0459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority?

2022.04.04 – 0459 – Does A Conversational Read Lessen Your Authority?

VOICE BOX

The best reads are a combination of intonation, volume, speed, pause, pitch – all slightly dialled up or down depending on the story, the sentence, the word, the situation, the audience…

But does being conversational lessen one’s authority? For example, in news reading.

Presenting ‘the facts’ you are the voice of authority, the trusted conveyor of important information. But if you sound too official, your message (arguably) won’t be received as well as it might were you to have a more accessible, engaging and authentic style.

There’s a balance to be struck:

·        Informal formality

·        Familiar but not overly

·        Relaxed but not lazy

·        Loose but in control

“Good radio speech should be:

Warm but not smarmy

Friendly but not intrusive or too cosy

Clear, but not over-elocuted or precise

Natural but not undisciplined, authoritative but not aggressive

Fluent but not unbelievable

Sympathetic but not patronising”

BBC Local Radio Training Manual, 1987

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