How to write a radio show

As surprising as it may seem, on radio and podcasts, there is a lot of writing involved. There is little room for improvisation on the air, with the exception of live sports coverage. Radio writing must be primarily “spoken”. Hence the use of simple words and sentence constructions… Never forget that radio is the most ephemeral media, the one that we listen to most often in the “worst” conditions, while doing something else. So you always have to consider these circumstances. Here are some tips on how to write a radio show.

1) Write as if there was a friend listening

In radio, there is a form of tacit agreement between the listener and the commentator. It is an accompanying medium, where information must be concise and precise. In order to write a radio show, you have to be simple. It is sometimes tempting to display one’s knowledge to show off. Likely consequences? Boredom, fatigue, feelings of contempt or, even worse, changing your station / podcast.

2) Do your homework

Remember, if you are doing a live interview, such as with a guest in the studio or on the phone, you need to prepare for it. This will allow you to ask all possible questions during the interview, which means you need to prepare your topic to know how your guest will respond.

3) When you write a radio show: be visual

The hard part about being a radio presenter, since your listeners can’t see you, is creating engagement with them. So make sure you paint a picture for them so they can easily imagine your topic. This doesn’t mean you have to talk about every detail, but remember that your audience doesn’t have a visual aid when they listen to your radio show. So make sure they can easily see what you are talking about so they don’t lose interest in your live broadcast. A song can help.

4) When you write a radio show: be theatrical

A radio commentator cannot limit themselves to reading a classical text. They must bring it to life, make it theatrical, entertaining, moving, sharp. To achieve this, the subject-verb-complement model can be a starting point for your creativity. This applies especially for children.

There is no right or wrong way to write a radio show, but don’t forget to let your personality shine! Don’t be afraid to tell short stories or anecdotes about your life, this will also help you connect with your audience.