Jeff Butera

"Write Like You Talk" is a guide to broadcast news writing. Buy: “A broadcast news bible” “A master class in 150 pages." "A must-read."

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

If you have an issue with your book order (wrong address provided, lost in mail), please contact me!

[email protected]

There are easy fixes to problems and I will make sure you get your book!

Just reach out. Please!

#WriteLikeYouTalk

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

@therobdale

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

SUGGESTION!

No disrespect to our friends at AAA —

But their “Memorial Day Travel Forecast” is not news.

Our viewers don’t care. It’s irrelevant to them.

It’s just time-filler.

And the sooner we recognize we can’t simply ‘fill time,’ the better off we’ll be.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

One thing I’ve learned anchoring —

Mistakes are also opportunities.

When they’re obvious, cop to them and use them as a chance to humanize yourself.

Or, like here, turn it into GREAT TELEVISION:

https://t.co/1dGyv81yrv

[Brendan Keefe - Atlanta News First @BrendanKeefe]

Important note about investigative reporting: we always want govt officials on-camera. There's nothing better than an accountability interview. More and more, officials try to spike a story by refusing to participate. We never let their lack of participation stop us from airing an investigation built on facts.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

"Government silence is a statement, not a VETO." -- Sharyn Alfonsi, 60 Minutes

Damn right.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

The meeting isn't the news.

What happened *at* the meeting is the news.

The difference matters.

And your lead sentence should reflect that.

#WriteLikeYouTalk

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

Newsers —

This means you don’t call it a news conference.

Describe it as a “statement where Johnson took no questions.”

Any time a leader only says what they want and departs, viewers should know.

[Aaron Rupar @atrupar]

Mike Johnson ends his news conference without taking questions

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

h/t @Jhelmuth👏

[Jonathan Petramala @jpetramala]

Keep in mind, there is going to be a ton of #AI video showing fake impacts for #melissa Please only share content you know comes from a real human on the ground. Fake content like this can hurt a lot of people in emergencies.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

If you have specific content on the website that amplifies the story, I'm cool with highlighting it.

But make clear what's there and *why* you're sending people there instead of covering it on-air.

However, a blanket "go to our website for more" doesn't play with viewers.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

SUGGESTION --

Stop using the website as a crutch to end a story!

"Learn more at (station website)."

No. They're watching you NOW. Tell them NOW what's newsworthy now.

Don't give them homework.
Don't make them do something else.

Inform. Now.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

Glad you found it, Mike!

Anyone can order the second edition of "Write Like You Talk" at https://t.co/LZQIfoQGK6

It's an easy way to immediately improve your broadcast news writing!

Sample chapter: https://t.co/EWhFdG1zRz

[Mike Brice @MikeBrice]

I thought I lost this but found it today when I unpacked from our move. @WriteLikeUTalk

[newsradiod.bsky.social @NewsRadioD]

when you're pre-recording a newscast and audition decides to crash

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

That look when the show starts but the prompter ain't working

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

Consider --

What impacts the lives of your viewers more?

Let that be your guide.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

BUY: https://t.co/LZQIfoRezE

A review of “Write Like You Talk:”
🔽🔽🔽

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

🧵5. * You do not have to answer for other’s choices

All you have to do is answer for:

* Your own work.
* Your own choices.
* Your own product.

That's it. Do your job the right way.

Don’t internalize the rest.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

🧵1. For my friends in the news industry --

These are scary times. Viewers already know that.

You don’t need to add adjectives to scripts to tell them. They get it.

Let others convey magnitude of the confusion, anger & fear we all feel.

Focus on facts. That's our role.

[Jeff Butera @WriteLikeUTalk]

🧵4. You'll see some verbally attack the industry as a whole today. Some will do it every day for the rest of time.

REMEMBER:

* You're not a spokesperson for journalism

* You're not responsible for every decision other journalists make