How to Write a Radio Story from a Police Release
Turning Cop Talk to the Media into a Good Broadcast Script
Feb 11, 2009
Police are usually good about sending out releases about big stories, but the release that comes into your station's email box might not read like one at first. Here are some tips to spruce, trim and shape it into a good write.
Cut Down Dating Details
Police often write down a lot of details about the date and time because it is important for their reports. You can say ‘morning,’ ‘afternoon’ or ‘night.’ Also make sure to check the date, sometimes police will send a release today about an incident that happened a few days ago.
Find Key Points
Releases are often written in chronological order. Your job is to find the most important point and make that your lead sentence to get the attention of the listener. Ask yourself what would you tell a friend if you heard this story. Most people would not start out saying police received a call about an incident, they would start talking about how a man was shot dead.
Make it Conversational
Formal language is often used in releases, but writing for radio is more conversational. So ‘female’ or ‘male,’ should be changed to ‘woman’ or ‘man.’ Instead of ‘deceased’ it’s better to say ‘someone died’ or ‘is dead.’
Clichés & Redundancies
Watch for clichés like ‘flee on foot,’ you can just say the person ran. Also watch for redundant phrases like ‘on the scene,' just cut that part out. Or 'an older man in his sixties' -- 'a man in his sixties' is all you need.
Check Information
Check the spelling and the common sense factor when reading a release, police can be in a hurry to send it out and sometimes make mistakes. Releases usually include a contact number, so go ahead and call the police department if you are unsure of any information.
Add Background Information
Add information to the story if you can. Is this a high-crime area? Have similar crimes happened here before or involved the same people? Is it a quiet neighbourhood where such violence would be shocking?
Sample Police Media Release
Westown Police received a call regarding an incident at a residence within the 1400 block of Chase Street at approximately 22:35 on March 16th, 2009. Officers were dispatched to the premises immediately, whereupon they discovered a deceased male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds in a room at the Wild Rose Hotel. Officers interviewed witnesses on the scene and it is believed that an altercation happened in a third floor suite within said complex.
Witnesses told police officers that they had heard yelling and threats between two men and later several gunshots fired. An older male in his sixties and a female in her teens were seen fleeing on foot from the room and the hotel soon after. We have not ruled out foul play in this incident and consider it a suspicious death where investigators are continuing to speak to witnesses. Pending contact with the deceased’s family, no further details will be released about the victim.
Sample Rewrite for Radio
A man is dead after a shooting in Westown tonight. Witnesses say they heard fighting and then gun shots coming from a room at the Wild Rose Hotel on Chase Street. A man in his sixties and a teenage girl were seen running from the room soon after. RCMP are interviewing witnesses and searching for suspects. They’ve been to this hotel before, last year a Red Rose gang member was shot to death in the parking lot.
Remember the key to rewriting a police news release is to boil it down to its main points, add background information and keep it conversational.
