One Drive Link:
Live Show Link:
RWAV Live Show Reflection – 650 Words.
We got feedback we were happy and agreeable with on our demo submission. Such feedback included a good amount of signposting and great rapport on our part. There were some points for improvement advised which I believe we adopted nicely into our show. For example, one of the most important things we did was increase the content in our Runsheet, as we were running out of things to use in our demo, and this made the ending messy. To do this, we made sure the timing on our Runsheet was accurate, and created an additional page of optional ad-lib topics such as discussing the upcoming RISING festival, and a list of backup tracks and package materials. We also made sure not to act as though the show was live, by not mentioning the time of day and we added in some more station and show ID’s, both verbally and with the use of stings. Lastly, we kept to conversation tasteful, avoiding cockroaches and earwax… Chignell asserts that radio “…sounds like ‘chat’ but it is chat that is designed for thousands of listeners to hear”, so we figured we should try not to gross our audience out (2009).
In terms of collaboration, I couldn’t be happier with the way our group worked together on this project. Group projects can undoubtedly be trying at times, usually due to certain members being unenthusiastic, however, this semester I was grateful to have worked with two people who were passionate about the work we were doing and eager to be involved. At times we did get stressed or nervous because we cared about doing a good job, however, we were kind and respectful and were always able to work the problem together. Our group chemistry was super helpful in doing radio, as ad-libbing felt natural, and planning was always diplomatic as we had plenty of common interests.
I was very satisfied with our final show, particularly of our topics and interviewees. Our three segments each dealt with big ideas in an approachable way and appealed to the community and Melbournians specifically. I like that each topic had a focus on moving forward into a better future. I also felt proud of the interviewees we secured. Ahern & Ahern insist that “‘Good talent’ is a person who speaks well, is knowledgeable and informative about their subject, and has authority to speak about it” I believe we were able to obtain four interviewees that fit this criterion. I also felt we managed to keep the show smooth and natural, including “The pauses, laughter and direct address[es]…” that are pivotal in creating a show that feels approachable and seamless (Chignell, 2009). On the other hand, our broadcasting skills can always be improved for the future. Personally, I would have liked to structure Graham’s interview better. I had not anticipated he would be so succinct with his answers, as previous academic interviewees have often over-spoken. Hence, I improvised some questions and used some backup questions which were not mindfully structured. This is minor, but I look forward to improving my interviewing skills.
One of the questions the prompt for this studio asks is “…how can we produce compelling content for both “live” broadcast or streaming radio and on-demand listening?”. This is interesting to reflect on after our show, as I feel our discussions about the environment, urban sustainability, and accessibility, are enduring conversations, which I believe are transferrable between radio and on-demand listening. Ahern & Ahern admit that radio programming is a “hungry beast”, always in need of new topics, however topics like these remain relevant as they relate to the community we live in and people, especially the RRR audience care about that. We put community, inclusivity, sustainability, and music at the forefront of our show, and I hope this was well received by the RRR audience, as those are topics I think they want to hear about.
Reference List (APA 7th):
Ahern, S & Ahern, D (2022) ‘Researching and Producing’, in Ahern, S (ed.) Making Radio and Podcasts: A Practical Guide to Working in Today’s Radio and Audio Industries, 4 edn, Taylor & Francis Group, Milton. Available from: ProQuest Ebook Central. [15 March 2023].
Chignell, H. 2009. Broadcast Talk. In: 2009. Key Concepts in Radio Studies, London: SAGE Publications Ltd. pp. 10-13
Feature Link
Feature Reflection – 634 Words
My role in the production focused on administration and organization. I was responsible for securing our interviewee Rosie, researching both interviewees and the subject matter, and conducting Rosie’s interview. Additionally, I recorded Mike’s interview and selected key audio clips from both interviews, cutting them into stems to send to TJ. I also recorded atmospheric sound in a retail setting and created the feature cover art.
As for the collaborative aspect, our team worked exceptionally well together. Each member contributed a lot and communicated clearly. We worked to our personal strengths on this project, delegating tasks based of our interests and skills.
The feedback from the pitch session shaped our final work and motivated us. Positive feedback from Jacinta reassured us so we wanted to do the project well. Jacinta’s liking of the day-night structure for our radio feature solidified our decision to use this format, which intended to indicate the progression of time and encourage the development of an interesting soundscape. This idea was also formed reading Nuzum (2019) and their 6 steps to creating an interesting story, the day to night structure worked well in ‘…Moving the story line ahead’, ‘creating atmosphere’, and ‘setting up later scenes’. We presented the rough cut early to Heather who suggested a more casual tone for the narration. Following her advice, we rewrote the script and re-recorded it.
Ladd suggests one may look for a feature’s subject through many avenues, one being finding “…a different way of looking at a well-known history” (Ladd, 2022). While our feature isn’t based on a history per say, it is a well-known topic, one that is often spoken about in a monotonous way. We wanted to find a section of the conversation about accessibility that was not so loud, and turn up the volume. I am particularly pleased with the interviewees because they were articulate, and well-qualified to speak on the topic, and each provided unique perspectives that enriched the story. They perfectly embodied our brief: young people wanting to have fun in Melbourne! Additionally, our technical competency stands out. The quality of the sound recordings for both the interviews and the narration was great. The mixing and sound design were also aspects we can be proud of, contributing to a dynamic and professional final feature.
One aspect that could have been improved in terms of making our lives easier/improving workflow is narrowing the focus of our interviews. Given the short time frame, having Rosie concentrate solely on retail and Mike on the club scene might have streamlined our content. Although I’m pleased with the final structure, selecting so few grabs from such great interviews that covered so much more was challenging. Additionally, incorporating a stronger narrative structure could have enhanced our piece. While we covered a lot of content, weaving it into a more cohesive story might have made the feature more engaging and impactful.
The atmosphere prac was helpful for us in achieving crisp atmospheric sound and becoming familiar with the shotgun mic and other equipment. Additionally, the vox pop package and mock interview prac provided valuable interview practice. Overall, all the prac sessions significantly contributed to team building and fostering a strong rapport among Claudia, TJ, and me.
I hope the audience gains a broadened understanding of what accessibility means when interacting with the world, a better understanding of how to treat and communicate with wheelchair users, and a drive to encourage local businesses to be more accessible where they can. If I were to continue this project, I would love to create a longer version. We have more interview recordings with Rosie and Mike. Extending this to a 40-minute piece would allow us to delve deeper into their stories, and incorporate other interviews. It would be great for our folios, so hopefully this will be a possibility!
Reference List (APA 7th):
Ladd, M. (2022, April 6). The art of the radio feature. ABC Listen. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/the-history-listen/the-art-of-the-radio-feature/13829982
Nuzum, E. (2019). Make noise : a creator’s guide to podcasting and great audio storytelling. Ch. 5, Workman Publishing.