Radio Journalism

Week 3

Radio is;

1. The reporting of a story or finding the correct people to report the story.

2. 'Painting a picture' by creating ambience, 'texture' and visual imagery.

Headlines are made up of bulletins, news programmes, magazine programmes and documentaries (an extended period of time, spent on one topic). They consist of a one line summary of each of the main stories and either precedes a bulletin or programme which then revisits stories in detail.

Bulletins are conventionally of 2-5 minutes duration and usually start with headlines. In a small size organisation, the role of a newsreader and journalist are fused, but in larger institutions such as the BBC, journalists are the ones gathering the info and the newsreader reports the news to the public i.e. Charlotte Green. There is also a voicer or voicepiece, who bulks up the story. This is needed is order to give details that require special attention and also ensure that a number of different voices are to used  to keep the attention of listeners. There may also be a two-way report with another reporter. Audio cuts are short interviews i.e. a clip with Howard Jacobson discussing how it felt winning the booker club prize, press conferences, expert comments and actuality. Vox pops are also used but must have a purpose and not only to fill a period of time in the bulletin.

News programmes often begin with headlines and/or a short bulletin and explore top stories in greater detail. A good example of this is the 'Today' programme on Radio 4. They include additional stories related or unrelated to top stories. Interviews are both live and pre-recorded if a digital network is available. Outside broadcasts occur, allowing a two-way report. There is often a debate, comment and commentary on a particular topic. Packages are also produced and used in news programmes.

Magazine Programmes may either be narrow or wide-ranging, but generally have specific remit i.e. You and Yours. They are less likely to include headlines or bulletins, but may react to the top stories of the day. They often cover issues both topical and timeless, or may use a topical story as the peg on which to hang an otherwise timeless issue. The timeless issue does not necessarily have to be big. These may use of the same types of content used by a news programmes and also may include other items e.g. phone-ins or other listener interactions.

In packages the cue is read by the presenter and may include an introduction and conclusion by the reporter or participant. They may include reporter links recorded either in the studio or on location. The package will include one or more interviewees and may include vox pops, music, sfx, actuality and archive clips. All of these elements are then packaged together.

Documentaries are extended packages or features, which explore a particular subject or issue in much greater depth than is possible in a news or magazine programme. They will draw on the same conventions and types on content.

Radio Formats are described by OFCOM as 'one of the main tools by which a radio station's character of service is set and monitored'. Radio formats define a station's music policy and content. The Broadcasting Act 1990 set up the radio authority which governs commercial radio stations and PSB stations such as the BBC. Although, many argue that PSB stations practically govern themselves as they have an individual charter. The act gives the power to award licences for a limited number of national and local radio stations. Licences are opened to competitive 'tender'. Formats are needed to ensure that stations 'fulfil their remit to the listener' and ensure broad demographic coverage. They also ensure a clearly defined and refined product, so the station knows what they need to deliver and clarifies the market position in terms of advertising.

Demographics concern the age, gender, region and social class of listeners;
a. Upper middle class
b. Middle class
c1. Lower middle class
c2. Skilled working class
d. Working class semi
e. Pensioners, casuals, people on benefits and students.

Formats concern;
1. the music and/ or speech content i.e. Talk or personality
2. the style of the music i.e. adult contemporary or contemporary hit radio
3. the time period covered
4. the music actuality level
5. the music sophistication i.e. Radio 1 vs. Radio 6.

Radio news reporting;

1. Grab attention immediately
2. Cut the waffle - don't use 10 words when 2 will do, avoid repititions and avoid long words and  complicated sentence structures
3. Avoid clichés, melodrama and emotive language
4. Express yourself clearly. Watch the grammar and sentence structure
5. Remember your target audience
6. Say it out loud
7. Watch the mechanics - 1 and a half line spacing, one side of the page only and NEVER handwritten.