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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

LESSON 07

RADIO FEATURE

A regular feature of radio programs is broadcasting radio features. This broadcasting product

meant giving a detailed look to subjects, which are not possible to be covered by other

programs. In radio features a production team is engaged and assigned various tasks starting

from selection of the topic to conducting research and updating it, if required before sending

things for post-production.

These features can be placed in four separate columns.

Personality Features

Perhaps the common most radio features could be placed here. At time you wish to provide a

detailed view of a person, its life achievements, living style, and contribution to the sphere of

his profession. For Instance, Dec 25 is approaching and the broadcasting house is mindful to

produce a feature on Quaid-i-Azam. A team would be set up much before that day to prepare

a feature to be aired on that date. The feature will comprise a complete profile of Quaid's life,

his thoughts, struggle, campaigns, political odds he faced, parleys he held with the Raj and

congress party, his leadership qualities, research done by various scholars and references of

books and articles written on him and with the conclusion which is relevant today. And if the

feature is on Mirza Ghalib we must be passing through a similar exercise with the only

difference that instead of political aspect, we would be emphasizing more on the literary side

of his personality, his contemporary poetry, and how he has been understood by towering

literary persons afterwards.

Features on PLACES

An interesting point in features is the introduction of new and old places to the listeners.

People are always keen in knowing about places. A radio feature comes handy in knowing so

much in a brief time about the spots one wishes, either to go for the purposes of visiting or

staying there for other reasons. Other than such places, there are spots of historical

importance people want to know about.

There may be a feature on the city of Lahore which will include its old civilization, growth,

battles, invasions, cultural transition, recent history and the living style of people. There may

be a feature on the same pattern about Peshawar and the historical Khyber Pass. A feature on

Shalimar gardens, Murree hills, Minar-e-Pakistan, Texila remains or Mohenjodaro will be of

immense interest.

Features on Events

Human life is full of events. Some events stand out distinguished for their far reaching

impressions on societies. Like the Lahore resolution on March 23, 1940. Great world wars,

and in the recent memory, 9/11. Radio feature on events would tell listeners about all the

background and the consequences on societies of these events. These events need a lot of

care and mentioning one wrong fact may spark a controversy, difficult to handle later!

And it is not just about the current situations, a radio feature could be on some historical

events like the Second World War. How it all begun and how the early events of Germany like

taking control of neighboring countries created panic among the other European nations? The

surrender of France but defiance by the British, and involvement of Russia. It would all mark

some very interesting points for the people who know very little about this mad war killing; over

six million people all around the world, not to ignore dropping of the atomic bombs by the USA,

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Introduction to Broadcasting MCM 411

on two cities of Japan. And the end of war when Allied forces almost after a dreaded war for

six years were able to push German forces back into their country but occupying the Germany.

There is no dearth of historical events to make a radio feature from the subcontinent. For

instance the war of liberty by the united Indian forces against the Raj of East India Company in

1857 and its failure.

Occasional Radio Features

These features come in broadcasting life once. If president of a country is visiting to an

important foreign city, especially first time, a feature would be a great help in explaining

various aspects of life there and the reasons why that city has been picked for the visit.

This area makes a large scope for the new producers who want to make radio features

because in these features there is no fear of mis-reporting a historical fact. Since more of the

facts are brought in the knowledge of listeners for the first time, a producer is in a safe position

relatively, to handle various aspects of the program. But it is always advisable to check the

facts before they are aired, for the broadcasting is irreversible once a program with all its

elements has been broadcast, there is no way to cancel those points which have been mis-

reported. And even if at some later stage a correction has been made, you are never sure that

the listeners who heard the first transmission also heard the other part in which corrections

were announced.

That is not end of the road as far as producing radio features is concerned. There is much

more which could still be done in this area like doing this exercise to discuss ideas, laws, role

of parliament, primary or higher education, visits of troupes from other countries, a novel

feature film creating ripples in the cinema world etc.

But when ever a radio feature is produced it is mandatory on the producers to check the facts

twice and make sure that nothing goes against the ethics for it may invite a very strong

reaction if some thing is mentioned against the common belief of the people, where the

program is heard. Similarly, there is a need to make clear that nothing goes against the legality

of the facts to be mentioned in the feature. A good producer always makes his/her presence at

the time of editing of the program to further ensure that the final cut of the program has been

done just in accordance with the original script.