How to make a 1-minute radio report

BBC reporter Polly Billington explains how to make a one-minute radio report in five simple steps. "Before you go out to gather the news, it is a good idea to think about what the finished report might sound like. That way, you can make sure you collect all the information you need. A simple report consists of five audio clips which are outlined below. 1. Presenter introduces the story 2. Opinion of guest 1 - someone at the heart of the story 3. Opinion of guest 2 - someone who can put forward the other side of the argument 4. Opinion from guest 3 - an expert 5. Presenter concludes the story Now you have an idea of the facts and opinions you aim to gather, you can turn your attention to your equipment. Using the equipment Whenever you are out recording, the most important thing is to be safe. Think about your own safety and the safety of others. Watch out for cables and leads. Stand still while you're recording. Don't walk and record at the same time. Never be tempted to record anywhere dangerous e.g. on roads, hanging off cliffs, up ladders. BBC journalists have to complete a risk assessment forms each time the record outside the office. Watch the weather and don't be caught out. Remember, all children you interview will need a consent form signed by their parents. Make sure you know how to use your equipment. Practice recording yourself and check it sounds okay Take enough spare batteries and tapes. Test the sound level of the recording is okay. You can do this by asking somebody to tell you what they had for breakfast. Hold the microphone a little distance away from the person who is speaking. If you get too close to a microphone and say 'p' you'll hear an extra noise, called a "pop." To test for popping, ask your guest to say "Peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." Monitor what you are recording using headphones. Check the volume. If it's too loud it will distort and sound weird. It's usually safer to record at a quieter level because there are ways of making it louder when you edit it. Think about the background noise. It brings your report to life but it shouldn't be so loud that you can't hear your guest. Record extra background noise as it can help with editing. Gathering the news Now your equipment is working properly, you are ready to record the five clips you have planned. Reece reporting on a proposed ball ban 1. Presenter introduction The introduction paints a picture of the scene and explains the story. Describe what you can see include anything that's making a noise. 2. Guest 1 This should be someone at the heart of the story. Ask more questions than you need, because when you edit the report you can choose the best ones. Think about how you are going to tell your listeners who they are. Are they going to introduce themselves or will the presenter? 3. Guest 2 This should be someone involved in the story but who has an opposing view to the first guest. It's good to prepare your questions in advance. However, once you've done the first interview you might want to tweak your questions or add some more. Talk to your guest before switching on the microphone. It stops them feeling nervous and you may find out something you didn't already know. 4. Guest 3 This is often an expert who is not involved in this specific story. Someone who can explain the background while remaining objective. It could be a university professor who has done some research, a spokesperson from a charity or another journalist with specialist knowledge. 5. Presenter round-up This final clip concludes the report and says what's going to happen next. Be careful to keep your opinion out of it. Reporters and presenters often give their name at the end of a report. You can give your name too, but don't use your surname. You could say something like: "This is Reece reporting from the People's Park in Mayfield for BBC News School Report." Now you're ready to assemble the material you've gathered using a computer editing package." Editing tips A BBC journalist editing radio news Editing can be tricky. Make sure you have plenty of time to assemble your report. Once you've grasped the basics, practise "fast" editing on some material that doesn't matter. Listen for breaths. If you cut them out or make a cut in the middle of a breath it can sound weird. If you're having trouble working out what to include, go with your gut instinct, choose the bits that you think are most interesting.