THOU SHALT NOT

1. Scare listeners.
2. Give orders.
3. Start a story with:
• "as expected."
• "in a surprise move."
• "a new development today."
• "our top story tonight is."
• "there is" or "it is."
• a participial phrase.
• a personal pronoun.
• a question.
• a quotation.
• an unknown or unfamiliar name.
• someone's "making news" or "making history."
• "another," "more" or "once again."
4. Characterize news as "good" or "bad."
5. Use any form of "to be" as the main verb in your lead.
6. Bury the verb in a noun.
7. Use "yesterday" or "continues" in your first sentence.
8. Use "no," "not" and negatives in your first sentence.
9. Use newspaper style, language or rituals.
10. Cram too much information into a story.
11. Lose or mislead a listener.
12. Make a factual error.

This list has been adapted from: Writing Broadcast News--Shorter, Sharper, Stronger, 2d ed., a professional handbook by Mervin Block. It's published by Bonus Books, Chicago (800-225-3775).

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