Brief summary of activity
This activity is about listening to examples of different programme features and exploring the structure, content, presentation style, etc.
Aim of the activity
To be informed of the role and significance of a programme structure in a radio station
To be informed of different kinds of programme structure and their characteristics
Expected Outcomes
At the end of the activity, participants will know about:
- The definition of a programme structure
- Different kinds of programme structure (summer structure, weekend programme, daytime programme, evening programme etc.)
- Drama on radio
- The principles of creating a programme structure and the factors influencing it
- The significance of a programme’s specific tone (soundscaping elements, ambiance, prevailing tone etc.)
- Different kinds of radio stations (public, commercial, community radios) and their different concepts of a programme structure
Experience and skills required
Background experience on programme features and genre.
Infrastructure, setting, resources
Blackboard/whiteboard
Length
60 minutes
Material
Photocopies of different programme structures
How the activity should take place
Examples of different kinds of programmes estructures/running order will be given to the participants. They will be given 15 minutes to find differences between them. A discussion about the differences will follow. You can use the handout Production with the participants or distribute it to them before or after the workshop.
Recommended max. number of participants and trainees to trainers ratio
10 ( 4 to 1 for vision impaired/blind trainees and participants with learning difficulties)
Risk and possible adaptation
For Vision Impaired/Blind participants and trainees with learning difficulties it could be an idea to play different audio clips from radio programmes from different radio stations so they can find the different styles in the programme structure and content, and discuss it with the participants. Open a discussion, what radio stations do they listen to? What kind of programmes? What do they like about them?
Then a discussion can be opened about the type of programmes the participants would like to produce, the structure, content, different sections.
Tips for Trainers
Keep the recordings short. Notice the principal elements associated to the feature or genre, and highlight them if they are not mentioned by participants.
Analysis and evaluation
Do participants understand the different programme structures?
Different kinds of programme structure, the principles of creating a programme structure and the factors influencing it (tone, ambiance, etc) and how different kinds of radio stations (public, commercial, community radios) affect their different concepts of a programme structure.