FORMATS OF THE RADIO PROGRAMS

 

 

1. Announcements:

 These are specifically written clear messages to inform. They can be of different types. These announcements have become informal and resemble ordinary conversation.

2. Radio talk: 

The radio talk probably is the oldest format on radio. There has been a tradition in India and Britain to invite experts or prominent persons to speak for 10 or 15 minutes on a specific topic.
These talks have to go through a process of being changed into radio’s spoken word style. Over these long radio talks have become unpopular. Instead, today, shorter duration talks are broadcast. Of course, we can listen to these talks only on public service broadcasting stations.

3. Radio interviews:  

In the media, be it the newspaper, magazine, radio or television, journalists use this technique of asking questions to get information. There can be different types of interviews in terms of their duration, content and purpose.

Firstly, there are full-fledged interview programmes. The duration of these may vary from 10 minutes to 30 minutes or even 60 minutes depending up on the topic, and the person being interviewed. Most of such interviews are personality based, long interviews with well-known people in the field of public life, literature, science, sports, films etc.

4. Radio discussions: - 

 In radio, is used this technique to let people have different points of view on matters of public concern. Radio discussions are produced when there are social or economic issues which may be controversial. So when different experts meet and discuss such issues, people understand various points of view. Generally,these discussions on radio are of longer duration-say 15 to 30 minutes. Two
or three people who are known for their views and a well informed senior person or journalist who acts as a moderator take part and discuss a particular topic for about 30 minutes. The moderator conducts the discussion, introduces the topic and the participants and ensures that every one gets enough time to speak and all issues are discussed.

5. Radio documentaries/features: 

If you see a film in a movie hall, it is generally a feature film, which is story based and not real. But there are also documentary films which are based on real people and issues. A lot of programmes you see on television are educational and public service documentaries. Radio also has this format. Unlike documentary films, radio documentaries have only sound – i.e. the human voice, music and sound effects. So a radio documentary is a programme based on real sounds and real people and their views and experiences. Radio documentaries are based on facts presented in an attractive manner or dramatically. Radio documentaries are radio’s own creative format. The producer of a documentary needs to be very creative to use human voice,script, music and sound effects very effectively. Radio documentaries are also called radio features.

6. Radio drama: 

A Radio drama or a radio play is like theatre drama. The only difference is that while a stage play has actors, stage, sets, curtains, properties movement and live action, a radio play has only three components. They are the human voice, music and sound effects.
Radio uses its greatest strength for producing radio plays and that is the power of imagination and suggestively. For example, if you want to have a scene in a radio play we don’t have all physical arrangements made. All that you have to do is to use a bright tune on the excited voices of people to create in a listeners’ imagination, a wedding scene. The voice of the actors, music and sound effects can create any situation in a radio play.

7. Running commentaries:

 Running commentaries on radio can be on various sports events or on ceremonial occasions like the Republic Day Parade or events like festivals, melas, rathyatras, swearing in ceremony of
ministers, last journey (funeral procession) of national leaders  event. A commentator would give us all the details of the match such as the number of players, the score, position of the players in the field etc. So by listening to the running commentary, you get a feeling of being in the stadium and watching the match. The commentator needs good communication skills, a good voice and knowledge about what is going on. Today radio running commentaries especially of cricket and other sports can be heard on your mobile phones.

8. Magazine programmers: 

 Radio also has magazine programmes like those in the print media.  A radio magazine is broadcast at periodicity ( a particular time on a particular day of a week or a month).  Similarly it has plenty of variety in contents. Some or many formats of radio are included in a radio magazine. These may be talks, discussions, interviews, reviews, music etc. Likewise, the duration of each programme or item in a magazine programmer also vary. Another characteristic of a radio magazine is that it has a signature tune. A signature tune is an attractive piece of music which is specific to a programme. It can be like the masthead (title) of a magazine. A magazine programme also has a name and one or two presenters or anchor persons who link the whole programme. In the beginning, the titles of the day’s programme will be given by the presenters after the signature tune. They also give continuity and link the whole magazine. Magazine programmes are generally broadcast for a special or specific audience

 

9.         Sound Byte

 

 The small portion of a lengthy audio clip which is useful for broadcasting on

Radio is called a sound byte.

 The necessary portion which makes a sound byte is the most important part of

a person’s speech.

 It is lavishly used in news stories.

 Reporters usually decide which portion of a speech or recording will be used

as a sound byte. They are used in a similar way to quotes in a newspaper

story.

 The use of sound byte gained immense popularity in the United States in the

1970s.

 If sound byte/s is/are added to a news story, it arouses the listener’s interest.

 Sound byte is used to bring uniformity in a story.

 According to some social scientists, sound bites are a short summary of a

recorded speech.

 

10.      Voice Despatch

¨ Voice despatches are used for Radio broadcast. ¨ Reporters and Stringers (contractual or part-time reporters) send voice despatches from the location of news events to the Radio station. ¨ In the early days, voice despatches were recorded at locations and the corresponding tapes were sent to the stations. RADIO JOURNALISM Odisha State Open University 44 ¨ In today’s times, they are used in live programs such as Lord Jagannath’s Car festival, cricket and football matches, etc. ¨ Along with changing times and revolutions in technological inventions, voice desptaches are sent through mobile, voice call, voice MMS (Multi-media Messaging System), Internet messaging platforms like WhatsApp, e-mail,etc. ¨ Like PTCs (Piece to Cameras) in television news, voice despatches make programs and news broadcast attractive.

 

11.    Radio Bridge

¨ Eponymously, Radio bridge acts as a connector. ¨ Radio bridge facilitates connection of one program to different stations across the country at a time. ¨ Radio bridge is used for a specific event or program. ¨ Radio bridge becomes functional using a satellite or internet. ¨ Radio bridge mainly facilitates exchange of ideas. ¨ Listeners as well as subject matter specialists can connect with the whole nation