Caption: President Franklin Roosevelt examines a model of the proposed Quoddy Dam, Eastport, Maine in 1935. The project barely got off the ground before it failed miserably., Credit: National Archive.

Image by: National Archive.

President Franklin Roosevelt examines a model of the proposed Quoddy Dam, Eastport, Maine in 1935. The project barely got off the ground before it failed miserably.

#58 - Dam Radio Story

From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies
Series: SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling
Length: 17:14

Sometimes the first step is the hardest. Same with starting a story. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: #58 - Dam Radio Story
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Fdr

It’s hard to start a story. The first moments are often the hardest.

But, in short, the opening of a story should (most of the time) orient the listener to the focus of the story and get their attention. Frequently at Salt, we suggest a story start in the present. Then, after establishing a scene in the present, step away for context and history.

Producer Emily Friedman tried that approach again and again to no avail when writing the script of her piece “Dam Radio Story.” Every time she inserted context and history it “cannonballed” the opening. So, she switched them starting with history then the present. Not a big deal, to be sure, but her struggle to find a good opening is illuminating. Have a listen.

Also in the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series

Caption: Katie West smiles to change the world. , Credit: Avery Moore

#59 - Powered By Laughter (13:11)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

At Salt we say "Music is emotional fascism." It's a bit tongue-in-cheek. But, the idea is that you want to be VERY careful when you choose to use music for scoring a story.

Caption: Guglielmo Marconi, inventor and early radio technology pioneer. , Credit: Dibner Library for the History of Science and Technology

#57 - Song of Marconi (07:31)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Artist and writer Dennis Downey's essay on Marconi, an early radio pioneer, and talking on the radio.

Caption: Glenn Johnson's business card reads "Dowswer, Consultant to the Universe.", Credit: Katherine Hays

#56 - Dowser, Consultant to the Universe (12:25)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Dowswer Glenn Johnson makes a mistake.

#55 - How I Get By (14:35)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Focus. Focus. Focus.

Caption: The Guerette family of Pittston, Maine two years after attackers broke into their home with machetes. , Credit: Sarah Craig

#53 - Left For Dead (17:50)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

"Left for Dead" is probably the most gruesome story reported by a Salt student. It's not for the faint of heart.

#54 - No Brother of Mine (27:24)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Diane Richard and her husband Todd Melby sure know how to pick a project with a long uphill road to the finish line. On this Saltcast, we talk with Diane and Richard about ...

#52 - Just Another Fish Story (14:03)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

You didn’t hear this from me, but sometimes the best approach to working on a story is to not have much of a plan.

Caption: Nathan Dyer focuses hard — really hard — on the chandelier., Credit: Morrigan McCarthy

#51 - Portrait of a Psychic as a Young Man (11:47)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

Ninety-nine percent of the time, using the pronoun “I” in a story is a journalistic no-no. But sometimes, it's a useful storytelling tool.

#50 - Ghetto Life 101 (38:07)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

“Ghetto Life 101" is a high-water mark for radio documentary and the story featured on this edition of the Saltcast — our fiftieth!!

Caption: Jerry Blackburn, “The Junk King” of the Downeast region of Maine. , Credit: Alexandra Marvar, courtesy of the Salt archive

#49 - The Junk King (15:04)
From: Salt Institute for Documentary Studies

On this edition of the Saltcast, I chat with Salt alum Josh Gleason about framing a story and listen to his feature "The Junk King."

Piece Description

It’s hard to start a story. The first moments are often the hardest.

But, in short, the opening of a story should (most of the time) orient the listener to the focus of the story and get their attention. Frequently at Salt, we suggest a story start in the present. Then, after establishing a scene in the present, step away for context and history.

Producer Emily Friedman tried that approach again and again to no avail when writing the script of her piece “Dam Radio Story.” Every time she inserted context and history it “cannonballed” the opening. So, she switched them starting with history then the present. Not a big deal, to be sure, but her struggle to find a good opening is illuminating. Have a listen.