1st Edition

An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media Scriptwriting Essentials Across the Genres

By Robert B. Musburger, PhD Copyright 2007
    358 Pages
    by Routledge

    360 Pages
    by Routledge

    "Wonderfully practical....just what every media writer needs."
    Christopher H. Sterling
    George Washington University

    * Learn what it takes to write for commercials, news, documentaries, corporate, educational, animation, games, the internet, and dramatic film & video productions

    * Outlines the key skills needed for a successful media writing career

    The demand for quality and knowledgeable multi-platform writing is always in high demand. An Introduction to Writing for Electronic Media presents a survey of the many types of electronic media you can write for, and explains how to do it.

    Musburger focuses on the skills you need to write for animation versus radio or television news versus corporate training. Sample scripts help you learn by example while modeling your own scripts. Production files illustrate the integral role writers' play in the production process, and individual movie frames allow you compare these to the real scripts.

    Armed with the skills developed in this book, a media writer can apply for a variety of positions in newsrooms, advertising firms, motion pictures or animation studios, as well as local and national cable operations.

    Robert B. Musburger, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Communication, University of Houston, USA. He has worked for 20 years in professional broadcasting, serving as camera operator, director, producer, and writer. Musburger has received numerous awards for his video work and teaching and he continues to work in electronic media with his Seattle, WA,. consulting firm, Musburger Media Services.

    "[An] authoritative and clearly written description of the processes involved in writing for film, radio and television production."
    Raymond Fielding, Dean Emeritus
    Florida State University

    Table of Contents



    Preface
    1. Loading the App/Sharpening the pencil
    History of Scripts
    Script Variations
    Media differences
    Basic writing skills
    The Law and Censorship
    Distribution
    *
    2. Production for the writer (much of this will be folded into
    Sound individual chapters)
    Picture
    Editing
    The Crew-where do writers fit
    Above line
    Below line

    3. Spots
    What Makes a Spot
    Public Service Announcements
    Promotional Announcements
    Commercials
    Banners
    Selling techniques
    Changing their spots

    4. News
    Differences between media
    Print
    Radio
    TV
    Internet
    Script formats
    Sports, Weather

    5. Documentary
    Definition
    Short Form
    Long Form
    Docudrama

    6. Corporate
    Definition
    Internal
    Training
    Communication
    External
    Public relations
    Commercials
    7. Educational
    Definition
    Primary
    Secondary
    Advanced
    Using the web

    8. Games
    Types
    Branching
    Classifications

    9.. Drama
    Basics of dramatic writing
    TV
    Soaps
    Features
    Motion Pictures
    Film
    Digital
    Radio
    Ratings

    10. Animation (Not a genre)
    Basics
    Shorts
    Features
    Two-dimensional
    Three-dimensional

    11. The Internet (Distribution)
    Techniques
    Sales
    Promotion
    News
    Flash

    12. Now What
    Selling Scripts
    Marketing yourself
    Career Choices
    Finding an Agent
    Professional Organizations
    13. Glossary
    14. Index

    Biography

    Robert B. Musburger, Ph.D. is Professor Emeritus and former Director of the School of Communication, University of Houston. He has worked for 20 years in professional broadcasting, serving as camera operator, director, producer, and writer and has received numerous awards for his video work and teaching. His published writing includes "Electronic News Gathering: A Guide to ENG" (Focal), "Single-camera Video Production, Fifth Edition"(Focal), and, with Gorham Kindem, "Introduction to Media Production: From Analog to Digital, Fourth Edition" (Focal).


    "Wonderfully practical....just what every media writer needs."

    - Christopher H. Sterling,
    George Washington University


    "An invaluable student-centered approach to learning how to write for various media outlets....both professionally and pedagogically sound."

    - Jennings Bryant
    University of Alabama


    "[An] authoritative and clearly written description of the processes involved in writing for film, radio and television production."

    - Raymond Fielding, Dean Emeritus
    Florida State University