How%20to%20write%20programme%20descriptions%20for%20Radio%204

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How to write programme descriptions for Radio 4
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How to write drama programme descriptions for
Radio 4

• Things to remember
• Everything in your descriptions can be seen by
  the public (7 days before TX) including
  formatting and CAPITALS.
• The audience only ever see (a) the programme
  title and (b) one of your 3 programme
  descriptions. They need to be selfstanding
  texts.
• Descriptions need to sell your programme so
  remember to include presenter, writer and/or
  talent if relevant.
• The programme description will remain on the
  Radio 4 website and will generate the metadata to
  enable people to search for your programme.

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Who reads your descriptions

• MCA information for press release
• Red Bee Press (RT PA) listings etc
• Red Bee PIPS iPlayer and web
• Red Bee EPGs

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DeadlinesPrint (RT Press Association)

• To hit the print deadline for Radio Times you
  need your title and descriptions entered and
  approved in Proteus by at least 3 weeks before
  transmission.
• To be exact - because Radio Times compiles a
  whole week at a time - you need to have them
  entered and approved in Proteus by the Tuesday of
  the week 3 weeks before transmission.
• Press outlets are open to updates until the
  online deadline opens up.

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Deadlines

• Promotion deadline (including trails) Five Weeks
  prior to tx. (For a short series eg Book of the
  Week, if you do not have the information for
  each episode at this point just fill in the first
  form. But make sure you make amendments/ add info
  for all the episodes to meet the print deadline 2
  weeks later.

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DeadlinesOnline - EPGs, Digital Platforms,
websites

• The publishing day for EPG and online is 8 days
  before transmission.
• Anything entered into Proteus and approved before
  that date will be sent to EPGs and online.
• Digital platforms are updated continuously until
  one week after TX. Publishing delays mean it
  takes up to three hours before a change in
  Proteus appears on a webpage.

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Writing Programme Descriptions

• STOP thinking promo notes, billings and trails
  Now you need to supply programme descriptions of
  3 different lengths.
• You might find it easier to write the medium
  description first. Then sub it down to form the
  short description.
• Add more detail and the producers name for the
  long description (plus cast list and music
  details if required).

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Programme descriptionsShort description (90)

• Appears next to the title on 'lists' of
  programmes such as EPGs.
• A pithy summary of your programme. It needs to
  sell it to listeners so include talent / writers
  / presenters if relevant.
• It should describe the episode only.
• Dont just put the subtitle/episode title as your
  short description.

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Short Description - 'lists' of programmes
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Programme descriptionsMedium description (180)

• Provides information for people listening through
  their TVs or the pop out iPlayer.
• Expand on the short description - include the
  same key information and add detail.
• Include the presenters name (but not the
  producers name)

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Medium Description iPlayer console
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Programme descriptionsLong description (1800)

• Appears unedited on the Radio 4 website and is
  used for press information and trails.
• Despite the name, it doesnt need to be long it
  just needs to provide more detail. Think of it as
  like a book blurb without the hype. For books and
  dramas avoid plot spoilers.
• It is self-standing so include the same
  information as in the medium description. (You
  can just start with the medium description and
  then add another paragraph giving more detail)
• Aim for an information-rich description of the
  themes / people / places / stories your programme
  is about. And provide more detail about
  talent/writers if relevant.
• Use short sentences and avoid too many commas.
  Remember it is web/print copy not a radio script
  so write appropriately. Dont copy and paste the
  top of your script or the original proposal
  summary.

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Programme descriptionsLong description

• No Spoilers! - don't give away the plot.
• For series for the first episode include a
  series description as well as an episode specific
  description. For the remaining episodes just
  include episode-specific information, add series
  info if that would help with the context.
• For dramas include your cast list possibly
  music details.
• If you want to include a producer/director credit
  end with the producer's name as follows
  Producer (name)
• Check your descriptions before submitting.
  Spelling errors/misspelt names will look
  embarrassing on the website.

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Programme descriptionsLong description - iPlayer
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Programme descriptionsLong description -
/programmes
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General Formatting Advice Cast Lists

• Cast Lists should be laid out as follows
• Character Name .. Actor Name (Name, space, five
  dots, space, Name)
• Jill Archer ..... Patricia Greene Kenton
  Archer ..... Richard AttleeDavid Archer .....
  Timothy Bentinck
• If you want other credits to be published place
  them under the cast list and lay them out as
  shown below
• Incidental music composed by Steve Faux.
• Written by Caroline HarringtonDirected by
  Rosemary Watts
• Producer Julia DurbinEditor Vanessa Whitburn

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General Formatting Advice Cast Lists example
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General Formatting Advice Paragraphs

• Separate your paragraphs with TWO line spaces (so
  there's a blank line between paragraphs on the
  website).

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Paragraphs example (no spaces) -
http//www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s50lz
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Paragraphs example (spaces) - http//www.bbc.co.uk
/programmes/b00rz5vt
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General Formatting Advice CAPITAL LETTERS

• Never use CAPITAL LETTERS for emphasis.
• We find it harder to read capital letters as they
  have less distinctive features than lower case
  letters.
• When writers put important info in capitals we
  tend to skip it.

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General Formatting Advice CAPITAL LETTERS
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General Formatting AdviceCharacters

• Dont use accents or foreign characters, as some
  platforms cant display them. Use the nearest
  English equivalent. For example, use e instead of
  é.

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Donts

• Dont make your long description too long
• The marketing team only need c.200 words which
  accurately describe your programme anything more
  is a waste of effort on your part.

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Too long
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Donts

• Dont put your brand title (e.g. Book of the
  Week) in the long description. It will
  automatically be provided to all platforms by
  Proteus.

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Things to remember

• Don't repeat the 'Brand' title in the
  episode/series title

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Donts

• Dont enter the programme TX details in the long
  description e.g. day, date, repeat, or time
  this information is provided automatically.
• Join us this afternoon at two fifteen for our
  afternoon play
• (rpt)

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Donts

• Dont include time-specific references
• next month
• this week
• Next week will look at
• It wont make sense on the website. Especially
  post TX, and when the page becomes an archive
  page.

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Donts

• Dont include references to episode numbers
• In this final episode, we witness gunshots
• In five episodes for
• In show 1 of 4
• Part 2 the shocking truth
• The episode number and total are already
  published on the webpage under More Details.
  Also, where no text based title is available Red
  Bee will assign a default episode title, e.g.
  Episode 1.

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Donts

• Dont use these words in your long description.
• PROMO NOTE
• NOTES
• DESCRIPTION
• BILLINGS
• These terms mean nothing to the audience.

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Episode titles

• Production Users can now edit the public-facing
  programme title via the Episode Title field in
  Proteus.

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Episode titles

• The episode title no longer needs to be in the
  programme description.

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Editing episode titles

• To edit the Episode Title log on to Proteus as
  normal, find the episode you want to edit, click
  on Core Details and then click on the Edit
  button
• Fill in the Episode Title and click on Save.

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Episode titles Google

• A good Episode Title adds another layer of
  information. Anyone searching Google for a guest
  or subject will be much more likely to find your
  programme if you include the subject or guests
  name in the Episode Title than if you only have
  it in the description.

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Episode titles Google
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Episode titles Google
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Episode titles Google
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Episode titles Google
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No episode title?

• If you don't edit the Episode Title either the
  TX date (05/05/2010) or the episode number
  (Episode 3) will appear.
• If that's what you want you don't have to enter
  an Episode Title at all.

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No episode title Episode 1(A series with total
number of episodes broadcast)
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No episode title TX Date(An ongoing Brand -
without a total number of episodes)
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Things to remember Consider your potential
audience

• What will they be searching for?
• What would make them want to listen to your show?
  
• Get those words into the title.

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Consider your potential audience(example)
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Consider your potential audience(example)
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Things to remember Be as short as possible

• Be as short as possible the Episode Title will
  appear on a number of different platforms, some
  of which will cut off after 34 characters. Let
  your short, medium and long Programme
  Descriptions cover the detail.

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Things to remember Be consistent

• Either edit all your programme titles
  consistently, or only edit the Episode Title when
  you want a particular episode to really stand out
  from the rest.

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Consistent episode titles example
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Stand out episode title example
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Things to remember

• Anything longer than 34 characters will be cut
  short on some platforms

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Things to remember Magazine programmes

• Always include the lead item, consider how to
  separate items.

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Things to remember

• For most short series and documentaries a
  descriptive Episode Title will be beneficial. but
  a clever cryptic title will not.

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Proteus

• Descriptions need to be APPROVED

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Proteus

• Repeats need to be APPROVED and COPIED

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Drama Description long descriptionIn a nutshell

• Author
• Brief overview
• Episode specific description
• Cast list
• Music
• Production team
• Production company (if independent)

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Best Practice examples
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Programme descriptionsBest Practice - Single
Drama example (The Loop)

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Programme descriptionsShort Description (The
Loop)

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Programme descriptionsMedium Description (The
Loop)
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Programme descriptionsLong Description (The Loop)
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Metadata ACP team

• For further information or guidance please speak
  to your relevant Metadata ACP
• Radio 1, 1xtra, Asian Network - Hina Siddiq
• Radio 2, 6music Joe Sandford
• Radio 3 Georgie Robinson,
• Radio 4, Radio 7 Mark Fallon,
• Radio 5 Live Paul Harris
• Or view the Proteus User Guides at
  http//home.gateway.bbc.co.uk/proteus/manuals.htm

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