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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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LESSON 22
REVISION
Why to broadcast?
The foremost thing coming to mind is why it is so essential to broadcast something. Well,
growth in the size of societies requires some mechanism to keep people informed about a
number of developments taking place around them to make their life organized, smooth and at
times, to relieve them of their routine anxieties. Such rapid communication helps societies to
improve their quality of life as well.
Invention of Radio:
·
Discovering radio waves (1864) ­ An amazing piece of math's
·
Marconi's first wireless signal (1893) ­ Three dots that made history
·
The first transatlantic radio message (1901) ­ Cornwall to St. John's
·
Alum Bay, Isle of Wight (1897) ­ Marconi's first wireless station
CLASSIFICATION OF PROGRAMS:
Almost all the leading broadcasting houses have put their presentations in these distinct
categories namely:
·
News
·
Current Affairs
·
Programming
CURRENT AFFAIRS:
·
Talk Shows
·
Discussions
·
Interviews
·
Seminars
·
Live Shows
OUTDOOR BROADCASTING:
·
VIP Movement
·
Suddenly Assigned Events
·
Collecting Reactions
·
Road Shows
·
Regular Public Events
CURTAIN RAISERS:
·
Political
·
Financial
·
Sports
·
Academics
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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RADIO FEATURE
·
Personality Features
·
Features on PLACES
·
Features on Events
·
Occasional Radio Features
MUSICAL PROGRAMS:
·
Classical music
·
Semi classical music
·
Light and Film music
·
Folk Music
·
National songs/ Arifana Kalam/ Qawwalies
·
Popular Music
·
Musical Conferences
RADIO DOCUMENTARY:
·
Narrative
·
Musical
·
Dramatized
·
Insertions
DISC JOCKEY
The radio program production knows no limit. After having produced items of news, current
affairs, outdoor, dramas, features, interviews, music and documentaries there still remain
desire and room to do yet more. Radio produces almost on daily basis a range of programs
other than the ones mentioned just above, usually labeled as disc jockeys. The need of such
programs was felt when most radio stations decided to be on air for round the clock or more
than half the day. Earlier when the radio transmission was meant for limited hours of a day, the
length of radio program was also limited. There was little variety in the nature of programs. But
by going on air for longer spells of time, and with the involvement of commercial activities, the
radio stations felt a pressure to devise programs which must fill the time appropriately
VOICE IN BROADCASTING:
Speech:
·
Accent
·
Loudness
·
Stress
·
Stretch
·
Pauses
NOISE:
In a common way noise refers to sounds and voices. But in communication it means
altogether different. Anything, in any form, which distorts or hampers true meanings of a
message, is understood as noise. If we talk in general, we notice that more than often a
message does not reach the receiver the way it is intended by the sender, that is, it loses a
part of meaning, or the whole meaning, some where in the way. This situation frequently
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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results in creating misunderstandings between the sender/ broadcaster and the receiver/
listener.
·
Physical Barriers
·
Psychological barriers
·
Semantics
RADIO STUDIO:
A studio is a primary requirement of a broadcasting house. It is a room-like structure from
outside but from inside it is different. The first thing which makes it diverse is the special
treatment given to its walls which are covered with a variety of substances to ensure that no
sound passes through them. That is why they are called sound-proof. To make sure that no
sound is produced even if some one is walking on the floor of the studio, special leather
covering, or a carpet is put on it. The doors are so tightly closed that any sound produced
outside is not heard inside.
Studios are fitted with proper microphones, recoding system, lights and booths for producers
to control recordings or transmissions.
Here below are details of different forms of frequently used studios:
·
News Studio
·
Music Studio
·
Drama studio
·
VIP Studio
·
Studio for Talk Shows
RADIO DRAMA:
History of Drama
Radio Techniques
Ethics
Playwrights
Script
Special effects
ADVERTISEMENT
Income Generation
The Money, the Entertainment ­ the Revolution
Advertisers' Approach
Types of Ads
Insertion Orders
Sponsors ­ a new marriage of convenience
FM ­A New Generation in Broadcasting
Advantages & Disadvantages
FM Broadcasting Products
Handling the Broadcast
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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MICROPHONE ­ from human voice to electrical pulse
·
Amplifier
·
Modulator
·
Transmitter
Writing Script for Radio Broadcast:
NEWS Script
- Proper language (understood by most listeners)
- Simple words (at times difficult to find)
- Small sentences
- No jarring / jumbling
- Paragraphing
- Slugs
- Ethics
- Legal
- Proper terminology in IR...proper references
Script for Interviews
Like news, you can't afford a mistake of names, background, reference and the subject matter
while interviewing a person. The only safety is you first write down a script carrying questions
and all the references about the interviewee. In panel interviews sometimes supplementary
questions have to be scripted as other are putting questions in real time. Normal practice is to
employ people who should conduct research work on a topic or the personality before
questions are constructed. Some station engage top ranking researchers for this purpose. All
this exercise aims at making interviews one of the most attractive piece of broadcast. If you
have to hold an interview of a celebrity from the showbiz, it is pertinent to know a great deal
about the achievements of the star and then set questions. It is a poor show on part of a
broadcasting house, or the interviewer, to ask a celebrity to narrate his/her achievements.
Script for Talk Shows / Discussions
The opening remarks about the topic and the necessity to run a program, introduction of the
participants and the questions are all lying on the table as a script to begin a program. At
times some lines are so hard and fast, that the anchorperson has to rehearse them well
before the time. But much of the talk shows is the same as in the programs like interviews.
The anchorperson of talk shows must be equipped with information related to the person or
the topic. For example if the discussion is to take place on globalization of economy, the
compere must be familiar with the concepts of free market economy, the various rounds of the
World trade Organization to up date various provisions for the global trade, and at the top of it,
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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country's position on certain developments in the world trade, reaction of the business
community and the possible amendments which may remove obstacles in a smooth
international trade. From here on the discussion must start to find new ideas on various
aspects of the top under discussion. If this is not done this way, then the program would be
repeating things which are already in the knowledge of listeners.
Script for Documentaries & Radio Features
For all documentaries and radio features, a script must be ready before other formalities are
fulfilled. In documentaries the script may carry historical data as well. One thing which must be
taken care of is the choice of words which should be simple and understood by common
people without much botheration.
Script for Live Shows
Though it seems, the talent is saying something off the cuff, it is not so. All one is saying at the
mike in front of a huge gatherings like the live-shows, or awards giving ceremonies, is not only
strictly scripted but properly rehearsed for one can't afford to slip and cause embarrassment to
the producer and the station when VIPS and other bigwigs are around.
Script for Disc Jockeys
All Programs ­ children, women, forces, farmers, light-talk, film songs-based, announcements,
messages etc. are not without scripts. Since these programs carry a fair amount of talking,
pieces of advice, jokes, what to do and what not and ordinary statements/announcements, the
talents need a copy of script. Even a shift announcer is given a script to make announcements
for the programs and news bulletins to follow. The same script is also held by the producers to
make sure that a program goes according to the script.
Script for Dramas
Needless is to say that a drama needs a script; it has to be. In fact there is no concept of a
radio play without a script. Not only a formal script is required to produce a drama, the drama
script is so frequently punctuated with marks like cues and cautions; pauses, loud speech,
whisper, snobbish and the background musical effects.
These are the scripts, which are not only rehearsed for hours but sometimes for days; to the
satisfaction of the director before recordings begin. The following point should be kept in mind
while dealing with a script for dramas:
·
One-liner
·
Few Characters
·
Brief lines
·
All sound effects mentioned (radio script)
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Introduction to Broadcasting ­ MCM 411
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·
Story sequence well defined and easy to understand
·
Turning points fully emphasized
INTERACTIVE BROADCASTING
Interactive means getting a reaction of an action. In the terminology of broadcasting it refers to
asking something from a broadcaster/guest speaker and getting a quick reply.
·
Online
·
E-mails
·
Interviews
·
Views in News
Internet radio
Very drastic change is on its way in distance-listening which is likely to shake up the whole
present day structure and nature of broadcasting; the internet radio stations. There are
already many, though their penetration is not much but with the type of technologies available
in multimedia, this broadcasting style is likely to take the world by storm.
Pod-casting
Pod-casting should not sound strange if you are a Netizen. This is creating your own radio
station on the net with almost negligible cost- on software and little arrangement on what you
intend to broadcast. And no license taxes or checks applicable so far. It seems a fun at
present, tomorrow it will involve a commercial interest and by any business yardstick, will be a
formal way of broadcasting.
At present you only need to posses ample knowledge of RSS (Really Simple Syndication) files
which is a format which helps in making programs which you could allow your subscribers/
friends to access on your website. An added knowledge on MP3 format will be a great help
also. These two types of audio files do the whole business for you to run a broadcasting
facility on the Net.
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