Speechwriters prepare speeches for others, often in politics or business. They work with the speaker to understand the audience and purpose, and must be skilled in rhetoric and knowledgeable about various issues. They rarely receive recognition for their work.
A speechwriter is someone who prepares speeches to be delivered by someone else. Many speechwriters work in the political sector, dealing with creating speeches for government officials. They may also work in the commercial sector, working with CEOs and other public figures who want assistance in preparing speeches and presentations. This type of work requires a broad spectrum of skills and knowledge, as well as a willingness to take a backseat because speech writers are rarely recognized.
While many people understand that speechwriters are used to prepare speeches, and that many public speeches are not written by the person giving the speech, the speechwriter is rarely explicitly identified. Members of the public may be aware of the existence of a speechwriting team, as it is not uncommon for a single person to employ multiple writers, but team members are generally not credited for individual speeches.
A speechwriter starts by meeting with the person giving the speech to discuss the audience, the purpose of the speech, and the points that need to be conveyed. With these questions in mind, the speech writer writes a speech that integrates the desired points. It’s important to set the right tone, both for the audience and for the person giving the speech, as public officials like to maintain a consistent public face. Speech writer can integrate various signature lines or rhetoric that people associate with the speaker, for example.
Once prepared, the draft can be sent to the employee for review and grades are returned with all adjustment requests. Sometimes an entire speech needs to be scrapped and rewritten, and in other cases a speechwriter only needs to make a few changes. Once the speech is fully prepared for delivery, copies can be circulated on the media and the speech can be loaded into a teleprompter or similar device for use during the speech.
Being skilled in rhetoric and oratory is an important skill for a speechwriter, but not the only one. These professionals must also be familiar with a wide spectrum of issues and be able to translate complex information into terms that will be understood by the public. Many speechwriters have liberal arts and humanities backgrounds, but may also approach their careers from the sciences. In the case of a speech writing team, people with different skills can match different needs, ensuring that a speech is prepared by the person best suited for the job.
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