5 tips for improving your audio storytelling skills

By MARILYN GEEWAX

Former senior business news editor, National Public Radio

Audio journalism is gaining in popularity even as some other media forms are declining. To succeed as an audio journalist, you need to master the basics of journalism. But these additional tips will help you succeed in this growing field of audio storytelling.

1.   Keep polishing your introduction; make it shine.

Audience metrics show that listeners will give a radio news story or podcast 22 seconds before deciding to stay or move on. If you want listeners to stay with you, you MUST grab their attention in those first precious seconds. With so many podcasts and radio stations available, listeners have lots of choices. They will choose your work only if you can intrigue them quickly. Test out your intro on your colleagues to see if it holds their attention.

2.   Tell a story with a beginning, a middle and an end.

Podcasts and audio news stories are popular because many people feel overwhelmed by data and want someone to tell them a story that makes sense. Humans evolved while sitting around a campfire, listening to stories. That’s how our brains are wired. So help people understand new information by taking them along on a word journey.  Begin by telling them what they will learn from your work; then lay out the information and finally, wrap it up by leaving the listener with a clear recap of your main points.  

3.    Remember: people are busy.

 Audio news allows people to learn while multi-tasking. Your listeners probably are driving or exercising or doing housework or cooking. So keep it simple! Don’t use a lot of jargon and confusing numbers. For example, don’t say: “After-tax earnings were down 52.1% in the second quarter.” Do say: “Profits dropped by about half in recent months.”

4.   Avoid simple metronome pacing.

Avoid boring your listeners by going back and forth at an even pace between the sources and reporter. Change the tempo to keep it interesting.

5.    Don’t Waste Words.

Write like you talk, but without the wasted words. No one wants to hear you repeatedly say: “you know” or “right?” Keep your script clean; sweep away the wasted words.