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BY RHODA GARZON CAMPILLAN
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Thursday, January 5, 2017
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IN MY previous column, I discussed Radio Production elements. In this issue, I am going to share about broadcast materials produced for radio.
If you are just an ordinary listener, you are quizzical as to the type of program or spot you are listening. In radio production class, students are taught different broadcast materials they are going to produce.
Broadcast materials are divided into two. One is spot announcements and the other is programs.
Spot announcements are short messages running for approximately 10 to 120 seconds. They are usually inserted in between programs, say during commercial breaks or station break.
Spot announcements are classified into Station ID or station identification, PSA or public service announcement, and radio commercial.
The Station ID’s purpose is for the listener to identify to name of the station. It is usually comprised of the call letters or name of the station, frequency and slogan to which the station wanted to be identified.
There are different approaches in producing Station ID. It is delivered using the voice only. Sometimes effects are added to the voice and there are other cases where jingles are used for easy recall. It usually runs for 10 seconds minimum and 30 seconds maximum.
PSA or Public Service Announcement is similar to a radio commercial; however, they vary in purpose.
The PSA’s purpose is to persuade listeners to support a cause or advocacy. PSAs are often given to the station by the sponsoring organizations. PSAs usually run for 20 to 60 seconds or sometimes 120 to 180 seconds.
Radio commercials are short messages which aim to influence consumers to buy a product. These are usually played in between programs.
There are different approaches in the production of commercials. The producer could utilize testimonial, drama or comedy in the scripts. It could also be a straight-sell if the producer wishes to make use of this approach.
Moreover, program materials are longer than spots. A listener tunes in to programs they like. They vary in length. They are timed in hours and minutes instead of seconds.
The common broadcast materials are news program, radio commentary, talk or interview program, music program, music personality program, radio magazine, radio drama, radio documentary, and radio special.
In this issue, I am going to discuss news program, radio commentary and talk or interview program.
News program comprises of events that happened. Full-length news programs usually run for 30 minutes. However, there are also shorter versions such as the news break, flash news or news-on-the-hour.
Radio commentary, on the other hand, deals with issues, personalities and happenings in the news. An amateur commentator must prepare well for his commentary otherwise he will be groping for words in the entire duration of the program.
Nowadays, commentators have computers equipped with internet so if they need information to substantiate their commentary, all they have to do is search in the internet.
Veteran commentators can finish an entire program without a script. However, students are taught not to rely on pure talent alone; one must prepare well to avoid mishaps during the program.
Talks or interview programs include conversations / interviews with celebrities and other personalities.
Interview programs range from informative, opinion and personality. My favorite interview program is personality. I love listening to celebrities share their opinions on important issues.
Students are taught to be creative in writing these spots and programs. They are advised to avoid clichés. They are told to be innovative and try different approaches, especially nowadays when the youth are not into radio.
I challenge students to think of innovative programs to motivate the youth to listen to the radio and explore another world outside of their comfort zone – the social media./PN
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