"Write Like You Talk" is a guide to broadcast news writing. Buy: https://xitter.cf/t.co/NV4TKsH1Fv “A broadcast news bible” “A master class in 150 pages." "A must-read."
Fort Myers, FL
Joined February 2015
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Jeff Butera retweeted
Not wrong.
Since I started my career, we added website responsibilities.
Gotta have a work Facebook page too.
Need to update Twitter as well.
Oh, and people like IG. Probably oughta create a TikTok.
Oh, and we don’t just do a 6 and 11. There’s a 4, 5, 530, 7 and 10.
Jeff Butera retweeted
Important note about investigative reporting: we always want govt officials on-camera. There's nothing better than an accountability interview. More and more, officials try to spike a story by refusing to participate. We never let their lack of participation stop us from airing an investigation built on facts.
Jeff Butera retweeted
REMINDER --
Teases are NOT just something you say.
They're supposed to give the viewer a reason to keep watching.
When you write them, ask yourself: Would this make me want to watch?
If the answer is no, you're just talking.
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
The leaders of the most successful five-year stretch in Bucs history are staying in the Bay 💪
ALT GM Jason Licht and HC Todd Bowles
Jeff Butera retweeted
REMINDER --
Teases are NOT just something you say.
They're supposed to give the viewer a reason to keep watching.
When you write them, ask yourself: Would this make me want to watch?
If the answer is no, you're just talking.
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
‼️‼️‼️ Covering crime (and only crime) doesn’t move the needle with viewers anymore.
Actually, it hasn’t in a while.
Jeff Butera retweeted
Sports media never forget this!
Stats are cool and have a place but 90% don’t care about the box score.
Jeff Butera retweeted
Young journalists: you have the right to ask anything you want in an interview. And your interview subject has the right to deflect, not answer or get up and leave. This is not PR. The book was mentioned. The book was shown. That's how these deals work all the time.
Jeff Butera retweeted
Yes!
TRANSLATE THE COP SPEAK
NO: fled on foot
YES: ran away
NO: wooded area
YES: the woods
NO: motorist
YES: driver
NO: altercation
YES: fight/argument
NO: apprehended
YES: caught
NO: ejected
YES: thrown out/thrown from
NO: stated
YES: said
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
Word:
TRANSLATE THE COP SPEAK
NO: fled on foot
YES: ran away
NO: wooded area
YES: the woods
NO: motorist
YES: driver
NO: altercation
YES: fight/argument
NO: apprehended
YES: caught
NO: ejected
YES: thrown out/thrown from
NO: stated
YES: said
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
I really appreciate this perspective from @CBS6Lara🔽
You can be a realist without being a cynic.
You can be honest without being deflating.
My rule: Tell people what I wish I had known going into this industry. #WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
NEWS BOSSES:
Want to improve the writing in your newscasts?
Fix these 10 issues plaguing TV news, bogging down stories and hurting the performance of your anchors:
Jeff Butera retweeted
Also helps tighten up scripts!
Robin was right --
Precise adjectives
Precise verbs
He didn't cry quietly; He WEPT
He didn't cry loudly; he WAILED
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
Seems like a good time for my annual reminder to journalists, fans, bloggers, social network peeps, students, TV network people, and the world:
Super Bowl is 2 words! Yep, so-
Super Bowl ✅ 🤩
Superbowl ❌ 🤬
Learn it, live it, love it. Thank you for your time and Go Birds🦅
Jeff Butera retweeted
Journalists, avoid these words for the next few days: Winter Wonderland, white stuff, Mother Nature, Old Man Winter, Storm of the Century, travel nightmare, brave the elements and TV anchors-do NOT tell frozen reporter/photographers to "stay warm out there."
Jeff Butera retweeted
I could not agree more.
One MEANINGFUL five-minute story is more valuable than 10 MEANINGLESS thirty-second stories. ⏰
#WriteLikeYouTalk
Jeff Butera retweeted
Yes! But they’ll never figure it out. Same old people recycling the same, stale, old ideas but calling it something else.
One MEANINGFUL five-minute story is more valuable than 10 MEANINGLESS thirty-second stories. ⏰
#WriteLikeYouTalk