Keywords
Broadcast news, prosody, voice pitch, anchors, dimensions of journalism, broadcast, news format
Abstract
Individuals verbally express meaning not only through speech sounds and words but also prosodically through the pitch, loudness, and tempo of their voice. Through a quantitative analysis, this exploratory study examined the prosodic elements of mean pitch, pitch variability, and pitch range in a sample of 450 voice-overs and throws from 90 male and female broadcast reporters and anchors from larger markets across the United States. Findings indicate that compared to typical speakers in the general population, male broadcasters actually speak with an elevated mean pitch, more pitch variability, and use more range. However, female broadcasters were found to speak at slightly lower mean pitch levels when compared to other female speakers in the general population (but like males with more variability and range). It is hoped that this study will serve as a starting point in moving broadcast vocal coaching from that of just an art to a bit more of a science.
Original Publication Citation
Nissen, S. L., Randle, Q., Johnson, J., & Lynes, J. (2020). Prosodic elements for content delivery in broadcast journalism: A quantitative study of vocal pitch. Electronic News, 14(2), 63–77.
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Nissen, Shawn L.; Randle, Quint B.; Johnson, Jared L.; and Lynes, Jenny, "Prosodic Elements for Content Delivery in Broadcast Journalism: A Quantitative Study of Vocal Pitch" (2020). Faculty Publications. 7300.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/7300
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2020
Publisher
Sage Journals
Language
English
College
David O. McKay School of Education
Department
Communication Disorders
Copyright Status
© The Author(s) 2020
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