Radio Programme Production: Qualities and Elements of a Radio Producer

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Qualities of a Radio Producer

Qualities of a Radio Producer

Elements of Radio Production

  • Studio: a sound proof and technologically rich studio is necessary to record and broadcast programmes.
  • Microphones: microphones are necessary to record audio. They amplify or in other words, increase the volume of your voice.
    • Unidirectional: This microphone picks up sound from one direction.
    • Bi- directional: The voice or sound is picked up from two directions. If you are recording an interview in a radio studio, you may use this type of a microphone.
    • Omni- directional microphone: it picks up sound from all directions.
  • Sound Effects: sound effects give meaning and sense of location to a programme. Most importantly, it gives realism.
Qualities of a Radio Producer
  • Music: music is the soul of radio. They not only play music to entertain people. Music forms the signature tunes for many programmes broadcasted.
    • Music adds colour and life to any spoken word programme.
    • Music can break monotony.
    • Music is used to give the desired effect of happy or unhappy situations, fear or joy.
    • Music can suggest scenes and locations.
  • Artificial Echo: An echo is used in radio programmes. This is a technical input.
  • Filter or Distort: If you listen to someone speaking to you on phone, the voice will not sound normal. This sort of effect called distort is produced using technology.
  • Human Voice: The main stay in any radio programme is the human voice. There are two aspects of the use of human voice in radio production. Firstly, there has to be a well written script to be spoken and then someone has to speak or read it before a microphone in studio.

Radio Programme Production

Radio Programme Production

Pre-Production

This is the first stage before the actual production. This involves five sub steps.

Pre-Production

First step is the conceptualisation of idea. Following is plan of action which includes deciding the venue and time of the programme, the format in which it has to be produced, and the equipment’ s required for the recording are decided. In this stage the selection of script writer is done. The third step involves cross checking of scripts and deciding whether it is suitable for broadcasting or not and modifications are done in this stage. Paper works involves when some out of the station persons are involved in the production. So, for their correspondence paper works are done in this stage. Fifth stage includes rehearsal.

Production

This is the actual process of recording and editing a radio programme. Proper studios, microphones and computers are required to record and edit the programme.

Post- Production

Writing to inform people involved in the production is a major activity during this phase. The programme has to be given publicity both on radio and in other media.

Writing for Radio

  • First of all, when it comes to radio, you listen to a person who is not seen.
  • The person speaks from a script written down earlier.
  • You feel that the person is talking to you.

The person sounds friendly and you have no problem in understanding what is being said.

  • You can call the language, or the words used in a radio script as the spoken word as against the written word or the printed word used in the print media.
  • Unlike the printed word, which is written for the eye, the spoken word is written for the ear.

Main characteristic of spoken word are:

  • Though it is written, it is spoken
  • It is written for the ear not the eye.
  • It is heard only once. The listener normally does not get a second chance to listen.

It is conversational and should therefore sound like one and have the following qualities:

  • It should be simply worded without any difficult or unfamiliar words.
  • The sentences should be short and simple and not complex.
  • There should be only one idea in a sentence and not many ideas.
  • Though there are thousands of listeners, the written material should be meant for just one listener. So, it should be speaking to one person.
  • The words chosen should denote the exact meaning and not be vague or abstract.
  • The words should make pictures in the minds of the listeners.
  • Abbreviations or short forms should be avoided. If an abbreviation is used, then its full form should be given.
  • If the script consists of big numbers, it can be rounded off to the nearest whole number.
  • While referring to more than one person, avoid using ‘he’ or ‘she’ . It can confuse the listeners.