Basic  Radio Structure

Introduction:Greeting/Salutation

Call-Letters of the Station

Name/Title of Program

Announcer's  name

Sponsor's  name/slogan

EXAMPLE:"Good  morning, this is the WBYO Newsbreak-I'm (Name). Today's Newsbreak is brought to you by (sponsor's name/slogan)."

Transition/Headlines:Approximately  three (3) headlines, representing a variety of coverage.

EXAMPLE:"Today's headline (or 'top') stories:  Battlelines drawn for Croatian rebels; President  vetos new tax legislation; and Bull's score big in last night's  game."

Transition/International News:Approximately two (2) stories are used representing news  from:

A.Outside  the continental United States. (Datelines should be from other  countries.)

B.News concerning United States foreign policy.  (Datelines may be "Washington" or "U.S. State Department")

EXAMPLE:"In  leading international news"

"News  from the international  desk"

Possible transitions between stories

EXAMPLE:"In  other international news,"

"In  a related story,"

"News  from (Country),"

Transition/National  News:Approximately two (2) stories are used representing news  from:

A.Within the continental United States, but outside the state of Illinois.  (Datelines should be from other states/cities)

B.News concerning United States domestic policies. (Datelines may be "Washington" or  "Capitol Hill" or "Senate/House of Representative")

C.Major  weather stories or catastrophic natural events. ("Western states crippled by  flash flooding." or"Earthquake devastates California.")

EXAMPLE:In national news"

"Closer  to home"

"In  news from across the United States"

Possible transitions between stories

EXAMPLE:"In  other national news,"

"News  from Capitol Hill"

"In  a related story,"

"News  from (State/City),"

(Significant Stockmarket news)

EXAMPLE:"News  from Wall Street,"

Teaser/Transition: Brief statement to "catch"  audience's attention for significant stories to be heard after the commercial,  and transition to commercial.

EXAMPLE:"News  from the Chicago City Council and the basketball scores from last night's games,  after these words from (sponsor's name)."

Commercial:Should be read with an appropriate TONE. Avoid reading commercial as if it were a news story. Repeat  telephone number where listener might obtain more  information or assistance, and repeat address where product/service may be purchased.

Transition/State/Local News:Approximately two  (2) stories are used representing news from:

A.Within the the state of Illinois. (Datelines should be from Illinois cities)

B.News concerning Metropolitan Chicago/Cook County news.

C.If contest is being held outside the Chicago area, then local news is based on  contest location (Bloomington/Normal for local if contest is held at Illinois State University, or Peoria/Peking if contest is held at Bradley  University.)

D.If a major state/local political figure (Mayor Washington or Governor Thompson) participates in a national conference.

EXAMPLE:"In  state news"

"In  news from across the state"

"Closer  to home"

"In  local news"

"In  news from around the Chicago area"

"In  news from Springfield...

Possible transitions between stories

EXAMPLE:"In  other state news,"

"News  from Springfield"

"In  a related story,"

"News  from (City),"

Transition/Sports:Approximately  one (maybe  two) stories are used representing news from:

A.Feature  sports stories concerning a player, manager, significant sports figure.

B.Important  contest or tournament. (e.g. Wimbleton, Stanley Cup, etc.)

Important  recent scores for in-season competitions

A.Mention  city and team name when giving scores except for local teams.

B.Use  "victory" term to define winner from loser. (e.g. Cubs beat/over/defeated/ New York Mets 5to1)

EXAMPLE:"Today,  in the Sports world,"

 "From  the Sports Desk,"

"In  Sports today,"

Transition/Weather: When the contest does not have an on-site "cut-and-paste" format and there are  no major weather  developments (heavy snow, flooding, extended cold/hot  temperatures, etc.) then:

EXAMPLE:"In today's weather,"

From the weather service"

Current  temperature readings are"

Weather  for the WBYO (call-letters) listening area" 

IMPORTANT:Since stories in radio speaking must be documented (in-print), DO NOT INVENT  WEATHER READINGS OR  FORECASTS!

A.Current  temperatures over the listening area. (NOTE: two, maybe three, readings over a  20 miles radius from the "center" of the broadcast area-in a Chicago/Cook or Lake County contest use Lakefront, Midway, O'Hare; should the contest be held outside the Metro-Chicago area, then  deal with local conditions.)

B.Immediate  weather condition as of broadcast airing-"real" time. (May include humidity,  temperature-humidity index,  barometric pressure, wind-chill reading, wind  speed/direction, inches of  rain/snow, etc.)

C.Limited  forecast over the next 12 to 24 hours.

EXAMPLE:"Weather for the WBYO (call-letters) listening area, current temperature  readings-Lakefront 78, Midway 81, O'Hare 81; winds out of the southwest at 15  miles per hour; barometric pressure is rising and humidity is 80% under  partially cloudy skies. Today's outlook: continued pleasant temperatures, high  in the mid-80's, 50% chance of showers mid-to-late afternoon; tonight, clearing  skies, low's in the lower-70's."

ComplimentaryClosing/Signature:Concluding  Statement

Call-Letters of Station

Name/Title of Program

Sponsor's  name/slogan

Announcer's  Name

Final  compliment

EXAMPLE:"This  has been the WBYO Newsbreak,  brought to you by (sponsor's name/slogan). I'm (name), have a nice day."

Alternate  Radio Structure

Headlines:Approximately  three (3) headlines,  representing a variety of coverage.

EXAMPLE:"Today's headline (or 'top') stories:  Battlelines drawn for Afghan rebels; President  vetos new tax legislation; and Bull's score big in last night's  game."

Transition/Introduction:Greeting/Salutation

Call-Letters of the Station

Name/Title of Program

Announcer's  name

Sponsor's  name/slogan

EXAMPLE:"Good  morning, this is the WBYO Newsbreak-I'm (Name). Today's Newsbreak is brought to you by (sponsor's name/slogan)."

Transition/Top Story:One story which the contestant considers to be the most significant news item in the five minute  broadcast. It may be from any of the news areas  (international, national,  state/local, sports, or weather). It is conceivable  that the story is not an  international, but basic structure should be followed after the "top"  story has been read.

A.The  "top" story is always titled so.

EXAMPLE:"Details concerning the top  story"

"Today's top story,"

"Leading today's top stories,"

"At  the top of today's news"

B.If the "top" story is an international item, treat it as the first international story and use standard transition into next news  article.

EXAMPLE:"In  other international news,"

"News  from other parts of the world,"

C.If the "top" story is not an international  item, use primary transition into  first international article."

EXAMPLE:"In  leading international news"

"News  from the international  desk"

D.When the program section is read which relates to  the top story, use only one other story of similar content instead of the usually two.