Podcasts, radio & interviews Notes

Writing For Voice And Dialogue

1. These text types test whether you can write for spoken communication.
2. They require natural conversation flow, clear speaker roles, and awareness that the audience is listening, not reading.
3. Examiners will check if your script sounds authentic when spoken aloud.

Podcasts

1. Purpose, Audience & Register
   1. Purpose: Inform, entertain, explore topics in depth, build ongoing audience engagement.
   2. Audience: Niche interest groups or general listeners, often consumed during commutes or leisure time.
   3. Register: Conversational, can range from casual to professional depending on topic.
2. Layout & Conventions
   1. Episode title and number.
   2. Opening segment (introduction, theme music note, host greeting).
   3. Main content segments with transitions.
   4. Closing segment (summary, call to action, credits).
   5. Speaker labels for all dialogue.
   6. Sound cues in brackets where relevant [music fades], [laughter].

Key Features

1. Tone: Conversational, engaging, often intimate or personal.
2. Vocabulary: Contractions common, incomplete sentences acceptable if natural, filler words used sparingly but present ("well," "you know"), direct address to listeners.

How to Write a Podcast Script

1. Hook listeners immediately: The first 30 seconds determine whether someone keeps listening.
   1. Bad: "Hello, welcome to episode 47. Today we will discuss climate change."
   2. Good: "Picture this: you wake up and your city is underwater. Sound far-fetched? Three coastal towns dealt with exactly that last month. I'm Sarah Chen, and today we're asking whether your hometown is next."
2. Write for the ear, not the eye: Read your script aloud. If you stumble, rewrite it. Spoken language uses shorter sentences and simpler structures than written text.
3. Build in natural transitions: Move between topics smoothly with phrases like "So that got me thinking about..." or "Before we move on..."
4. Vary the pace: Mix information with questions, facts with opinions, serious moments with lighter ones. Monotony loses listeners.
5. Include the audience: Use "you," "we," "us." Listeners should feel part of a conversation, not lectured at.
   1. Example: "We've all been there, right? You know you should study, but somehow you're reorganizing your desk drawer instead."
6. Close with purpose: Remind listeners what they gained, preview next episode, request reviews or comments.

Radio Broadcasts

1. Purpose, Audience & Register
   1. Purpose: Inform, entertain, or engage listeners in real-time or near-real-time format.
   2. Audience: General public or specific demographics (based on station and time slot).
   3. Register: Professional, clear, often more formal than podcasts due to broadcast standards.
2. Layout & Conventions
   1. Station identification and programme name.
   2. Time markers if relevant (for news broadcasts).
   3. Clear speaker identification.
   4. Structured segments with openings and closings.
   5. Acknowledgment of the medium ("listeners," "on the radio").

Key Features

1. Tone: Clear, energetic, professional, aware of live broadcast context.
2. Vocabulary: Precise, accessible language, active voice, present tense for immediacy, time references ("coming up," "earlier today").

How to Write a Radio Broadcast

1. Identify time and context immediately: Listeners tuning in need to know what they're hearing.
   1. Example: "Good morning, you're listening to Morning Edition on Capital FM. I'm James Morrison, and it's 7:15 on Tuesday, March 23rd."
2. Use broadcast-appropriate language: Write for clarity since listeners cannot rewind easily. Avoid complex sentences or ambiguous references.
   1. Bad: "The aforementioned policy, which was discussed in yesterday's session regarding educational reform, has been modified."
   2. Good: "The education policy announced yesterday has been changed."
3. Include live broadcast elements: Acknowledge the real-time nature.
   1. Examples: "We'll take calls after the break," "More on this story at the top of the hour," "Stay with us."
4. Maintain energy: Radio demands vocal engagement. Your script should sound alive, not flat.
5. Time everything: Note segment lengths if writing a full programme. "3-minute news update," "5-minute interview segment."

Interviews

1. Purpose, Audience & Register
   1. Purpose: Extract interesting or useful information, reveal personality or expertise, inform or entertain audience.
   2. Audience: Readers or listeners interested in the interviewee or topic.
   3. Register: Varies based on publication and subject, from casual to formal.
2. Layout & Conventions
   1. Brief introduction identifying both parties.
   2. Q&A format with clear speaker labels (Q: or Interviewer: / A: or Name:).
   3. Questions and answers in logical sequence.
   4. Optional brief conclusion or closing note.

Key Features

1. Tone: Conversational but purposeful, interviewer guides but doesn't dominate.
2. Vocabulary: Questions use open phrasing ("How," "Why," "Tell us about"), interviewee responses sound like natural speech.

How to Write an Interview

1. Introduce efficiently: Give readers context about who is speaking and why this conversation matters.
   1. Example: "We sat down with Dr. Maria Santos, the marine biologist whose research on coral restoration has influenced global conservation policy."
2. Ask open, specific questions: Generic questions produce generic answers.
   1. Bad: "Do you like your job?"
   2. Good: "What moment in your research career completely changed how you understood ocean ecosystems?"
3. Follow a logical progression: Start broader, move toward more specific or personal questions. Let the conversation build naturally.
4. Make the interviewee sound authentic: Include natural speech patterns, even incomplete sentences or corrections if they add character.
   1. Example: "I mean, when I started, I thought... no, I was certain this would take years. Turns out it took decades."
5. Vary question length and style: Mix short, direct questions with longer, contextual ones. Avoid making every question the same length or structure.
6. Allow space for personality: The interviewee's voice should dominate. Your questions set up their insights.