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Radio is the medium which informs, educates and entertains through variety of programme formats. In order to write for the radio or to produce radio programmes we need to have proper understanding about various radio programme formats. Let's start by exploring formats, what they are and a little about their structures.
Formats in brief
Good radio involves more than simply telling stories or expressing opinions. One of the major challenges is choosing the appropriate format for the issue you are covering and the audience you are trying to reach.
Features
A feature is a report or story about a specific theme, issue, community or person. It is often a regular item in a news or magazine show and a more in-depth discussion of a topic. Radio terminology can differ from station to station, so you may find that this type of report is also called a package.
Discussion
A discussion is a conversation between two or more people on a specific topic. On a radio program, discussions include a program host and guests or experts on the topic being discussed. Listeners may also be involved in the discussion if the program has a call-in portion for questions and comments. News Bulletins
A news bulletin is a round-up of the main stories of the moment. Main news bulletins usually appear at the top of the hour and shorter bulletins are often placed on the half hour. They may also be integrated into news programs.
Drama
Dramas are fictional stories, but they are based on real-life events or situations. Drama is an effective tool to help listeners connect with issues on an emotional level. Radio dramas are widely used in Africa, Asia and Latin America, especially to present information about social issues.
Talks
A talk, not to be confused with a talk show a style of radio program that will be reviewed later in this module — is a short, scripted story or commentary usually presented by the writer and based on personal experience, observation or analysis. It is often a personal account of the impact of an issue or event in someone’s life. It may also be an opinion statement about a political, ethical or moral issue. Talks can be used to highlight the impact of an issue on individuals or spark discussion on a topic. Generally, they are about two minutes long.
News Programs
A news program (sometimes also called a current affairs show) is a compilation of features, reports, interviews and discussions about current events, developments and controversial issues.
Magazine Programs
Magazine programs may cover
- Lifestyle
- Health
- Topical issues - from a human interest angle, rather than a hard news angle
- Travel
- Youth
- Gender issues
Magazine programs can cover almost anything. Some magazine programs only cover one topic while others may cover several.
Talk Show Formats
In addition to using discussions, talk shows may use other formats to grab listeners’ attention or to help them connect with an issue.
For example:
Using a combination of these formats will create a more diverse program. A drama can be used to introduce an issue for discussion and talks could be used to add personal perspective to the topic
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Participants