Writing Radio Cues
Simon Ford
In radio, the cue is your chance to sell your story.
Good cue writing is a core skill for journalists working in radio news. Get it right and you'll grab the listeners' attention. Get it wrong and the chances are they'll turn off - or tune in to another station.
Neil Churchman, a senior producer with years of experience in the BBC's radio newsroom in London, says there are two rules that must never be broken when writing a cue:
"Whatever you do, don't bore or confuse your audience. Some stories are simple and compelling; others can be rather dull and complex. Your job is to make people sit up, understand and take notice.
The cue is our shop window and we're selling news."
You can learn more about writing radio cues from the BBC College of Journalism website. The site is free to licence fee payers within the United Kingdom but you will be charged to access most of the content if you are outside the UK.
