Chabot College
November 1999
Course Outline for Mass Communications 35
WRITING FOR BROADCASTING
Catalog Description:
35 - Writing For Broadcasting
3 units
Techniques of writing for radio and television; including script writing and discussion of professional and
student scripts, with emphasis on commercials; and underwriting announcements, public service
announcements, news and program introductions. Strongly recommended: Mass Communications 31
and eligibility for English 1A or 52A. 3 hours.
[Typical contact hours: 52.5]
Prerequisite Skills:
None
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
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analyze radio and television commercials into their various parts and types;
demonstrate, through writing of commercials, various appeals including persuasion;
analyze radio and television news stories and programs for organization and techniques of writing;
demonstrate, through writing, knowledge of script writing for radio and television.
Course Content:
1. Radio Commercials
a. Difference between radio advertising and other media
b. Types of commercials
c. Appeals
d. Persuasive technique
e. Techniques of writing commercials
2. Public Service Announcements
a. Types
b. Appeals
c. Persuasive technique
3. Radio News
a. Difference between radio news and other reporting media
b. Organization of newscasts
c. Techniques of writing news
4. Television News
a. Difference between television news and other reporting media
b. Organization of newscasts
c. Use of film, tape and visuals in TV news
d. Techniques of writing to news film
e. Techniques of TV news writing
5. TV Commercials
a. Difference between television advertising and other media
b. Appeals
c. Persuasive technique
d. The Story Board
e. Communication through use of visual images
Chabot College
Course Outline for Mass Communications 35, Page 2
November 1999
Methods of Presentation:
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Lectures
Group discussions
Presentations and critiques of professional and student scripts
Tapes and film commercials
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
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Write a personal philosophy paper as a diagnostics writing sample
Rewrite philosophy in one sentence
Demonstrate the various formats and styles of broadcast writing
Write, copyedit, and analyze PSAs, promos, intros, tosses, teases, commercials, interviews,
news, sports, music, variety, comedies, and script treatments
Interview a broadcast writer write about it and give an in-class presentation
Quality of written material and their presentations
Written tests
Final exam
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Writing for Television and Radio, Robert L. Hilliard, Wadsworth Pub., 2000
Special Student Materials:
None
dk 10/27/99
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