Writing the profile, questions for listening...and more

By next week, we want to have our scripts ready for our "profile piece." Here's another listening example that might help give you ideas. It's from the oldest and most common type of profile: The obit. British science fiction novelist Arthur C. Clarke died Tuesday in Sri Lanka, where he lived for more than 50 years. He was 90 years old. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports on his life and career.

As you're listening to this piece - apply this series of listening practices. It's meant not only for editors, but reporters who want to give a self-critical listen as well.

One of the things we want our profile to have is a "scene" - a part of the script where sound can help to tell the story. A place where you're "showing" and not telling. Here's some information on how to "set the scene" in a radio piece.

Lastly, I want to draw your attention to this "statement of ethics" for broadcast reporting. It's important to keep rules like this in mind, when you're doing any story - especially one about an individual. You should always be concerned that your reporting meets some basic guidelines, even when the story isn't thought to be "controversial."