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.