From the authoritative sound of NPR News to the intense human dramas of This American Life, public radio offers some of the most prestigious and exciting outlets in journalism. With the right pitch, you can take your story to air -- but don't expect to just hold your article in front of a microphone and read it! Whether it's commentary or reporting, writing for radio is a unique form, as distinct from magazines or newspapers as journalism is from playwriting.

Many radio outlets are hungry for the skills and depth of knowledge that print writers can bring to air, but producers are often too busy to cultivate them. We'll focus here on the craft of writing for broadcast, and the elements of a great radio story.

In this seminar, you will learn:

• The critical differences between print and radio writing
• Guidelines on successful interviewing for broadcast
• The importance of "casting" your story
• Five deadly sins of radio writing
• Tips on reading copy for air (and still sounding human)
• How to pitch your work to radio outlets