BROADCAST ANNOUNCING WORKTEXT i This page intentionally left blank BROADCAST ANNOUNCING WORKTEXT A Media Performance Guide Third Edition Alan R. Stephenson David E. Reese Mary E. Beadle AMSTERDAM • BOSTON • HEIDELBERG • LONDON • NEW YORK • OXFORD PARIS • SAN DIEGO • SAN FRANCISCO • SINGAPORE • SYDNEY • TOKYO Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier Focal Press is an imprint of Elsevier 30 Corporate Drive, Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803, USA Linacre House, Jordan Hill, Oxford OX2 8DP, UK Copyright © 2009, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Permissions may be sought directly from Elsevier’s Science & Technology Rights Department in Oxford, UK: phone: ( ϩ 44) 1865 843830, fax: ( ϩ 44) 1865 853333, E-mail: mailto:[email protected] . You may also complete your request on-line via the Elsevier homepage ( http://elsevier.com ), by selecting “ Support & Contact ” then “ Copyright and Permission ” and then “ Obtaining Permissions. ” Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Application submitted British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library. ISBN: 978-0-240-81058-4 ISBN: 978-0-240-81059-1 (CD-ROM) For information on all Focal Press publications visit our website at www.elsevierdirect.com 09 10 11 12 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States of America D edication To my parents, Roger and Ethel, who, despite a Depression, unemployment and a war, found the money to send me to college. – A.R.S. To Gail, for support, encouragement and love – D.E.R. To my parents Millie and Bert Beadle, for all the years of love and support. – M.E.B. This page intentionally left blank CONTENTS Preface xvii Acknowledgments xix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION TO PROFESSIONAL ANNOUNCING 1 1.1 Introduction 1 1.2 Announcer, talent, or personality? 1 1.3 Announcing: an historical perspective 2 1.4 Announcing: an employment perspective 2 1.5 Announcer specialization 3 1.6 Is a college degree necessary for an announcer? 4 1.7 Key physical requirements for announcers 5 1.8 Key emotional requirements for announcers 6 1.9 Is practical experience necessary for an announcer? 6 1.10 Announcer responsibilities 8 1.11 Role model announcers 10 1.12 Conclusions 12 Self-Study Questions 13 Answers 15 Projects Project 1 Interview a local announcer 17 Project 2 Profi le a renowned announcer 18 Project 3 Complete a self-evaluation 18 CHAPTER 2 THE AUDIO PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENT 21 2.1 Introduction 21 2.2 The audio studio 21 2.3 Microphones 23 2.4 Working with a microphone 25 2.5 Mic fright and why broadcast performers get it 26 2.6 The broadcast console or audio mixer 28 2.7 Music playback sources 29 2.8 Digital audio equipment 30 2.9 Conclusions 32 Self-Study Questions 33 Answers 35 vii viii CONTENTS Projects Project 1 Operate audio equipment 37 Project 2 Practice microphone technique 38 Project 3 Investigate ‘‘mic fright’’ 39 CHAPTER 3 THE TELEVISION PERFORMANCE ENVIRONMENT 41 3.1 Introduction 41 3.2 The television studio 41 3.3 The television production crew 43 3.4 Television terminology 43 3.5 Camera panic 44 3.6 Working with a camera 44 3.7 Communicating in the studio: hand signals, cue cards, prompters, and IFB 48 3.8 Makeup 51 3.9 Conclusions 52 Self-Study Questions 53 Answers 55 Projects Project 1 Practice camera performance 58 Project 2 Practice taking hand signals in the television studio 59 Project 3 Record a movie review utilizing a teleprompter script 59 CHAPTER 4 VOCAL DEVELOPMENT 61 4.1 Introduction 61 4.2 How sound is produced 61 4.3 Diaphragmatic breathing technique 62 4.4 Proper breathing posture 63 4.5 Avoiding thoracic breathing 63 4.6 Key elements of vocal development 63 4.7 Volume 64 4.8 Pitch 64 4.9 Rate 64 4.10 Tone 65 4.11 Articulation of sounds 66 4.12 Pronunciation 67 4.13 Substandard pronunciation 69 4.14 Common vocal problems 70 4.15 Maintaining a healthy voice 72 4.16 Conclusions 73 Self-Study Questions 74 Answers 76 Projects Project 1 Practice articulation 78 Project 2 Practice proper pronunciation and avoidance of substandard enunciation 79 Project 3 Practice pronunciation 80 CONTENTS ix CHAPTER 5 PERFORMANCE DEVELOPMENT 81 5.1 Introduction 81 5.2 Developing a broadcast delivery style 82 5.3 Performance elements 83 5.4 Copy marking 86 5.5 Word usage 88 5.6 Language changes 90 5.7 Avoiding amateurish announcing and inept delivery 92 5.8 Audience rapport 93 5.9 Conclusions 93 Self-study Questions 94 Answers 96 Projects Project 1 Copy mark and record a script 98 Project 2 Compile jargon, cliche, and redundant word lists 99 Project 3 Practice pronunciation 99 Project 4 Practice infl ection (pitch variation) 100 Practice Material One-liners (Deliver with lots of energy) 102 More quickies 102 CHAPTER 6 COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCING 103 6.1 Introduction 103 6.2 Sources of broadcast commercials 103 6.3 Commercial forms: radio 103 6.4 Commercial forms: television and cable 104 6.5 Considering the basic structure of the commercial 105 6.6 Other factors to consider when analyzing a commercial 106 6.7 Importance of timing 107 6.8 Energy: hard sell versus soft sell 109 6.9 Gestures and facial expressions 109 6.10 Ad-lib commercials 110 6.11 Acting 111 6.12 Commercial voice-overs 112 6.13 Public service and promotional announcements 113 6.14 Conclusions 114 Self-Study Questions 115 Answers 117 Projects Project 1 Analyze and record a radio commercial 119 Project 2 Record a television commercial 120 Project 3 Ad-lib a radio commercial from a fact sheet 121 Practice Material Fact sheets: ad-lib commercials 123 Commercial copy 124 Dialogue copy 125 x CONTENTS CHAPTER 7 INTERVIEWING 126 7.1 Introduction 126 7.2 Types of interviews 126 7.3 Basic structure of the broadcast interview 126 7.4 The interview setting 130 7.5 Research and preparation 131 7.6 Preparing interesting guests and topics 132 7.7 Developing interviewing skills 133 7.8 Dressing for an interview 137 7.9 Keeping control 137 7.10 Keeping a neutral view 137 7.11 Talk radio 138 7.12 Talk television 138 7.13 Special interview situations: politicians and athletes 138 7.14 Conclusions 139 Self-Study Questions 140 Answers 142 Projects Project 1 Record a radio interview 144 Project 2 Record a TV interview 144 Project 3 Plan an interview 145 CHAPTER 8 NEWS ANNOUNCING 146 8.1 Introduction 146 8.2 Determining news value 146 8.3 Newscaster criteria 147 8.4 News sources 148 8.5 Writing broadcast news 150 8.6 The radio newscast 153 8.7 The radio news anchor 154 8.8 The radio news reporter 154 8.9 The television news team and newscast 156 8.10 The television news anchor 157 8.11 The television news reporter 158 8.12 Ad-lib situations within broadcast news 163 8.13 The internet and the future 165 8.14 Conclusions 166 Self-Study Questions 167 Answers 169 Projects Project 1 Record radio news 171 Project 2 Record TV news 171 Project 3 Record on-location news 172 Practice Material News copy 175 Teleprompter script for video clip 8.4 178 Teleprompter script for video clip 8.5 180 CONTENTS xi CHAPTER 9 MUSIC ANNOUNCING 181 9.1 Introduction 181 9.2 The duties of the radio announcer 181 9.3 Developing the ability to ad-lib 182 9.4 How to be an effective music announcer 185 9.5 Radio program formats 186 9.6 Adult contemporary 188 9.7 Contemporary hit radio 188 9.8 Country 188 9.9 Smooth jazz 190 9.10 Rock 190 9.11 News/talk/information 190 9.12 Urban contemporary 190 9.13 Oldies 190 9.14 Alternative 191 9.15 Classical music announcing 192 9.16 Announcing according to daypart 193 9.17 Announcing for satellite radio 194 9.18 The music video jockey 195 9.19 The internet disc jockey 195 9.20 Conclusions 197 Self-Study Questions 198 Answers 200 Projects Project 1 Ad-lib song introductions 203 Project 2 Record a disc jockey show 203 Project 3 Compare traditional radio, Internet radio, and satellite radio 204 CHAPTER 10 SPORTS ANNOUNCING 206 10.1 Introduction 206 10.2 Sports announcing 206 10.3 Sports reporting 206 10.4 What a sports reporter covers 208 10.5 The sports anchor 210 10.6 Play-by-play and play analysis 211 10.7 Sports talk host 216 10.8 Conclusions 217 Self-Study Questions 219 Answers 221 Projects Project 1 Be a radio sports PBP announcer 223 Project 2 Watch a sports broadcast 223 Project 3 Prepare for a sports/talk show 224 CHAPTER 11 SPECIALITY ANNOUNCING 226 11.1 Introduction 226 11.2 Weather reporting 226 11.3 The chroma-key system for weather 227 xii CONTENTS 11.4 Weather reporting styles 230 11.5 Financial reporting 232 11.6 What a fi nancial reporter covers 233 11.7 Feature specialist 234 11.8 Host selling 235 11.9 The voice-over and narration 236 11.10 Developing voice-over skills 238 11.11 Voice characterizations 238 11.12 Program hosting 239 11.13 Conclusions 240 Self-Study Questions 241 Answers 243 Projects Project 1 Be a television host selling on a shopping channel 245 Project 2 Record a voice-over public service announcement 245 Project 3 Record a stock market report for television 246 CHAPTER 12 LEGAL AND ETHICAL ISSUES FOR MASS MEDIA PERFORMERS 248 12.1 Introduction 248 12.2 Codes of ethical standards 248 12.3 Payola and plugola 251 12.4 Staged news 251 12.5 Hoaxes and pranks 251 12.6 Payment for news stories 252 12.7 Political coverage 252 12.8 Sports coverage 252 12.9 Sensationalism 252 12.10 Confl ict of interest 253 12.11 Privacy 253 12.12 Libel and slander 253 12.13 Contests and lotteries 254 12.14