Understanding Radio by Andrew Crisell; if I can read this book from cover-to-cover, it will quite literally be the first time I have done so in nearly 15 years. Terrible, right?
Well, I should be a little proud of myself. I'm on day three and have made it past the halfway mark of chapter one... It's a great read (it really is) - the book is designed for people like me who are looking for somewhere to reference; it even states so in the introduction. The general consensus of chapter one is describing what radio is as a medium; how it compares to other informative media and it's influence on the imagination of the receiver.
For example, when we speak in person, we often use 'communicative confirmation'... (Understand?..) This is not possible in radio communication, but an advantage is that one car transmit to a mass population of receiving ears. The said receivers cannot see what they are being told and as descriptive as the sound may be, imagination MUST be used in order to complete the picture.
Equally, where radio provokes the use of the imagination, we able to complete other tasks at the same time (now that radio receivers are smaller) - these tasks can however 'detract' from our full attention on the information (sound) coming from the radio. Interestingly, chapter one opened with a great quote:
"When you ask some people if they listen to radio, they say, 'No'. The you ask them if they drive to work and they say, 'Yes'. Then you ask them if they rive to work with the radio on and they say 'Yes'. They don't listen to it, they sit in it."
Well, I should be a little proud of myself. I'm on day three and have made it past the halfway mark of chapter one... It's a great read (it really is) - the book is designed for people like me who are looking for somewhere to reference; it even states so in the introduction. The general consensus of chapter one is describing what radio is as a medium; how it compares to other informative media and it's influence on the imagination of the receiver.
For example, when we speak in person, we often use 'communicative confirmation'... (Understand?..) This is not possible in radio communication, but an advantage is that one car transmit to a mass population of receiving ears. The said receivers cannot see what they are being told and as descriptive as the sound may be, imagination MUST be used in order to complete the picture.
Equally, where radio provokes the use of the imagination, we able to complete other tasks at the same time (now that radio receivers are smaller) - these tasks can however 'detract' from our full attention on the information (sound) coming from the radio. Interestingly, chapter one opened with a great quote:
"When you ask some people if they listen to radio, they say, 'No'. The you ask them if they drive to work and they say, 'Yes'. Then you ask them if they rive to work with the radio on and they say 'Yes'. They don't listen to it, they sit in it."
(Tony Schwartz, US advertising executive)
Ain't that the truth!
I have decided that in order to complete a successful and more informed radio-type presentation, some ground work needs to be covered, hence the books. My education in radio simply does not stretch far enough to pull off an informed and professional production. Also, if I am to land specific work experience as I intend to at a local station, I should have a little more knowledge than I currently do.
While we're on the subject of a work placement, my classmate Ramena kindly gave me a contact for Jon Jessop of Coast Radio in Southport. I called him up today and talked him into going for a coffee with me to talk about radio and with a view to organising some work experience. He said on the phone that he wasn't quite sure what he might be able to get me to do but that a meeting would be a step in the right direction. Keep your fingers crossed... Mine are!
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