Radio Communication

The World of Radio

• #1T/F- Radio signals are strong enough to reach everywhere in the world.

• 97% of teenagers listen to the radio at least once a week.

• Radio is a form of

mass media

, which means it is communication that can reach a large audience. • There are over 26,000 stations worldwide. • Over a third of those stations are in the United States.

• There are 500 million radios worldwide.

The World of Radio

• #1IC- The radio’s advantages over other forms of communication include being the most universal form of communication, being portable, being able to listen while doing other tasks, and being invaluable during emergencies.

• #2T/F- In historical perspective, radio is a relatively recent invention.

• #27B- The hero in the development of radio was Guglielmo Marconi, a young Italian who sent and received the first radio signal in 1895.

• A

wireless

is another name for early radios.

• The early radios were used the most by sailors on ships to communicate once they left port.

• #3T/F- The survivors of the

Titanic

owe their lives to a wireless operator.

The First Radio Station

• #2IC- The historical process of the first commercial radio began when Marconi sent the first radio signal in 1895. In 1920, Dr. Frank Conrad built a studio in his garage and broadcast shows 3 times a week. A local store began buying advertising time, and the commercial radio was born.

• #4T/F- Most radio station survive by selling commercial time.

The Growth of Radio

• The government had to set up the Federal Radio Commission in 1927 because there were so many stations that the reception was bad.

• #25B- The Federal Communications Commission regulates the radio now and took over in 1967 from the FRC.

• Stations began

networks

, or chains of stations linked together coast to coast. They often

aired

(broadcast) the same processes.

The Advent of Television

• #5T/F- The age of television dramatically changed radio programming.

• #26B- After the advent of television, radio changed its programming from drama, comedy, and variety to music, news, and talk.

• Radio was able to survive because it was so flexible.

FM Ascends the Throne

• • With the invention of rock ‘n’ roll, radio took off again.

Deejays

, or disc jockeys, were the on-air personalities on the radio.

• Radios developed

playlists

or lists of music they put on the air.

• • FM radio gained popularity with rock ‘n’ roll.

FM radio

or frequency-modulated radio wave, changes how rapidly a radio wave vibrates making it more static free.

•

AM radio

or amplitude-modulated radio wave, changes the size of the sound wave.

• In 1967, the FCC allowed FM radio to stereo broadcast.

FM Ascends the Throne

• #6T/F- FM radio now affects a much larger audience than AM radio.

• FM radio now attracts 70% of radio audience.

• AM radio has a thousand more stations, but only a third of the audience.

• #7T/F- AM radio now airs primarily news/talk radio.

• • #23B- Music radio stations hope to appeal to 15-30 year olds; news/talk radio stations shoot for the 30 to 50 age range; and full service radio stations aim for people aged 45 and older.

Formats

refer to the programming styles of radio stations or what type of music they choose to air.

• #8T/F- Radio station call letters are not randomly assigned; the radio station gets to choose them.

• #9T/F- Two radio stations may not share the same call letters.

• Stations west of the Mississippi River start with a “K”, and stations east of the Mississippi start with a “W”.

Operating a Radio Station

• #10T/F- On-air studios are used by the deejay for live productions while production studios are used to prepare material for later airing.

• #3IC- The operation of a radio station involves the on-air studios are used by the deejay for the live music and talk programs, while production studios produce the commercials.

• #24B- Equipment in a studio is usually set up in a u-shape.

• An

audio console

is the equipment that combines the recording and playback machines, volume controls, and other audio equipment at the deejay’s fingertips.

• #11T/F- The patch panel allows an operator to mix audio from several sources with regular programming.

Radio Station Positions

• #12T/F- Radio provides many opportunities for careers.

• The radio industry employees over 100,000 people.

• Ronald Reagan, Dan Rather, and George Carlin all got started in radio.

• An

announcer

is someone who reads the news, weather, public service announcements, and station breaks.

• The

general manager

must make sure that the station is profitable and keeps it license.

• The

program director

makes the decisions about what type of deejay to hire, the amount of news and music to air, and what playlist to include.

Radio Station Positions

• The

chief engineer

makes sure the radio station’s signal goes out as far as possible.

• The

traffic director

is responsible for planning the daily schedule.

• A

sales manager

sells a station’s air time to local businesses.

• A

copywriter

writes the commercials that are aired.

Performing and Writing Techniques

• A radio broadcaster must possess the ability to read aloud effectively with proper pronunciation and inflection.

• #13T/F- Listeners tend to prefer deeper voices.

• Positive personalities are a big advantage.

• Broadcasters must be able to use a microphone properly.

• #22B- Microphones contain diaphragms, thin metal disks that vibrate when sound waves strike them.

• #4IC- Some tips for using a microphone effectively include not breathing into the mike, holding the script behind the mike, not coughing in the mike, keeping it 8 to 12 inches from your mouth, and keeping the mike directly in front of you.

Performing and Writing Techniques

• #5IC- Some hints for relaxing during and before a broadcast include reading the material aloud ahead of time, taking deep breaths, stretching to relax, imagining you’re talking to a friend, and giving yourself time before beginning.

• #14T/F- Posture and facial expression are a big concern to radio personalities.

• Sitting up straight and smiling adds enthusiasm to your voice.

• #15T/F- No matter how serious a mistake on the radio, keep going.

• #21B- Veteran announcers frequently say “Check that” or “Correction that should be” when they have made a mistake.

• #20B- A written script supplies a safety net, even for the high-flying performers.

Performing and Writing Techniques

• #6IC- Some of the information that is prohibited on the radio includes profane and obscene material, false or misleading information, invasion of privacy, or broadcasting someone without their permission.

• #7IC- When you are writing your scripts you should remember to avoid certain word combinations, avoid sentences with numbers, and underline key words.

Writing Commercials

• #16T/F- Radio commercials should be pitched to some basic human need.

• #17T/F- Familiar melodies should not be used in radio commercials since people focus on the tune more than the message.

•

Music beds

refers to the music used in commercials.

• #18T/F- All radio stations do not make their own sound effects. They usually have CD’s with general sound effects.

• #8IC- Some strategies for advertising on the radio include focusing on a basic human need, making the buyer feel smart, and painting a picture with your words.

Public Service Announcements

•

Public service announcements

are special commercials for good causes and charities.

• #19T/F- A station does not get to choose whether or not to air public service announcements (PSA’s).

• The Federal Communications Commission requires a station do so many over a period of time.