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How to write programme
descriptions for Radio 4
How to write drama programme descriptions
for Radio 4
• Things to remember
• Everything in your descriptions can be seen by the public
(7 days before TX) including formatting and CAPITALS.
• The audience only ever see (a) the programme title and
(b) one of your 3 programme descriptions. They need to
be self–standing texts.
• Descriptions need to sell your programme – so
remember to include presenter, writer and/or talent if
relevant.
• The programme description will remain on the Radio 4
website and will generate the metadata to enable people
to search for your programme.
Who reads your descriptions
• MC&A – information for press release
• Red Bee – Press (RT & PA) – listings etc
• Red Bee – PIPS – iPlayer and web
• Red Bee – EPGs
Deadlines
Print (RT & Press Association)
• To hit the print deadline for Radio Times you need your
title and descriptions entered and approved in Proteus
by at least 3 weeks before transmission.
• To be exact - because Radio Times compiles a whole
week at a time - you need to have them entered and
approved in Proteus by the Tuesday of the week 3
weeks before transmission.
• Press outlets are open to updates until the online
deadline opens up.
Deadlines
• Promotion deadline (including trails)
Five Weeks prior to tx. (For a short series
eg Book of the Week, if you do not have
the information for each episode at this
point just fill in the first form. But make
sure you make amendments/ add info for
all the episodes to meet the print deadline
2 weeks later.
Deadlines
Online - EPGs, Digital Platforms, websites
• The publishing day for EPG and online is 8 days
before transmission.
• Anything entered into Proteus and approved
before that date will be sent to EPGs and online.
• Digital platforms are updated continuously
until one week after TX. Publishing delays
mean it takes up to three hours before a change
in Proteus appears on a webpage.
Writing Programme Descriptions
• STOP thinking promo notes, billings and trails…
Now you need to supply programme
descriptions of 3 different lengths.
• You might find it easier to write the medium
description first. Then sub it down to form the
short description.
• Add more detail and the producer’s name for the
long description (plus cast list and music details
if required).
Programme descriptions
Short description (90)
• Appears next to the title on 'lists' of programmes
such as EPGs.
• A pithy summary of your programme. It needs to
sell it to listeners so include talent / writers /
presenters if relevant.
• It should describe the episode only.
• Don’t just put the subtitle/episode title as your
short description.
Short Description - 'lists' of programmes
Programme descriptions
Medium description (180)
• Provides information for people listening through
their TVs or the “pop out” iPlayer.
• Expand on the short description - include the
same key information and add detail.
• Include the presenter’s name (but not the
producer’s name)
Medium Description – iPlayer console
Programme descriptions
Long description (1800)
• Appears unedited on the Radio 4 website and is used for press
information and trails.
• Despite the name, it doesn’t need to be long – it just needs to
provide more detail. Think of it as like a book blurb without the hype.
For books and dramas avoid plot spoilers.
• It is self-standing so include the same information as in the medium
description. (You can just start with the medium description and then
add another paragraph giving more detail)
• Aim for an information-rich description of the themes / people /
places / stories your programme is about. And provide more detail
about talent/writers if relevant.
• Use short sentences and avoid too many commas. Remember it is
web/print copy not a radio script so write appropriately. Don’t copy
and paste the top of your script or the original proposal summary.
Programme descriptions
Long description
• No Spoilers! - don't give away the plot.
• For series – for the first episode include a series description as well
as an episode specific description. For the remaining episodes just
include episode-specific information, add series info if that would
help with the context.
• For dramas include your cast list & possibly music details.
• If you want to include a producer/director credit end with the
producer's name as follows: Producer: (name)
• Check your descriptions before submitting. Spelling errors/misspelt
names will look embarrassing on the website.
Programme descriptions
Long description - iPlayer
Programme descriptions
Long description - /programmes
General Formatting Advice
Cast Lists
•
Cast Lists should be laid out as follows:
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Character Name ….. Actor Name (Name, space, five dots, space, Name)
•
Jill Archer ..... Patricia Greene
Kenton Archer ..... Richard Attlee
David Archer ..... Timothy Bentinck
•
If you want other credits to be published place them under the cast list and lay them
out as shown below:
Incidental music: composed by Steve Faux.
Written by Caroline Harrington
Directed by Rosemary Watts
Producer: Julia Durbin
Editor: Vanessa Whitburn
General Formatting Advice
Cast Lists example
General Formatting Advice
Paragraphs
• Separate your paragraphs with TWO line
spaces (so there's a blank line between
paragraphs on the website).
Paragraphs example (no spaces) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s50lz
Paragraphs example (spaces) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rz5vt
General Formatting Advice
CAPITAL LETTERS
• Never use CAPITAL LETTERS for emphasis.
• We find it harder to read capital letters as they
have less distinctive features than lower case
letters.
• When writers put important info in capitals we
tend to skip it.
General Formatting Advice
CAPITAL LETTERS
General Formatting Advice
Characters
• Don’t use accents or foreign characters,
as some platforms can’t display them. Use
the nearest English equivalent. For
example, use e instead of é.
Don’ts
• Don’t make your long description too long
• The marketing team only need c.200
words which accurately describe your
programme; anything more is a waste of
effort on your part.
Too long
Don’ts
• Don’t put your brand title (e.g. Book of the
Week) in the long description. It will
automatically be provided to all platforms
by Proteus.
Things to remember
 Don't repeat the 'Brand' title in the episode/series title
Don’ts
• Don’t enter the programme TX details in
the long description e.g. day, date, repeat,
or time – this information is provided
automatically.
• Join us this afternoon at two fifteen for our
afternoon play
• (rpt)
Don’ts
• Don’t include time-specific references
• next month
• this week
• Next week will look at …
• It won’t make sense on the website. Especially
post TX, and when the page becomes an
archive page.
Don’ts
• Don’t include references to episode numbers
•
•
•
•
In this final episode, we witness gunshots …
In five episodes for …
In show 1 of 4: …
Part 2: the shocking truth …
• The episode number and total are already published on
the webpage under More Details. Also, where no text
based title is available Red Bee will assign a default
episode title, e.g. Episode 1.
Don’ts
• Don’t use these words in your long description.
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PROMO NOTE
NOTES
DESCRIPTION
BILLINGS
• These terms mean nothing to the audience.
Episode titles
• Production Users can now edit the publicfacing programme title via the Episode
Title field in Proteus.
Episode titles
• The episode title no longer needs to be in
the programme description.
Editing episode titles
• To edit the Episode Title log on to Proteus as normal,
find the episode you want to edit, click on ‘Core Details’
and then click on the ‘Edit’ button:
• Fill in the Episode Title and click on ‘Save’.
Episode titles & Google
A good Episode Title adds another layer of information.
Anyone searching Google for a guest or subject will be
much more likely to find your programme if you include
the subject or guest’s name in the Episode Title than if
you only have it in the description.
Episode titles & Google
Episode titles & Google
Episode titles & Google
Episode titles & Google
No episode title?
If you don't edit the Episode Title either the
TX date (05/05/2010) or the episode
number (Episode 3) will appear.
If that's what you want you don't have to
enter an Episode Title at all.
No episode title = Episode 1
(A series with total number of episodes broadcast)
No episode title = TX Date
(An ongoing Brand - without a total number of episodes)
Things to remember
Consider your potential audience
• What will they be searching for?
• What would make them want to listen to
your show?
• Get those words into the title.
Consider your potential audience
(example)
Consider your potential audience
(example)
Things to remember
Be as short as possible
 Be as short as possible – the Episode Title will appear
on a number of different platforms, some of which will cut
off after 34 characters. Let your short, medium and long
Programme Descriptions cover the detail.
Things to remember
Be consistent
• Either edit all your programme titles
consistently, or only edit the Episode Title
when you want a particular episode to
really stand out from the rest.
Consistent episode titles example
Stand out episode title example
Things to remember
 Anything longer than 34 characters will be cut
short on some platforms
Things to remember
Magazine programmes
 Always include the lead item, consider how to
separate items.
Things to remember
• For most short series and documentaries a descriptive
Episode Title will be beneficial. but a clever cryptic title
will not.
Proteus
• Descriptions need to be APPROVED
Proteus
• Repeats need to be APPROVED and
COPIED
Drama Description long description
In a nutshell
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Author
Brief overview
Episode specific description
Cast list
Music
Production team
Production company (if independent)
Best Practice examples
Programme descriptions
Best Practice - Single Drama example – (The Loop)
Programme descriptions
Short Description (The Loop)
Programme descriptions
Medium Description (The Loop)
Programme descriptions
Long Description (The Loop)
Metadata ACP team
• For further information or guidance please speak to your
relevant Metadata ACP:
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Radio 1, 1xtra, Asian Network - Hina Siddiq
Radio 2, 6music – Joe Sandford
Radio 3 – Georgie Robinson,
Radio 4, Radio 7 – Mark Fallon,
Radio 5 Live – Paul Harris
• Or view the Proteus User Guides at:
http://home.gateway.bbc.co.uk/proteus/manuals.htm
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