Re:writing for radio-- a lost art?

[tklaundry@juno.com]

Donna writes:
But while some contemporary radio reporters and announcers do put forth a good effort, it often seems to me that respect for the beauty of the spoken word is becoming a casualty of an era dominated by clever graphics and eye-catching visuals.

Dave responds:
I couldn't agree more.  I recall some of the old timers who taught me would tell me stories about how they had to recreate baseball games before remote broadcasts became available...reading the line and box scores off the wire and creating the entire ballgame in their minds and on the air.  Unfortunately this art is dying.  Is TV to blame?  I don't think so, at least not entirely to blame.  Writing for the ear is very differnt than writing for the eye and I truely believe that the state of the industry is such that the greats and most of their students are not passing along the knowlege because there are fewer and fewer of them.  You are right, it is becoming a lost art.