Preface     xiii
Acknowledgments     xv
Getting Started: Loading the Application and Sharpening the Pencil     1
Introduction     1
Background     1
Script Variations     11
Media Differences     11
Basic Writing Skills     13
Language of Discrimination     25
The Law and Censorship     27
The Audience and Distribution     30
Summary     32
Be Sure To...     32
Exercises     32
Additional Sources     33
Media Production for Writers     35
Introduction     35
Writer's Relationship with Production     36
What Is Production?     37
Why Production for Writers?     38
The Language of Production     39
Video Production Techniques     45
Audio Production Techniques     48
Digital and Web Production Techniques     49
Summary     50
Be Sure To...     50
Exercises     51
Additional Sources     51
Spots: Public Service Announcements, Program Promotions, and Commercials     53
Introduction     53
Background     54
Public Service Announcements     56
Promotional Announcements     57
Commercial Announcements     58
Audience Analysis     60
Ethics     64
The Law     66
Writing Spot Copy     74
Copywriting     77
Copy Formatting     81
Instructions for Dual-Column Format Using Microsoft Word     82
Instructions for Single-Column Format Using Microsoft Word     85
Production Values     89
Summary     90
Be Sure To...     91
Exercises     91
Additional Sources     92
News     93
Introduction     93
The Fourth Estate     94
Print Newswriting Basics     94
Electronic Newswriting Basics     98
Newswriting Guidelines     99
Interviewing     105
Know Your Stylebook-Objectivity and Fairness     106
Radio Newswriting     108
Television Newswriting     117
Internet Newswriting     130
Summary     134
Be Sure To...     136
Exercises      136
Additional Sources     137
Documentaries     139
Introduction     139
Background     140
Types of Documentaries     143
Script and Production Patterns     144
Sponsored Documentaries, Biographies, and Docudramas     146
Docudramas     147
Documentary Preproduction Process     148
Documentary Formats     149
Writing a Documentary     151
Summary     153
Be Sure To...     153
Exercises     154
Additional Sources     154
Informational Productions     157
Introduction     157
Background     158
Writing Corporate Media Scripts     161
Writing Educational Media Scripts     175
Summary     176
Be Sure To...     177
Exercises     177
Additional Sources     178
Animation     181
Introduction     181
Background     182
The Production Process     184
The Writing Process     187
Writing Techniques     194
Summary     199
Be Sure To...      200
Exercises     200
Additional Sources     201
Games     203
Introduction     203
Background     204
Types of Games     206
Writing Game Scripts     208
Script Formats     212
Developing Plot and Action Lines     213
Summary     215
Be Sure To...     216
Exercises     216
Additional Sources     216
Drama     219
Introduction     219
Background     220
Stages of Scriptwriting     223
Dramatic Script Formats     240
Summary     248
Be Sure To...     249
Exercises     249
Additional Sources     249
The Internet     251
Introduction     251
Background     251
Types of Internet Messages     254
E-Mail     254
World Wide Web     256
Types of Web Sites     257
E-Commerce     260
Streaming Media     260
Audio Streaming     261
Video Streaming     263
Writing for the Internet     264
E-Mail, Chat Lines, and Instant Messaging     265
Newsgroups and Blogs     266
Interactive Producing     268
Interactive Writing     270
Electronic Commerce     272
Internet Problems     274
Summary     275
Be Sure To...     276
Exercises     276
Additional Sources     277
Future     279
Introduction     279
The Search     280
Networking     281
Internship     283
Resume     284
Cover Letter     289
Portfolio     290
Interviewing     293
Freelancing     296
Representation     297
Summary     298
Be Sure To...     300
Exercises     300
Additional Sources     301
Appendix A     303
Appendix B     305
Appendix C     308
Glossary     313
Index     329