RADIO codes and conventions

Approaches to question one You will be given reading time at the beginning of the exam. Make sure that you read all of the questions but, at this stage, particularly question 1, 2a and 2b as these were all refer to the stimulus material. Do not just describe what you see. You must comment on the purpose and connotative effective of the techniques used in the text e.g. if you’re analysing the film sequence and you want to comment on the use of a close-up shot explain why the shot was used at specific point in the film and what the effect on the audience might be. Use relevant media and analytical terminology. Make sure that you know the correct vocabulary to allow you to analyse different media texts. Remember your essay-writing skills. Your response should be logical and coherent. It must also be written in sentences and paragraphs correctly. It is important that a response has a structure and includes an introduction and a conclusion.

Radio extracts How has radio changed? The role and purpose of radio has changed significantly over recent years. It has been affected by advances in digital technology including the ability of the audience to listen online, to download Podcasts to their mobile phones and see radio programmes as they recorded through studio webcams.

Radio extracts The medium of radio consists of: The undemanding medium - allows the audience to do other things while listening.

Key terms Zoo format – This is a style of radio programme where there is a main presenter but also others to contribute. The mode of address is informal and there often jokes and chats between the participants. A radio programme uses this format is Radio One’s Breakfast Show with Nick Grimshaw. Magazine programme - this is a genre of radio programme that, like a magazine, includes a range of features, for example music, chat, news, gossip and interviews. Profile – with regard to radio stations, this means how they would be defined. This may include their target audience, their aims and their ethos. E.G Radio 1: ‘entertain a broad range of young listeners with a distinctive mix of contemporary music and speech. Its target audience is 15 to 29-year-olds and it should also provide some programming for younger teenagers’

Key terms Stripping - a scheduling technique using radio and television whereby the same programme is scheduled at the same time every day House style – for a radio programme this means the style of the programme which may include: jingles, presenter mode of address, content and music genres played.

‘Human Voice’ All radio programmes focus on the human voice, whether speaking or singing. They also have a clear narrative structure even when the programme appears on scripted and improvised. Many programmes are presenter led and often audiences will ‘tune in’ because they like the style of a particular presenter, which may have been established over a period of time. The zoo format is a particular style of a radio magazine programme and tends to actively involve audiences and has a broad reach due to the range of features included.

Radio genre Radio programmes can be divided into speech based and music based. Most radio stations offer a schedule that includes a range of genres although the profile of some radio stations. E.G Radio One and Kerrang Radio is generally music based. The audience is often defined by the age of the listener. Radio One tends to cater for a young audience who are less interested in speech based radio whereas Radio Four focuses on speech based programmes and targets an older demographic.

Speech-based codes and conventions Because the conventions of speech based programmes include: Phone-ins – these are effective, cheap ways of involving the listener. Jeremy Vine’s lunchtime radio programme on Radio Two revolves around music, discussion and listeners phoning in to give their opinions about current issues and events in the news. Discussions – a group of people sitting around discussing a range of topics. This genre of programme is often a key part of Radio Four’s schedule. Outside broadcasts – Mobile studios may visit different locations and broadcast from there. Example, earlier this year Radio One had a live broadcast from Hull where the shows DJs gain first-hand accounts of the festival of those listening at home.

Codes and conventions The majority of radio stations have music as the main focus. Live concerts - this can be of popular performers or of orchestras (usually aired on Radio Three).

TASK Listen to The Breakfast Show on BBC Radio One What could we talk about? Radio is a tricky medium as we cannot discuss the visuals and are limited to audio, technical, narrative and genre. But how can we discuss genre and narrative? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDKGAPppxwU

TASK Listen to the Late Night Women's Hour on BBC Radio Four http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b085z5jt