Spots - Roll Back Malaria

STEP 3: ADAPT OR DEVELOP EFFECTIVE SPOTSmalaria. In general, government policy in most countries is that ANY fever inchildren under five should be treated with antimalarials. To be sure that thelistener understands this, you may need to use more than one of the commonwords for the different kinds of fever.8. State the positive, not the negative. In general, negative statements are harder forthe listener to understand. Frequently, he will actually hear that you want him todo the action, instead of NOT do it! For example:Poor: You will have greater chance of getting malaria if you do not use a treatednet.Better: Use treated nets to prevent getting malaria.HOW TO SET UP A RADIO SCRIPTThe radio script is more than just a text; it is a road map that helps the productionstaff prepare the spot as efficiently as possible. To do that, all of the spot's elementslinesto be spoken, instructions to the actors and announcers, sound effects andmusic-must be described clearly, accurately and completely and presented in astandardized form that everyone can follow. Radio producers in your country mayhave specific ways to prepare a script, but here are some widely used rules forscripting.How to format the script• Type the script. Typing should be neat, with no strikeovers or deletions. Someminor changes may be added in pencil, if necessary, but there is always the dangerthat penciled changes will not be clear and will cause problems during production.• Double-space the script. Use only one side of the paper.• Use standard-size paper. Choose a heavier grade that will not rattle whenhandled.• Number the pages. If the script is more than one page long, number all pages atthe top.• Number the lines. If you have a complex, longer script involving severalcharacters, music or sound effects, number the lines to help actors andannouncers know where to start during production. For short scripts, particularlyradio spots, the numbering is usually omitted.• Script headings or headers. At a minimum, headings should include the spot’stitle, client, product/idea (e.g., ITN, prompt treatment), medium, language andduration. The heading may also include target audience, message, key benefit—taken from the creative brief—and a number, if part of a series. Other helpfulinformation can include names of the writer, director and/or producer, date andtime of production, cast list, music and sound effects list.48 Spot On Malaria: Guide