Customer Reviews

Writing Broadcast News

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Ten years ago, I had the privilege of taking introductory radio writing from Mr. Block while earning my master's degree in journalism at Columbia University. If memory serves, Mr. Block also revisited my spring semester radio news course as a guest editor and instructor. He was a tough and fair instructor -- one of the many highlights of my year at 116th and Broadway.

Mr. Block's book has been indispensible to me ever since. Every so often, I reread a chapter to keep my writing fresh, and to jolt me out of the workaday rut so many reporters and anchors inhabit. Television news works on two levels, the words and the pictures, and it is a challenge and an art to make the two levels work together!

Whether you're a journalism 101 student or a seasoned professional, it never hurts to have this book on your desk (and occasionally at home!). Your viewers, producers, photographers, and managers will thank you!

To paraphrase Mr. Block, "if newswriting is easy, then you're doing something wrong." This book is for the lover of action verbs and simple words. You're taught to think and to see the beauty of simple writing. And if you want to be GOOD, you must learn to TELL a story. After you read this book, the news will likely not sound the same.

This is the bible of broadcast news writing. Well organized. I'm a 25 year veteran of broadcast news and I still find information in this book that improves my writing and reporting.

This book should be required for every broadcast writing class. I have learned so much from just the first chapter alone, that it has even changed the way I write personal notes. Thanks Mr. Block for inspiring those of us who want to be great writers instead of celebrity newswriters.

Better than Block's first edition. I like what he had done with this and I found it useful and even enjoyed reading it. Get it for your reference desk.

This is a great book for anyone looking to write news or brush up on their skills. Merv Block clearly explains the how and why of newswriting with excellent examples and real world experience.

This book is excellent, it is well written, and fun. It is great as a complement to classroom instruction or by itself as a starter/refresher course. I highly recommend it!

If you're trying to break into news on the AM/FM dial, this is a book that you must read and follow. It helps you format the way most of Radio Broadcasting does it today.