Script Writing

The Elmbridge and Runnymede Talking Newspaper weekly script is normally prepared on Tuesday morning in readiness for the Thursday recording and the studio is reserved at this time for this purpose. It can be prepared later, if necessary, anytime until Wednesday evening. However, if the script is not prepared on Tuesday morning, care must be taken to ensure that the studio is available. Our volunteers work from a Rota that is pinned to the notice board in our office and sent out to all volunteers.

We keep to the regular, familiar structure of the script – using two presenters, a man and a woman - which contains all the regular weekly features, between which the news and other features are inserted as follows:

1. Side One opens with the Introductions and a summary of the main headline stories.
2. The Personal Column for the Week features, for those listeners who have given their agreement, birthday greetings coming up in the coming week. This personal column is also used to welcome new listeners, who have consented, giving their name and township of residence (not complete address) and encourage them to send in comments, criticisms or other messages of interest via our Helpline.
3. Then follows space for the first three sections of news; the main front-page stories, local issues including law and order and education, and finally stories of human interest.
4. 4 Side Two: Here the opening remarks are followed with details of audio described performance in nearby cinemas for the coming week. We are fortunate in having these facilities in Woking, Guildford and Kingston. Similarly, details of audio described theatre performances at theatres are also given when available, from time to time.
5. Additional items, such as public notices are also included as appropriate. These can be details of refuse collection at holiday times, holidays for visually impaired people, the popular series of Royston Pike lectures at Esher,, public service notices and press releases from the local authorities, etc.
6. Then follow the remaining three sections of reports on recent events and notices of forthcoming ones, nostalgia and historical items recalling local people and places from the past and the final general and human interest stories