedule is not imminent. Keeping two cross-division
opponents for each team, with one rotating, will also continue.
EVEN THOUGH THEY’RE IN SEPARATE DIVISIONS IN THE SEC, ALABAMA AND
AUBURN WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY EACH OTHER IN FOOTBALL.
THAT’S ONE OF THE CROSS-DIVISIONAL FOOTBALL MATCH-UPS THAT WILL
CONTINUE IN THE EIGHT-GAME CONFERENCE SCHEDULE.
FOR NOW--- S-E-C COMMISSIONER GREG SANKEY SAYS THERE ARE NO
PLANS TO ADD A NINTH CONFERENCE GAME

4. Cop Speak
The body of the 62-year-old, who had sustained several knife wounds,
was found in a wooded area.
AUTHORITIES SAY THE 62-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN
STABBED SEVERAL TIMES.
THE BODY WAS FOUND IN THE WOODS.

5. Journalese
• Shots rang out overnight in a West Tuscaloosa neighborhood and
some children are lucky to be alive this morning.
•A GROUP OF CHILDREN SURVIVE A SHOOTING IN
WEST TUSCALOOSA.
•AUTHORITIES TELL US THE GUNSHOTS WERE
HEARD OVERNIGHT NEAR WHERE CHILDREN
WERE SLEEPING.

6. One Sentence, One Thought
• For the second straight year, Igor Santos and Paul Hahn met in the
finals of the men’s open singles on Sunday morning at the Pritchett-
Moore Men’s City Invitational at Indian Hills Country Club.
•IGOR SANTOS AND PAUL HAHN FACED OFF IN
THE MEN’S OPEN SINGLES SUNDAY MORNING.
•IT’S THE SECOND YEAR IN THE ROW THE TWO
PLAYED AT THE PRITCHETT-MOORE MEN’S CITY
INVITATIONAL.

7. Acknowledge the Period
• Equifax Inc. has reached an agreement with eight states, including
Alabama, that will require that credit-reporting agency to put
stronger security measures in place to prevent future data breaches.
About 147.9 million Americans were impacted by Equifax’s 2017 data
breach, which was the largest exposure of personal information in
history.
• CREDIT REPORTING AGENCY EQUIFAX IS TAKING NEW MEASURES TO
PREVENT FUTURE DATA BREACHES. (Breathe)
• AN AGREEMENT WITH EIGHT STATES INCLUDING ALABAMA INCLUDES
STRONGER SECURITY MEASURES. (Breathe)
• THE NEW MEASURES COME A YEAR AFTER MORE THAN 147-MILLION
AMERICANS HAD THEIR PERSONAL INFORMATION EXPOSED.
(Breathe)

8. Author of your textbook
• Jeff Butera's career path (where
he started, where he's worked
and where he went to College)
• Jeff Butera's current TV Station
and his role in the station
• The Story behind the book
Write Like You Talk (Including
the original author and where
he worked)
• "You can Connect to the Viewer
When You Talk Like the Viewer”