Writing for Radio

It has become commonplace to underestimate the importance of radio as a medium of communication in the modern world. Radio's immediacy results from its medium, sound. Unlike visual media, radio does not demand our whole attention and leaves us free to engage in other activities. Because of this flexibility, radio, as an alarm, in cars, the workplace and shops can form the background to our day, without our realising it. Writing for Radio focuses on the specific language skills needed for this unique medium. Topics covered include: the history of radio; the dynamics of radio; writing techniques; radio formats; script layouts; program structuring. Through a series of engaging exercises students are taken through the world of radio production, from how to write and layout scripts, to how to structure an entire program. Various genres of writing are examined such as news items, magazine program features and traditional radio plays.