What you might have noticed with the units that you've started so far is that they tend to follow a pattern - first you have to analyse the industry behind things, then you have to plan your own product, and then you have to create. The radio unit you'll be doing with me this year is called TALK AND MUSIC RADIO PRODUCTION and follows this process. In this unit you're going to analyse a radio station, then analyse ONE of the shows broadcast on that station and finally plan, record and edit your own radio show. You will be assessed on your analysis, the planning you put into your show , and the final show you'll make. Again, good planning makes for a good finished product. Stay on top of it and you'll be creating great entertaining shows.
Here as ever is the spec - I recommend having a glance at it to give yourself an idea of the way this unit will unfold over coming months.
Because I'm not actually going to be assessing this unit until Easter 2018, this term I'd like to get the analysis bits done so we've got time in the new year to get you planning and recording your show. Here and there this term I'll also want you to get comfortable in the radio studio, and have a playabout with editing and manipulating audio to achieve the kind of effects and sounds you'll want to use in your shows. Firstly though you have to give me a bit of analysis of the big companies behind radio broadcasting, in other words analysis of a RADIO STATION.
Firstly, you need to choose a station to analyse.
You might have a favourite station, you might not. You possibly might only hear the radio when in a car or in a shop. One thing I've noticed in recent years is that kids increasingly don't really listen to the radio much, preferring free DJ-less music via youtube/soundcloud or downloadable podcasts from stations like Rinse FM. I want you to buck that trend and actually start listening to the radio. Right now. Throughout your work for the radio unit you should be listening to the radio, whether live broadcasts or shows on i-player, or even podcasts.
A good place to start is right HERE.
On the left of the screen you'll see that you can filter stations by genre, type of music played etc. There are so many stations available in the UK now no matter what music you're into you'll be catered for. There's also Talk-based stations like Talksport or Radio 5 for people who just prefer chat. Unfortunately you CANNOT USE TALK STATIONS for analysis, it has to be a talk and music station . Have a look round and see what you fancy. If you already listen to a radio station then get tuned in online and start listening as you complete the simple tasks ahead. I have left a section at the end of this blogpost called 'Useful Links' - you'll need them to complete the questions I've asked.
Firstly - open up a new blogpost on your Media blog. Call the post 'RADIO ANALYSIS - THE STATION.
Straight off, get the logo of the station at the top of your post.
Then tell me the following . . .
Here as ever is the spec - I recommend having a glance at it to give yourself an idea of the way this unit will unfold over coming months.
Because I'm not actually going to be assessing this unit until Easter 2018, this term I'd like to get the analysis bits done so we've got time in the new year to get you planning and recording your show. Here and there this term I'll also want you to get comfortable in the radio studio, and have a playabout with editing and manipulating audio to achieve the kind of effects and sounds you'll want to use in your shows. Firstly though you have to give me a bit of analysis of the big companies behind radio broadcasting, in other words analysis of a RADIO STATION.
Firstly, you need to choose a station to analyse.
You might have a favourite station, you might not. You possibly might only hear the radio when in a car or in a shop. One thing I've noticed in recent years is that kids increasingly don't really listen to the radio much, preferring free DJ-less music via youtube/soundcloud or downloadable podcasts from stations like Rinse FM. I want you to buck that trend and actually start listening to the radio. Right now. Throughout your work for the radio unit you should be listening to the radio, whether live broadcasts or shows on i-player, or even podcasts.
A good place to start is right HERE.
On the left of the screen you'll see that you can filter stations by genre, type of music played etc. There are so many stations available in the UK now no matter what music you're into you'll be catered for. There's also Talk-based stations like Talksport or Radio 5 for people who just prefer chat. Unfortunately you CANNOT USE TALK STATIONS for analysis, it has to be a talk and music station . Have a look round and see what you fancy. If you already listen to a radio station then get tuned in online and start listening as you complete the simple tasks ahead. I have left a section at the end of this blogpost called 'Useful Links' - you'll need them to complete the questions I've asked.
Firstly - open up a new blogpost on your Media blog. Call the post 'RADIO ANALYSIS - THE STATION.
Straight off, get the logo of the station at the top of your post.
Then tell me the following . . .
1. What type of station is it?
Is it local/national (i.e does it broadcast nationwide or just locally - if locally, what area?)
Is it a purely online station or one you can hear on radios?
Is it Talk & Music based or just music? Or just talk?
Can you find a 'mission statement' or anything similar on the station's website, or, if it's a BBC station on the BBC site or in the BBC reports linked to below in the 'Useful Links' section? If so, quote from it (e.g "BBC 1Xtra plays the best in contemporary black music, with a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality live music and supporting new artists" - this is from the BBC Report I've linked to below)
Is it a purely online station or one you can hear on radios?
Is it Talk & Music based or just music? Or just talk?
Can you find a 'mission statement' or anything similar on the station's website, or, if it's a BBC station on the BBC site or in the BBC reports linked to below in the 'Useful Links' section? If so, quote from it (e.g "BBC 1Xtra plays the best in contemporary black music, with a strong emphasis on delivering high-quality live music and supporting new artists" - this is from the BBC Report I've linked to below)
What are its frequencies on normal radios? Can you hear it on a digital radio?
Can you hear it via your TV or online anywhere?
Does the station have its own app via Apple or Google Play which enables you to listen on your tablet/phone?
Does the station have 'catch-up' facilities or podcasts available online?
Can you hear it via your TV or online anywhere?
Does the station have its own app via Apple or Google Play which enables you to listen on your tablet/phone?
Does the station have 'catch-up' facilities or podcasts available online?
3. What type of programmes are on this station?
What kind of music is played? Is it all just general shows or are their specific shows for particular genres of music? Is it all DJ/presenter based or are there news/documentary shows? Have a look at the daily schedules for the station. How do things change throughout the 24 hours - do things get more 'specialist' at night? How do things change at the weekend?
4. What type of genre of programming is on this station?
Breakfast, Mid-Morning, Drivetime, Specialist, Childrens, Documentary, Drama, News, Entertainment, Factual . . . . what 'genres' of programmes does your station carry? Look on the FULL schedule of the station - what variety of genres do they broadcast? (They might not, they might JUST have normal DJ-based music shows - in which case SAY SO).
From the BBC report I've linked to below (if it's a BBC station) or from the station's own website. If you get stuck, gissashout.
What you should end up with
A blogpost that tells me about a specific radio station in terms of its type, its variety of programming, how listeners can tune in + what genres of programmes it features.
Where are you going to find this information?
From the BBC report I've linked to below (if it's a BBC station) or from the station's own website. If you get stuck, gissashout. How to improve your mark:
See if you can also add the RAJAR figures for the station. RAJAR figures are like 'ratings' for TV, they are compiled by RAJAR (RAJAR stands for Radio Joint Audience Research and is the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK). You will find the latest figures here - http://www.rajar.co.uk/listening/quarterly_listening.php - be careful how you write down the figures, don't forget to add the right amount of zeroes.
Make sure you label the post correctly.
For all your stuff for this unit label the post 'Radio Production', also label this post 'Analysis'.
THIS is the BBC's annual report. It's massive but if you use CTRL-F to find the station you're looking for you will find a brief description of the station that you can quote from.
THIS is the RAJAR site. Get familiar with it. Look at stuff on the 'Listening Figures' drop down menu for info about how many people listen to the specific station you're writing about but also more general info about market trends in radio.
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