Like television production, radio is full of jargon. Here are some words and their meanings. Please tell me if you want me to add any other words here as I am sure I have missed some.
actuality – sound effects of what’s going on in the background to illustrate a story
and finally – a lighter news story used to end the news
AP – assistant producer
BA or PA – broadcast assistant or production assistant
backtiming – timing backwards from the end of the programme so you know how long there is left. This makes sure the news doesn’t over-run.
bed – music played under the news or interviews – often used on music and youth stations
breaking news – a news story that is just coming in now. It is usually announced on-air as breaking news. Often a significant death, accident, natural disaster, act of terrorism etc.
bulletin: a segment of news – usually between 2 and 5 minutes on the hour or at half past.
copy – written news story to be read on air.
correspondent – a senior reporter, often based abroad (Beijing correspondent) or a specialist in a particular area (defense correspondent or legal affairs correspondent)
cut – to edit, an edit
donut – where a reporter speaks then you insert audio and then the reporter comes off the back of it to talk again.
drive-time – afternoon time slot where people are driving in their cars back from work. A high listening time.
editor – your boss! this person decides what goes into the news and is in charge of the newsroom.
feature – a packaged news story containing several interviews and sound effects
file – to send a report in
fx – sound effects
hard news – major events happening now
host – programme presenter (used more for talk shows)
in – the first few words of your report. People will often ask you ‘what’s the in?’
item – story or package, an element of the news
lead – the top story
link – sentences used by a reporter between interviews to put together a package or report.
menu – the start of the programme telling you what’s in it
menu clip – a sound bite used in the menu
out – the last few words of your report
newsreader – person reading the news
package – a report or feature
press release – information for the press given out by companies and organisations that are covered by the press, or want to be covered by the press
producer – person responsible for items of news. they can also be responsible for a whole news programme, however they work under their editor.
phoner – an interview on the phone
piece – a story
presenter – programme presenter
promo – a piece made by the station to advertise one of its other programmes
reporter – person who reports into the programme
rip and read – reading wire copy without editing it
sig – signature tune for the programme
sting – short busrt of music/sound in the programme to split it up
stand-up – a reporter speaks to the microphone
statement – issued by an organisation as a response to soemthing in the news. You can ask companies for a statement in response to allegations made against them or some bad news about them.
trail – an enticing list of what’s coming up latre in the programme
voice-over – as it says – a voice-over! often used when the person is speaking in a foreign language
wild track – background noise that you can put under interviews to make the edits smoother.
wire – news from a news organisation like AP, Reuters, PA, Bloomberg et al.