Mornings with Steve Austin

During my internship at ABC News, I had the opportunity to work with ABC Radio Brisbane and Mornings with Steve Austin alongside Steve Austin, Ellen-Maree Elliot, and Helen Wright.

Under their guidance, I learnt how to pitch stories, write radio scripts, research talent, build relationships with contacts, answer live audience calls, and operate radio software, including AP ENPS, NETIA, and GV STRATUS. These are skills I consistently and continuously develop as they are vital for my career as a radio journalist.

As an example, here's radio segment I wrote based on a REIQ media release and a BOM segment for Steve to present on air as an example: 

ABC Local Radio Mornings with Steve Austin segment

If you’re looking to rent...it’s going to get harder.

The REIQ has released new data that shows your chances for getting a rental in Moreton Bay or the Sunny Coast is slim to none.

But you might have a chance in the Bay Islands or Isaac because they’re the only two places with a ‘healthy vacancy rate.’

Mornings with Steve is a breakfast radio show with a primary audience of 50-60 year olds. Therefore, the writing style must be conversational and easy to digest both for the reader and the presenter.

Working with the producers, I learned the show has three primary talking categories.

1. What have people talked to their friends about recently?

2. What's keeping them at night?

3. What stories should we be telling them from their community?

The above script fits into the third category as it concerns the housing and rental crisis. 

When I was writing this script, I was encouraged to use flowery language, metaphors, and similes. The most important thing was to write with a picture in mind. If I could not visualise my writing, I had to find another way. That's why I used phrases like "slim to none". 

Here's another radio script I wrote under the guidance of Ellen-Maree, the show's producer, in preparation for the show:

BOM ABC Local Radio Mornings with Steve Austin script

TEASE: In the next three minutes you’ll be hearing about the brewing cyclones up in the North with BOM.

You’ve been hearing about the potential for cyclones hitting Far North Queensland ... roaring winds, heavy rain, palm trees bent double ...

You know they’re bred tough up there ... but just how likely is a cyclone ... and will some of that wild reach the southeast.

XXXX XXXX is a Senior Forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology.

Q: How likely is it that these ‘Tropical Lows’ turn into full blown cyclones in the next few days?

Q: What can Far North Queenslanders expect over the next few days?

Q: Could it possibly reach us down here in Brisbane?

Q: Back here in Brisbane – what weather are we expecting over this weekend?

The above script is an interview segment with a Senior Forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology in preparation for low tropical. 

The writing is still conversational and uses metaphors to explain the weather in Far North Queensland. However, there are a few differences. First, there are ellipses in the sentence indicating a pause for dramatic flare or a suggestion of an incomplete thought. Secondly, I've used "XXX" for the talent as the talker was unknown at the time. Lastly, the questions are written with a "Q" at the front. 

Furthermore, a section called "TEASE" is written for the presenter to read out loud a few minutes before the segment. 

This exercise taught me how to write effectively and efficiently for a radio show, which is vital. I found it difficult at first as it differed from how I wrote scripts for other radio stations. However, I quickly gained experience and knowledge under Mornings with Steve and am now confident writing in this style.