Some DOs and DON’Ts
DO …
Remember that everything you write may be published, on the web or in print or in an electronic programme guide.
Check your descriptions before submitting, for spelling, grammar and compliance with editorial guidelines.
Inhouse - Your descriptions will need to be entered and approved via Proteus before they are automatically submitted Red Bee.
Independents - Your descriptions will need to be submitted to the BBC via the web page at the following address: http://www.bbcradioresources.com/programme/descriptions/
Short Description (max 90 characters)
Include the key information about your programme including your presenter or star(s).
The short description is a way to hook someone into reading about and listening to that episode.
Medium Description (max 180 characters)
Expand on the short description but include the same key information.
This section provides information for people listening to the radio through their TVs and/ or the “pop out” iPlayer. So ensure you have your presenter’s name somewhere in the medium description.
Long Description (max 1800 characters)
REMEMBER that everything you write in your long description WILL go public.
Red Bee who handle this data for the BBC will not edit the long description.
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Scotland Press Department will include this information in their Press Information doc.
It’s important that pre-recorded features/docs enter long descriptions.
The info will appear on your /programme page as well as being used by the Scotland
Press department. It could also inform the Head of Radio’s choice as to whether your programme is picked as a promotional priority.
Please take ownership and pride in your programme descriptions – use the description as a way to encourage someone to listen to your programme.
Include the information that you felt was important enough for the short and medium description. There is no guarantee that the audience will see either the short and medium descriptions before they get to the long.
Write as you would for on air. Use short sentences, Everything you write must be ready to publish as the audience will see it on your episode pages and it will be unedited by
Red Bee.
If the programme description is for the first episode in a series, include a series description as well as episode-specific information. For the remaining episodes, refer to the series but focus on episode-specific detail. e.g.
‘continuing our series on …’, ‘As part of our series … ‘
Please separate your paragraphs by using a clear line (see below):
Talented producer’s incredibly wonderful programme which will amaze the whole audience.
Talented producer’s 2 nd paragraph about the incredibly wonderful programme which will amaze the whole audience.
If your programme is a repeat finish your long description with (Rpt).
Cast lists should be laid out as shown below:
Character Name ….. Actor Name [name, space, five dots, space, name]
Jill Archer ….. Patricia Greene
Kenton Archer ….. Richard Attlee
David Archer ….. Timothy Bentinck
Ruth Archer ….. Felicity Finch
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If you want other credits to be published place them under the cast list and lay them out as shown:
Written by Caroline Harrington
Directed by Rosemary Watts
Producer: Julia Durbin
Editor: Vanessa Whitburn
Tips on Writing for both on air & the web
Use a short punchy first sentence which should contain the most essential and eyecatching information.
Remember that it will be read before or after transmission, so avoid time-specific references (eg. “next month”).
Use short sentences with simple construction as they read better on the web.
You should aim for an information-rich description of the themes / people / places / stories your programme is about.
And most important
Proteus users should always press the “Approve” button when entering programme descriptions or changes, otherwise the system will not send the info to Red Bee.
Pressing “Approve” confirms compliance with editorial guidelines.
DON’T…
Short Description
Don’t just put a subtitle as your short description.
Don’t add the full name of the presenter if the programme title already includes this info.
Long Description
Don’t put your title in the long description. It will automatically be provided to all platforms by Proteus.
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Don’t enter time-specific references (e.g. ‘next month') - remember that it may be read before or after transmission.
Take care with formatting. If, for example, you write in capital letters it will seem like you are shouting at your audience.
Don’t use the words ‘promo note’, ‘notes’ or ‘billing’ in your long description. These terms are no longer relevant as your programme description incorporates all of them. If you write them they will appear on your web page and will mean nothing to the audience.
Don’t make your long description too long. Great masses of text are unappealing on a web page.
Don’t enter the programme TX details in the long description e.g. day, date or time. This information is provided by Proteus automatically and will make your description irrelevant and misleading if the programme is repeated. Broadcast information is also available on your /programme web page.
You have the space in the long description so don’t need to use acronyms. For example, instead of writing BBC SSO, write BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
In a series, do not send exactly the same information in every long description. This will result in duplicate pages.
URLs will not work as links on your /programme page so should be added in the related link section of PIT.
Don’t enter contact details (phone/text numbers, email/postal addresses) – this information is included within information bars on /programme web pages.
FINALLY
Check your published programme information
– if you’re not happy contact
RadioScotlandScheduling@bbc.co.uk http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/programmes/schedules/fm http://www.bbc.co.uk/radioscotland/programmes/schedules/mw
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