A lot of print journalists are trying out audio storytelling these days. It can be *hard.* Many of your skills translate but others don't.
Our big new guide on moving from 📰 ➡️ 📻 is here to help.
training.npr.org/audio/the-jour…
Our big new guide on moving from 📰 ➡️ 📻 is here to help.
training.npr.org/audio/the-jour…
Brought to you by @ajmacadam + the great #pubmedia community that contributed edits on the draft. Fantastical illustrations by @beck2thefuture
Each section of our guide covers a particular difference between print and audio storytelling. Here's what you need to think about ...
Understand how your listeners listen.
Audio is linear; it always moves forward. The words and sounds whiz past the ear, with no opportunity to slow down or rewind. You forget names and titles. Too many numbers make your head spin.
Audio is linear; it always moves forward. The words and sounds whiz past the ear, with no opportunity to slow down or rewind. You forget names and titles. Too many numbers make your head spin.
Write for your voice.
The first rule of writing for your voice is to speak it before you write it. There are lots of words we would never say out loud that creep into audio scripts (like "war-torn" and "hasten").
The first rule of writing for your voice is to speak it before you write it. There are lots of words we would never say out loud that creep into audio scripts (like "war-torn" and "hasten").
Beware dependent clauses.
Dependent clauses, like this one, can be useful in print. But they introduce too much space between your subjects and verbs (and people don't talk like that).
Dependent clauses, like this one, can be useful in print. But they introduce too much space between your subjects and verbs (and people don't talk like that).
Abandon the inverted pyramid.
Putting who, what, when, where and why into an opening sentence or two is simply not good composition for the ear.
Putting who, what, when, where and why into an opening sentence or two is simply not good composition for the ear.
De-graf the nut graf.
Because audio stories use host intros and sound to convey ideas, all the information of a nut graf (what the story is about and why it matters) can’t live together in one paragraph.
Because audio stories use host intros and sound to convey ideas, all the information of a nut graf (what the story is about and why it matters) can’t live together in one paragraph.
Narrow your story’s focus.
A four-minute radio story only has 500-600 words. And you share those words and time with interviewee tape, transitions and sound. This doesn't mean less reporting, just more disciplined storytelling.
A four-minute radio story only has 500-600 words. And you share those words and time with interviewee tape, transitions and sound. This doesn't mean less reporting, just more disciplined storytelling.
Adjust your interview style.
Realize that the sounds you make will be recorded (like your "uh-huh"s and "I sees"). That said … Record yourself asking questions and interacting. Get the best/clearest explanations you can.
Realize that the sounds you make will be recorded (like your "uh-huh"s and "I sees"). That said … Record yourself asking questions and interacting. Get the best/clearest explanations you can.
Rethink your use of quotes.
Radio stories include more (and different types of) quotes than print stories. Each type of tape (non-verbal, "real people" vs. experts, scene-setting, emotional, interactive) serves a different storytelling purpose.
Radio stories include more (and different types of) quotes than print stories. Each type of tape (non-verbal, "real people" vs. experts, scene-setting, emotional, interactive) serves a different storytelling purpose.
Prepare for the extra work of sound gathering.
Recording audio takes time. Think through the sounds you'll need before you go out (this is handy for that: training.npr.org/audio/get-grea…). Always be rolling. Get all the ambience.
Recording audio takes time. Think through the sounds you'll need before you go out (this is handy for that: training.npr.org/audio/get-grea…). Always be rolling. Get all the ambience.
