News writing is as crucial for TV and streaming as it is for digital and print, but a news script often requires its own unique styles of storytelling and story structure. Breaking news articles front-load information and share the lede and nut graph at the beginning. A feature news script has more gradual reveals, and can even keep surprises for the very end of the piece. Someone watching or listening to a news program may not have the same attention span as an article reader, and social media users often prefer different kinds of storytelling than traditional TV news segments.
NBC News, Noticias Telemundo and NBCU Local journalists share their tips for news writing in the above video and further comments below.
How to get started with script writing
Tom Costello, NBC News Senior Correspondent: Every story is going to have a different feel. It’s the same with the morning show versus the evening show. Sometimes that’s also dictated by how much time you get.
Brian Cheung, NBC News Business Correspondent: Different types of stories are harder to script than others. You have to present it in a way that’s relatable to people.
Kay Angrum, NBC New York Digital Reporter and Anchor: I love to look at the video first. Scrubbing through everything, do a little bit of transcription. What are those bites that I remember when I was doing the interview?
Aimee Cho, NBC Washington Reporter: I always know what shots I need to get going into a story. I’m also trying to be efficient when I’m doing my interviews. Once I hear that I have the soundbites that I need from that interview, I know I can wrap it up.
Yasmin Vossoughian, NBC News Correspondent: You write scripts the way that you speak. You want to have emphasis on certain words.
Joe Fryer, Morning News NOW, Anchor, NBC News Correspondent & Saturday TODAY Feature Anchor: Video motivates so much of what I write. I know I’ve got this great opening shot. It inspires me to write a strong opening line. We’re often tempted to sort of describe exactly what the viewer is seeing in the video. It’s better to offer extra context about what they’re seeing.
Tips for effective news writing
Javier Vega, Noticias Telemundo National Correspondent: You can start by grouping elements and information into subtopics, and then decide in which order you want to tell them. Get advice from your editor if you need it. Working under a tight deadline requires you to be precise and make a lot of decisions in a short time.
Laura Jarrett, NBC News Senior Legal Correspondent and Weekend TODAY Co-anchor: Give them just enough background to help tell the story, but don’t waste any time. Be really efficient.
Miriam Arias, Noticias Telemundo Correspondent: While it may be the hardest part to write, your big finish should be memorable. Give them something to think about, especially with a positive attitude.
Costello: I’m a big believer in something I call “power writing,” using descriptive phrases and action verbs. You don’t have the luxury of laboring over one sentence or paragraph. Don’t waste your opportunity to tell a compelling story by falling into the trap of cliches used for 75 years in television news. This is your chance to shine.
Revise and fact-check scripts
Ken Dilanian, NBC News Justice and Intelligence Correspondent: It’s helpful to read what you’ve written out loud to see if it works. Oftentimes I’ll get into the tracking booth and realize the way I wrote it doesn’t work with the way I’m saying it.
Vega: Read your script with certain detachment. More words are equal to more time. Ideas can be said in fewer words. What could be taken away without affecting the story and without leaving out critical information? The answer to those questions is calling for the delete key in your keyboard.
De Luce: It’s better to be late and right than to be first and wrong. Before you say whatever you’re going to say, before you approve the script or the headline, take a deep breath before you hit the button.
Learn more about news writing in “Fundamentals of Journalism,” NBCU Academy’s free online course.
