1. Multimedia Training Kit
Introduction to
Radio Formats for
Community Radio
Developed by AMARC
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

2. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Session overview
Introduction
Radio stations
Radio programs
Program components
Examples of programs / formats
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

3. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Introduction
Three levels of formats:
Radio stations
Radio programs
Program components or formats
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

4. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Radio stations
Radio sound characterises community radio making it distinct.
Talk
Music
General
Listeners should recognise themselves in the radio sound of their community radio.
Radio regulations determine percentages of music, talk and advertisements.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

5. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Radio programs
News programs
Magazine programs
Talk and talk-back (phone-in) shows
Music
Drama
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

6. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Programme components
News bulletins
Reports
Features
Interviews
Discussions and debates
Phone-ins (talk back)
Radio drama
Talks / vocals
Editorials
Music
Jingles
Community announcements
Advertising
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

7. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
News bulletins
Present information about local, national, and international news and current affairs in order of importance or interest.
Start with a short lead which sets the context.
Who? What? Where? When? and Why?
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

8. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Reports
Complement to news bulletin
Usually done from the field.
Place event / situation in context.
Can be broadcast live or pre-recorded.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

9. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Features
Provide in-depth perspective.
Require a clearly defined topic and angle or focus.
Scripted and edited.
Often contain music, sound effects, interviews or vox-pops.
Require thorough content research.
Usually part of a news bulletin or magazine program.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

10. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Interviews
Talking to one or more speakers to ask questions and extract information.
Choose your interviewee carefully.
Discuss the questions with the interviewee before the interview.
Be clear about the messages.
Summarise main points at the end of the interview.
Do not try to trick or surprise your interviewee.
Be sensitive !
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

11. Discussions and debates
Discussion: conversation between host and one or more guests.
Debate: discussion in which people with opposing views present their positions.
Listeners can be involved through phone-ins.
The host is the facilitator and responsible for managing the discussion.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

12. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Phone-ins
Listeners invited to phone in to radio station to express their opinions or share experiences.
Effective way to create dialogue and interaction with listeners.
Not all radio stations have the technical infrastructure required.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

13. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Radio drama
Drama tells a story: fiction or based on real-life issues and events.
Effective tool to help listeners connect with issues on an emotional level.
Edu-drama is drama used for an educational purpose.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

14. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Talks or vocal
Short scripted stories or commentaries.
Can be used as an introduction, highlight, or to stimulate discussion.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

15. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Editorials
Short piece giving station’s point of view on issue or event.
Can be used, e.g., to support or propose policies or courses of action.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

16. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Music
Music a key element in many programs.
Often used as linking device between elements of a program.
Particular formats used to reach specific audiences e.g. jazz, classical, pop, country and western.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

17. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Jingles
Simple, catchy tune or rhyme.
Attracts listener’s attention.
Reinforces message.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

18. Multimedia Training Kit www.itrainonline.org
Advertising
Words, songs, music, jingles, etc. used to draw attention to a product or service.
Often significant source of revenue.
Governed by regulations about duration, frequency, content, etc.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

19. Community announcements
Brief announcements of local information.
Basic service of community radio.
Reinforce interactive links between listeners and community radio
Support and empower community organisations.
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

20. Programming and radio formats
Examples of Programs and Radio Formats
Time duration
Type of program
Type of formats used
Title
Audience
2-15 minutes
News bulletin
Jingle, news, reports, interviews, talks
News from the community
General
27-57 minutes
Magazine
Jingle, interviews, feature, music, news, announcements
Women’s rights
Women
Talk show
Jingle, radio drama, interviews, music, announcements
Mike is yours
1-3 hours
Radio drama
The decision
60 minutes
Debate
Debates, phone-in
Our rights
15-60 seconds
Station ID
Jingle, vocals
Public announcements
Jingle, vocals, announcements
Community announcements
Advertisement
Publicity
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit

21. Multimedia Training Kit
Introduction to
Radio Formats for
Community Radio
Developed by AMARC
Thursday, November 29, 2018Thursday, November 29, 2018
Multimedia Training Kit