Broadcast Writing Examples

A. Solitary

In Saginaw, Michigan, unruly students are being placed in solitary confinement again. The policy was previously discarded after several complaints by parents and some board members. This decision, made by the Carrolton School District, was reinstated by a 6 to 1 vote by the school board on Monday.

After four incidents of bad behavior, students are confined to small rooms for the entire school day, with two restroom breaks and lunch brought in. Infractions included things such as talking out of turn and forgetting class books.

High school principal David Pawley said that since the policy initiated at the beginning of the school year, 21 of 486 students have gone into solitary confinement.

B. Edison

The Bronx finds consolidated Edison guilty of gross negligence in connection with last July's 24-hour city blackout. The jury returned a damage award of 40,500 to Pageant Food Co. supermarket chain after a trial where $75,000 for spoilage and loss of business in the blackout was sought.

Con-Edison plans to appeal immediately, however a three-judge appeals panel ruled that Con Edison could be found liable if gross negligence was shown. Spokesman Irv Levine expresses confidence that the state exemption clause will be upheld in this case, as it was in residential case.

Con Edison claims its tariff exempts damage claims when service is interrupted "from causes beyond its control."

C. Twins

Identical twins adopted and raised by two different families reunite after discovering one another exist. The boys were separated at birth from an unwed, 14-year old girl in 1939.

They grew up in the Springer and Lewis family homes, 45 miles away from each other in Ohio. The Lewis twin learned from his adoptive family that he had a brother, and searched for him until he found him 60 years after birth.

Amazingly, the brothers found they had the same name; Jim, pet dogs named Toy, and took on the same career and hobbies. They also both had first wives named "Linda", second wives named "Betty", and sons named James Allen.

Researchers at the University found that their "brainwaves and heartbeat patterns are the same", and appeared as if one person had taken the same research tests twice.

D. Hoofer

A horse pulling a hansom cab was injured after being cut off by a New York taxi cab on Seventh Avenue and 52nd Street. Police found the horse's right hoof stuck in the rear bumper of the cab.

The horse was freed by a fire rescue unit, with a bad cut above his hoof, but not bad enough to need a horse ambulance. The horse was bandaged and sent on his way.