3  More Style Rules

Like Chapter 2, this chapter focuses on broadcast style rules. Much of this chapter is devoted to the use of verbs, adjectives, and other parts of speech. It also examines the various ways broadcast writers express time, quote people, and attribute information.

Verbs

Present Tense

Broadcast news must always present an image of immediacy. Without deceiving an audience by treating an old story as if it were fresh, the broadcast news writer’s job is to tell the news as though it is in progress or has just recently happened. If a story is still developing or has just cleared the wires, a newswriter should make it sound as new and exciting as possible because most of the audience will be hearing the story for the first time. Use ...

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