PUNCTUATION Unlike  punctuation  for  printed  newswriting, punctuation  in  broadcast  writing  is  used  to  help  the announcer read the copy aloud. For example, a comma tells  the  announcer  to  pause,  and  a  hyphen  helps  the announcer to pronounce difficult words. The Period As in any writing, the period indicates the end of a sentence  or  thought.  More  periods  are  used  in  broadcast writing   because   broadcast   writing   sentences   are generally shorter and more conversational. The  Comma Use the comma to indicate a pause shorter than that of the period. Do not use a comma unless you want the announcer to pause. The Dash Use  the  dash  to  set  off  appositive  and  other parenthetical   expressions.   Consider   the   following example: Example:   NATO  —  THE  NORTH  ATLANTIC TREATY   ORGANIZATION   — VOTED  THIS  MORNING. The Hyphen Use  the  hyphen  to  help  announcers  in  phrasing difficult words and to instruct them on how to pronounce individual   elements   distinctly.   Note   the   following examples: Example: RE-ADJUSTED,   RE-EVALUATE, CO-OPERATE,   RE-ALLOCATE, W-C-O-A, F-B-I, Y-M-C-A The Dots Occasionally, you can use a series of three dots to indicate a pause longer than that of a comma. The series of  three  dots  can  also  be  used  for  a  dramatic  effect. Consider the following example: Example: THE JURY FOREMAN ANNOUNCED IN   A   CLEAR   FIRM   VOICE   .   .   . “INNOCENT!” Parentheses Normally,  in  broadcast  copy,  the  material  inside parentheses is not meant to be read aloud. Parenthetical material  in  broadcast  copy  includes  notes  to  the announcer,  such  as  pronunciation  guides,  reading  rates, and so forth. Quotation Marks Quotation  marks  often  will  appear  in  broadcast copy as a cue to the announcer or newscaster to stress a particular word or phrase, setting it apart from the rest of  the  sentence.  Do  not  confuse  the  use  of  quotation marks as a cuing device with their use for indicating a direct quote. Quotation marks also can be used as an aid to announcers to set off nicknames, titles of books and plays, and so forth. Note the following example: Example:   THE   SQUADRON   —   BETTER KNOWN   AS   THE   ‘FLYING   BLUE DEVILS”   —   BEGINS   ITS   SIX- MONTH  DEPLOYMENT  TODAY MECHANICS  OF  BROADCAST WRITING LEARNING   OBJECTIVE:   Identify   the mechanics of broadcast writing. There is more to a successful broadcast news release than a good news peg or interesting story topic. Your release may not even reach the news director’s desk if it  does  not  comply  with  the  mechanics  of  broadcast writing. When we speak of broadcast writing mechanics, we are referring to all aspects of a news release, other than the  actual  content  of  the  story.  We  speak  of  a  basic format and style used by both commercial and military broadcasters. Your compliance with a few basic rules assures a better chance for your release to make the airwaves and, in turn, tells the recipient of your story that he or she is dealing with a conscientious broadcast journalist. Always treat a release from your office as official correspondence. You are responsible for the information it contains. In the broadcast copy, you should include all 13-10