| PROGRAM ARCHIVE | BUILDING THE STUDIO | PRODUCERS | Radio@strose.edu | SCHEDULE | FAQs | STUDIO LOCATION | RADIO INSTRUCTION |
Producing Radio The
Producer’s Goals
| |
There are two main goals. One is to create programs that people want to listen to. And the way to do that is to create something that listeners might think is interesting. As a producer, you will have personal interests and viewpoints that you want to pursue. But you also know that audience members have interests as well, and just because you find something interesting doesn’t mean they will. If you worked on a project that you were deeply committed to and found highly gratifying on a personal level, but with total disregard to audience interest, you might find yourself creating something no one other than you would want to listen to. On the other hand, if you were to produce a project that was completely driven by audience interest, but one in which you had no personal interest, it would be possible to do, but difficult to work on. Most producers try to find a balance between the two perspectives; a project they find interesting and one that audience members will also likely find interesting too.
| TOP OF PAGE |
Producers of products such as newspapers, television and radio shows that run daily or weekly feel the pressure of the deadline. Producers say one of the most challenging aspects of their jobs is to be able to have a ready supply of future projects ready to work on. They realize they don’t have the luxury of taking a few weeks or months in between projects to become inspired. One way to deal with this is to allow some time in each day or at least each week to look for and think about new story ideas. While you’re in the depths of a big production project, it’s difficult to take time away from that to think about future story ideas, but it is absolutely necessary. If you don’t, then when your current project is completed, you will have no choice but to take time out to find the next topic. Many producers find it is better to do a little multitasking and look into new possible projects while finishing current projects.
| |
Research can change everything when you are developing content. Research can help make a potentially dull topic interesting, and conversely, a lack of research can take an interesting topic and make it boring if the producer is not well informed on the topic. One of the simplest forms of research is simply reading the popular media regularly. When you are thinking about a possible topic, it's a good idea to test it by discussing it with people you know before trying to turn it into a program. Often in the discussion stages you will find new insights into your topic that will help you develop a more interesting program. Then again, sometimes you discover that the topic has already been done, or that there really isn’t much interest in it. As a producer, this is important to know before you invest a lot of time on a project. Use varied research sources. Popular media such as newspapers, magazines, television and radio are readily available and inexpensive. At a deeper level, producers will often have favorite magazines or journals that they survey to find out what’s going on, especially if it’s in a particular field. And of course books are one of the best sources for in-depth information. Other sources of information are associations, organizations and clubs. Today there seems to be a group for nearly everything or everybody, and many of them are excellent sources of insight into certain topics. You can often find out what the important issues or topics are in a given field, as well as who the key people are in that field. And finally there is the internet, which is filled with all kinds of information.
| |
Preparation will often determine the outcome. In production, taking care of the small details will often determine how good the outcome will be. For example, scheduling an interview with a subject a week or few days in advance is typical. But placing a follow-up reminder call or email to that person the day before the actual recording session, shows both professionalism and respect for the individual. But it also is a step that will increase your chances of getting that interview because sometimes subjects forget that they made a commitment to you. So a reminder call helps your subject, and helps helps the interview will go on as scheduled. Another example of preparation is in the steps you take just prior to the production session. Arrive at the studio 30-minutes or so in advance to allow yourself enough time to check all technical systems, review your interview questions, and very important, take a few minutes for yourself to be quiet and simply let your mind focus on the task ahead. This will give you a much greater inner feeling of being in control, which will show up in the quality of the interview you do.
| |
When you have a client in the interview situation, you may feel considerable pressure to perform. If you fumble or seem unsure | |