JMC 04 BLOCK 01 English PDF

JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION
JMC-04
RADIO JOURNALISM
Block
1
Radio Journalism
Unit-1
Introduction to Radio
Unit-2
Evolution and Growth of Broadcasting in India
Unit-3
Writing for Radio
Unit-4
Radio Programming and Production
Unit-5
FM, AM, Community Radio and Internet Radio
1
Expert Committee Members
Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee Chairman

Professor, IIMC, Dhenkanal
Dr. Dipak Samantarai Member

Director, NABM, Bhubaneswar
Dr. Asish Kumar Dwivedy Member

Asst. Professor (Communication)
Studies, SoA University, Bhubaneswar
Sudhir Patnaik Member

Editor, Samadrusti
Sujit Kumar Mohanty Member

Asst. Professor (Journalism & Mass Communication)
Central University of Orissa, Koraput
Jyoti Prakash Mohapatra Member Convenor

Journalism & Mass Communication Department
Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur
Course Writer: Course Editor

Original Odia: Sambit Mishra Mitali Mohanty Ghosh
Translated by: Simple Sujata Mishra Asso. Professor,
Manav Rachna University
Material Production :
Dr. JayantaKar Sharma
Registrar
Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur
© OSOU, 2017. Radio Journalism is made available
under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike
4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licences/by-sa/
4.0
Printed by
Sri Mandir Publication, Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar
2
JMC-04
Block
1
UNIT I: INTRODUCTION TO RADIO
Content
1.0 Unit Structure 05

1.1 Learning Objectives 05
1.2 An Introduction to Radio 06
1.3 Characteristics of Radio 06
1.4 Components of Radio Broadcasting 08
1.5 Limitations of Radio as a medium of communication 09
1.6 Radio Broadcasting: How it works 10
1.7 Summary 10
1.8 Assessment 10
1.9 Practical 11
UNIT II: EVOLUTION AND GROWTH OF BROADCASTING IN INDIA

2.0 Unit structure 12
2.2 The Evolution of Radio Broadcast 13
2.3 Growth of Radio Broadcast in India 14
2.4 Private Radio Broadcast 15
2.5 Radio Broadcast in Odisha 18
2.6 Summary 20
2.7 Assessment 20
2.8 Practical 20
UNIT III: WRITING FOR RADIO

3.0 Unit structure 21
3.2 Introduction 22
3.3 Scripting For Audio Medium 22
3.4 Compilation of Radio Bulletin 23
3.5 Audio Editing Skills 26
3
3.6 Presenting Radio News 29
3.7 Summary 30
3.8 Assessment 31
3.9 Practical 31
UNIT IV: RADIO PROGRAMMING AND PRODUCTION
4.2 Introduction 32
4.3 Radio Production 33
4.4 Types of Radio Production 35
4.5 Summary 44
4.6 Assessment 44
4.7 Practical 45
UNIT V: FM, AM, COMMUNITY RADIO AND INTERNET RADIO

5.2 Introduction 47
5.3 AM Broadcasting 47
5.4 FM Broadcasting 48
5.5 Community Radio 49
5.6 Internet Radio 50
5.7 Summary 51
5.9 Assessment 51
5.10 Practical 51
FURTHER READINGS 53
TERMINOLOGY 53
ANSWER TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS 56
MODEL QUESTIONS 59
4
RADIO JOURNALISM
UNIT – I:
INTRODUCTION TO RADIO
1.0 UNIT STRUCTURE
1.1 Learning Objectives
1.2 An Introduction to Radio
1.3 Characteristics of Radio
1.4 Components of Radio Broadcasting
1.5 Limitations of Radio as a medium of communication
1.6 Radio Broadcasting: How it works
1.7 Summary
1.8 Assessment
1.9 Practical
1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This chapter introduces you to radio as a medium of mass communication. You will
understand the various aspects of radio and how programs aired on this medium reach
the listeners.
In this section, we will discuss:
Radio’s characteristics and its limitations
The three components of radio
How radio works
Odisha State Open University 5

RADIO JOURNALISM
1.2 AN INTRODUCTION TO RADIO
Radio is the most popular means of mass communication across the globe today. It is
exclusively a medium of the sound. It is a medium where a performer cannot see his/
her audience. And the audience too cannot see the performer. That is why it is often
referred to as a “blind medium”. There is ample space for imagination just as a book
has. It is also an intimate medium, as the broadcaster always addresses the listener in
singular form as if he/she is talking to him alone. Because of this, the listeners too feel
a direct connect with the broadcaster. Radio has been used as an effective medium not
only to inform and educate people but has played a very important role in the economic,
political and cultural development of nations. It has the unique advantage of being
receivable through low cost, battery operated, portable sets, even in the rural areas.
1.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIO

After print media, radio has emerged as a powerful and influential means of mass
communication. It has successfully penetrated to every nook and corner of the country
and been able to impact human culture. While television has come up in a big way, the
popularity of radio still remains intact.
Radio is a medium of the voice: You must be aware of the epic story of
‘Mahabharata.’ In that, if you recall, Sanjay had narrated in detail each and every turn/
event of the Mahabharata war to the visually impaired King Dhritarashtra. By listening
to Sanjay, Dhritarashtra was able to visualize or “see in his mind” the horrors of the
war.
Similarly, if you listen to the commentary or a ball-by-ball account of a cricket match

on radio, you are able to create the vivid visual imagery of a cricket stadium, the
excitement on field and how the game is being played. The audio narration performs
on the canvas of the listener's mind and the mind can then construct any period, any
place. Radio is therefore exclusively a medium of the sound and can make
pictures in your mind.
Radio is an intimate medium: As earlier mentioned, the broadcaster always addresses

the listeners as if he is talking to him/her alone and tries to build an instant rapport. The
listeners too feel connected with him, if he addresses issues close to their heart. Every

RADIO JOURNALISM
broadcaster knows that if the listeners do not like his programme, they will always
have the option of switching channels.
Therefore, any programme—be it a talk show, a documentary or a feature—must

strike a chord with the listener, right at the beginning.
Radio as a mass medium: Though radio started as a communication tool for the
armed forces, it soon became popular among the masses. The best part about radio is
that it reaches millions of people at the same time. The audience may comprise people
from different educational, social and cultural background. The broadcaster’s job is to
find out the lowest common denominator to communicate well with maximum number
of people. Radio has been serving not only as an effective medium not only to inform
and educate people but also to promote their folk culture.
Radio breaks the literacy barrier: Radio is easily understandable to the literates and the
non-literates. Unless you are literate, you can not read a newspaper or read captions
or text on television. But for listening to radio, you need not be literate. The illiterate
person in a remote village can be a regular radio listener.
Radio is portable: Radio can be accessed on the move. The listener need not sit in
one position to listen to the radio. You can listen to it while doing your work or while
driving. It can accompany you and entertain you anywhere. Hence, it is a convenient
medium.
Radio is a low cost medium: Radio is an inexpensive medium. The cost of production
is low and a small radio can be bought for as low a price as say, fifty rupees. Before the
advent of television, radio was the chief means of communication for people of all
classes. However, not everyone owned the radio sets. Many people listened to one
radio at the same time. Then transistor revolution spread the ownership of radio sets in
a rapid way.
Radio does not need electric power supply: You can listen to radio using dry
battery cells even if you do not have electric power supply or a generator.
While people in cities spend their evenings watching television, in rural areas, where
there is no electricity or erratic supply of electricity, people still prefer the radio for
their entertainment.
RADIO JOURNALISM
Radio is a medium of immediacy: Radio can deliver messages instantly. It can be
the first to report the happenings while TV crew would take some time to reach the
spot. As things happen in a studio or outside, messages can be sent or broadcast live.
These messages can be picked up by anyone who has a radio set or receiver which is
tuned into a radio station. Irrespective of our location, we can listen to radio in the
language of our choice.
1.4 COMPONENTS OF RADIO BROADCASTING

Radio, as we all know, is a medium of sound. Radio broadcasting consists of three
major components:
• Talk
• Music
• Sound Effects
These three components reach listeners through air waves. They have to be pleasant
and meaningful to appeal to listeners. Every sound broadcast in radio creates an
impression on listeners. Every broadcast must leave an artistic imprint or it goes to
waste.
Radio is called a medium of the voice. Artistes use their talent and adopt unique styles
to attract listeners. They use voice modulation on a microphone to convey to the listeners
all nuances of the message. Through voice modulation, they express feelings of anger,
sadness, happiness, pride, hatred, etc. Though listeners cannot see them physically,
radio artistes perform using their voice. This is called ‘voice-acting.’ While actors, on
stage or in front of camera, wear elaborate costumes and make-up, radio actors only
use their powerful voice to reach out to their listeners.
It is important that an artiste uses the microphone appropriately as it amplifies the voice
before sending it to the listeners. It is a highly sensitive instrument and can catch the
slightest sigh or the subtle variations in the voice.
A regular radio listener’s ear is trained to catch every word being broadcast. That is
why the artistes keep in mind the listener’s audio receptiveness while creating radio
programs.

RADIO JOURNALISM
1.5 LIMITATIONS OF RADIO
Radio as a medium has its own limitations as well. Some of them are as follows:
1. Radio entirely depends on the sense of hearing. It has no visual images. Unlike
television, broadcast is not reinforced by the powerful medium of sight. For
instance, it is difficult to convey the intricacies of works of art such as paintings,
sculptures or handicrafts merely by words. Also, in case of a a major disaster
- say an earthquake or a war, it is easy to portray the extent of damage or the
hardships faced by the people clearly on television. On radio, the listener has
to use his imagination to picturise the situation in his mind. And there can be
gaps between illusion and reality.
Television, being a visual medium, has the advantage of communicating a

message through facial expressions or body language. On radio both, the
broadcaster and the listener, have to constantly keep in mind that what is being
conveyed will have to be heard, understood and remembered instantly.
2. Radio is an ephemeral medium, unless one has access to a recording or a

repeat broadcast, the message can be lost forever. This puts pressure on the
broadcaster to convey his message emphatically in one chance and demands
a great deal of concentration on the listener’s part as well. For example, while
reading a newspaper, if you do not understand the meaning of certain words,
you can refer to a dictionary to find out the meaning. You can refer to the
article again and again. This is not possible for radio. While listening to a news
bulletin on radio, if you refer to a dictionary or ask someone else for the meaning,
you will miss the rest of the news. You have to understand what is being said
on radio as you listen. What is said on radio does not exist any longer; unless
you record it.
3. Messages on radio can be easily forgotten. Sometimes, a visual on television

or an article in a newspaper may have a lasting impact on a person. For
example, the visual of fumes coming out of Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai
remain etched in one’s mind even after almost a decade after the incident.
Similar examples in the context of radio would be rare.

RADIO JOURNALISM
4. There is a lot of dependence on presentation in radio. If a presenter is boring,
the listeners may lose interest in the programme. So not just the message but
how it is presented too matters a lot in radio.
5. Radio has little value for the hearing-challenged just as television is of little use
to the visually-challenged.
1.6 RADIO BROADCASTING: HOW IT WORKS

Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to
reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common
radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both.
The broadcasting also can be done via cable radio, local wire television networks,
satellite radio, and internet radio via streaming media on the Internet.
The signal types can be either analog audio or digital audio.
Radio broadcasting is done through AM and FM stations. There are several subtypes,
namely commercial broadcasting, non-commercial educational (NCE) public
broadcasting and non-profit varieties as well as community radio, student-run campus
radio stations and hospital radio stations can be found throughout the world.
1.7 SUMMARY
In this unit, we discussed the characteristics of radio, its strengths and weaknesses. We
dwelt on how despite competition from other forms of media, radio continues to remain
relevant and potent across the globe. You leant about the three components of radio
broadcasting—the talk, music and sound effects and also about how radio broadcasting
works and how messages on radio reach listeners through air waves.
1.8 ASSESSMENT
1. What is radio? Why it is called an intimate medium?
2. What are the components of radio broadcasting? Explain.
3. What are the limitations of radio as a medium of mass communication?

RADIO JOURNALISM
1.9 PRACTICAL
1. Conduct a small a survey among your family and friends to probe why they
tune into radio. You can also gather feedback from them on which radio
programs they prefer to listen to. You can map the reasons/preferences as per
their gender and age-groups.

RADIO JOURNALISM
UNIT – II:
EVOLUTION AND GROWTH OF
BROADCASTING IN INDIA
2.0 UNIT STRUCTURE
2.2 The Evolution of Radio Broadcast
2.3 Growth of Radio Broadcast in India
2.4 Private Radio Broadcast
2.5 Radio Broadcast in Odisha
2.6 Summary
2.7 Assessment
2.8 Practical
2.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Radio has turned out to be an indispensable medium of mass communication today. It
not only records and broadcasts news and talks, but broadcasts various programs on
sports, music, drama, art, literature, culture, etc. It, hence, educates its listeners and
also is a source of entertainment for them.

RADIO JOURNALISM
Before the advent of radio, people from one area could not get news from other areas
in time. It took years of research in the making of the radio. Even after the invention of
radio, it took a long time to broadcast programs as is being done today. The intention
of this study is to gain insight into how radio was invented, when did radio broadcast
begin in India, the functioning of the Government broadcast system and the advent of
private organizations.
2.2 THE EVOLUTION OF RADIO

BROADCASTING
A famous proverb says, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” After Railway became
operational in 1830, immediate dissemination of information became necessary. For
the safety and security of Railway passengers, it was crucial to know about the details
of the train before it reached the station. To fulfill this need, audio medium was chosen
as it could travel very fast.
In 1844, artist Samuel F B Morse invented a device, which used telegraph wires to
transmit audio waves to a distance. By 1861, telegraph wires were installed at specific
locations. This helped the Railways become operational and efficient. But the public
did not accept it as a means of mass communication.
In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi set up a radio receiver at New Foundland and could
successfully transmit information using air waves to England. Using Morse code,
Marconi was able to send wireless telegraphy successfully to different places. Invention
of wireless communication facilitated sending coded messages from sea to land and
land to sea easily. It became easy for naval ships to communicate with other ships and
with land stations; the focus was on person-to-person communication.
However, the potential for broadcasting—sending messages to a large group of

potential listeners—was realized later. In 1906, Reginald Fessenden initiated the first
radio transmission of the human voice, but his efforts did not develop into a useful
application. Ten years later, Lee de Forest used radio in a more modern sense when
he set up an experimental radio station, 2XG, in New York City. De Forest gave
nightly broadcasts of music and news until World War I halted all transmissions for
private citizens.

RADIO JOURNALISM
The technology needed to build a radio transmitter and receiver was relatively simple,
and amateur radio operators quickly crowded the airwaves, broadcasting messages
to anyone within range. Therefore, the Government had to step in and, by 1912,
regulatory measures that
required licenses and limited CHRONOLOGY OF HISTORY OF RADIO:-
broadcast ranges for radio
 In 1888, Henrik Hertz was able to transmit
operation were put in place. wireless airwaves
After several experiments, radio  In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi transmitted wireless

broadcasting began in India in messages across the Atlantic Ocean
1921. By 1923, radio clubs
 Lee D Forest inserted a grid in a vacuum tube
were set up in various parts of
to broadcast voice in 1907
India such as Calcutta
(renamed to Kolkata), Bombay  During World War I, Navy of Allied Forces took
over Marconi’s company in 1917
(renamed to Mumbai) and
Madras (renamed to Chennai)  In 1919, Radio Corporation of America was
for radio broadcasting. The first established
program to be broadcast was
by Bombay Radio Club in 1923. The Indian Broadcasting Company and the-then
Indian Government signed a pact to start radio broadcast in 1927. This deal heralded
the start of structured and systematic radio broadcast in India, which was then a colony
of the Great Britain. Five weeks after this pact was inked, radio broadcast began in
Calcutta.
2.3 GROWTH OF RADIO BROADCAST IN INDIA

In India, as in other countries, amateurs were the first to start broadcasting. In June
1923, the Radio Club of Bombay broadcast the first radio programme in India. In
November 1923, the Calcutta Radio Club came into being. The Madras Radio Club
started broadcasting in July 1924 with a 20 kilowatt transmitter. However it closed
down due to monetary constraints.
Under a contract between the then Government of India and a private company named
Indian Broadcasting Company (IBC) Ltd, broadcasting was started in India on an

RADIO JOURNALISM
experimental basis at Bombay and Calcutta simultaneously which can be termed as
the first attempt at organized broadcasting.
News was broadcast for the first time on radio on 23rd July, 1927 from Bombay
station. Calcutta station started broadcasting news bulletin in Bengali language on 27th
August, 1927. By 1935, Bombay station was broadcasting bulletins in English and
Hindustani languages. The station at Calcutta was broadcasting news bulletins in Bengali
as well as English by the same year. In spite of a loan from the Government, the Indian
Broadcasting Company was a financial failure. It was shut down in March, 1930 and
Radio came under direct control of the Government.
The Indian Government appointed BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Producer

Lionel Fielden as Chief Engineer to the newly-formed Controller of Broadcasting
department. It was renamed as ‘All India Radio’ on
June 8, 1936 and came to be known as ‘Akashvani’
in 1956.
Delhi station began broadcasting news bulletins from

January 19, 1936. Along with news in English and
Hindustani, talk shows and programs on current
affairs were broadcast. Central News Organization
(CNO) was set up on On 1st August, 1937. Charles Barns, who had earlier joined as
the first News Editor of CNO in September, became its Director of News.
Armed with a team of dedicated young engineers, Fielden set up short service wave
centers across India in 1938. Lucknow station was established on April 1, Madras
station was set up on June 1 and Trichy station came into being in 1939. 27 radio news
bulletins were presented between 1938 and 1940. After Fielden, reputed administrator
A S Bokhari took charge as its first Indian Director General. It was during his tenure
that a new broadcasting unit was set up at Parliament Street in New Delhi.
External Services Unit was established under Director of News in 1943. By 1945,
Central News Organization began broadcasting news in different languages. After
India’s independence, news broadcast improved in quality and quantity. Emphasis
was laid on national and regional news.

RADIO JOURNALISM
After the nation’s partition into India and Pakistan, assets were divided in the 2:1 ratio.
India got 6 stations and 18 transmitters. Five stations which were princely states –
Hyderabad, Aurangabad, Baroda, Mysore and Travancore – began broadcast later.
Radio netwo rks greatly
expanded with time.
During the first Five Year Plan

(1951-1956), several schemes
aided the development of
broadcast. Renowned musician
Pandit Ravi Shanker started the
Headquarter of All India Radio, New Delhi
first National Orchestra in 1952.
Lucknow and Nagpur stations started broadcasting news bulletins in Hindi and Marathi
respectively, in 1953. The first music festival was broadcast in 1955. Radio Newsreel
started broadcast on December 10 and Sardar Patel memorial lecture was broadcast
the same year. In 1956, the wide variety of national programs included opera, feature,
drama, poetry festival, etc.
By the end of the first Five Year Plan, the number of radio stations in India had risen to
27. The invention of cheap and affordable transistor in 1960 further contributed to the
tremendous popularity of radio medium.
Funds allocated for broadcast were four times more in the second Five Year Plan as
compared to the first. For the broadcast of various programs of All India Radio, Vividh
Bharati service was started from Bombay station in 1957. Along with film music, it
provided a dose of light-hearted entertainment. Such programs remained popular with
the masses for a long time. Vividh Bharati was successful in competing with the programs
of Radio Ceylon (belonging to Sri Lanka).
Programs being produced at Delhi station were shared with other stations of Akashvani
in 1957. The following year, a folk music festival was organized to promote national
unity. A program called ‘Rural Radio Forum’ was broadcast from 1959 to attract rural
listeners. Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s speech from New York was broadcast
live on radio in 1960. By 1961, radio reached a listenership of nearly 55 per cent
across India.
RADIO JOURNALISM
By the time the Third Five Year plan was envisioned, science had advanced radio to
medium wave transmission. 26 transmitters were deployed for Vividh Bharati’s
programs. Two more transmitters
were set up at Chandigarh and
The Signature tune of All India Radio has been
Kanpur. By 1966, 60 per cent of
heard by hundreds of millions of people since
the population could access radio 1936. It has an interesting history (and contro-
signals through 54 stations. versy). Many people credit Walter Kaufmann,
a Czech composer and one of the many Jewish
Today, All India Radio is counted
refugees who found a haven in India from the
as one of the largest media
Nazis. He was a Director of Music at All India
organisations in the world. With a
Radio in Bombay. It believed that musical
network of 262 radio stations,
instruments like violin, viola, cello and tanpura
AIR today is accessible to almost were used for composing the tune.
the entire population of the country According to some others, Thakur Balwant
and nearly 92% of the total area. Singh, an actor, singer and composer who
It broadcasts in 23 languages and moved to Mumbai from Himachal Pradesh is
146 dialects. Programmes of the the composer of this iconic tune. However,
External Services Division are there is no controversy over the year – 1936.
broadcast in 11 Indian and 16 Prasar Bharati Website is silent on this.
AIR’s
foreign languages reaching out to more than 100 Signature
countries. TheseTune
external broadcasts
aim to keep the overseas listeners informed about developments in the country and
provide a rich fare of entertainment as well.
AIR at present also operates 18 FM stereo channels, called AIR FM Rainbow, targeting
the urban audience. Four more FM channels called, AIR FM Gold, broadcast
composite news and entertainment programmes from Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and
Mumbai.
2.4 PRIVATE RADIO BROADCAST

In the mid-1930s, Major Edwin Armstrong, an inventor who had already devised a
successful circuit to improve AM radio, came up with a whole new approach to
transmitting radio signals. He developed FM broadcasting using frequency modulation
(FM) technology which is capable of better sound quality than AM broadcast.

RADIO JOURNALISM
Though a slow starter, the popularity of FM radio grew in the 1950s and 1960s, as
FM sets became cheaper and more readily available. Car companies introduced FM
car radios in 1963.
In India, for some time, private organizations broadcast their programs on Akashvani.
With the ease in regulations, private companies acquired licenses for FM broadcast
through tenders and began broadcasting on radio.
In India, the first private FM broadcast was in Chennai on July 23, 1977. FM radio
expanded its reach over the nation in the 1990s. In the initial years, FM could
successfully captivate listeners in metro cities: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.
In 2000, the Government of India called for a nationwide auction of 108 FM

frequencies. Winning a bid, Radio City began broadcasting on July 3, 2001 at
Bangalore. A local FM radio station was inaugurated on July 1, 2001 at Kodaikanal.
Two months after it was launched, it received
the tag of Metro FM. This station’s programs
were broadcast within a radius of 200
kilometres. It was the largest station if we take
the broadcast area and number of listeners
into account.
Since then, commercial radio has come a long way. It has gained huge popularity on
account of good programme content, and a wider choice of programmes. It has also
attracted a lot of advertisers and become profitable too.
Generally, commercial radio stations broadcast popular music to build their listener b
ase. They also provide useful information like local traffic alerts, sports news etc to
keep the listener interested. To ensure that the listeners do not switch channels,
commercial radio stations employ radio jockeys who keep the listeners entertained
with their smart presentation and glib talk.
2.5 RADIO BROADCAST IN ODISHA

Origin of radio broadcast in Odisha can be traced to the setting up of a station at
Cuttack in 1948. This development laid the foundation of radio transmissions. With

RADIO JOURNALISM
the help up of a 1 kilowatt shortwave transmitter, Cuttack began broadcasting on
radio. Cuttack is counted among the stations to start broadcasting after the
independence of India. H R Luthra took charge as the first Director of Cuttack station.
Vividh Bharati programs were

first broadcast at Cuttack
station in 1962. This station
located in Odisha started
broadcasting commercially in
1975. Along with a control
room, a multi-purpose studio to
record interviews of politicians
and other eminent personalities
was set up at the state’s capital
All India Radio, Cuttack
city – Bhubaneswar.
By 2013, Odisha had 20 Akashvani stations. 8 medium wave, one short wave and 14
FM (Frequency Modulation) transmitters are operational. Many regional stations have
been set up across Odisha: Sambalpur station on May 26, 1963; Jeypore station on
June 28, 1964; Bhawanipatna on December 30, 1993; Rourkela station on January
24, 1985; Keonjhar station on November 29, 1988; Baripada station on February
25, 1991; Joranda station on October 3, 1995; Puri station on January 26, 1999;
Brahmapur station on August 15, 1999. The setting up of transmitters at Nuapada,
Rayagada, Baliguda, Parlakhemundi, Paradeep, Deogarh, Sundargarh and Angul
facilitated radio broadcast in India. Using DTH (Direct To Home) technology, Odia
programs of Cuttack station were first broadcast to every nook and corner of the
world on June 30, 2006.
Publisher of Odia daily ‘Sambad,’ Eastern Media Limited was the first private company
to venture into private radio broadcasting in the state. Their FM channel Radio Choklate
went on-air on 4th May, 2007. The broadcast of Big FM (then owned by Adlabs
Films) reached radio listeners on May 17 of the same year. The third FM channel Red
FM came to Odisha on August 14, 2009. Owners of the eponymous private channel
along with Zee Enterprises began broadcasting Sarthak FM in 2016. A FM channel of
Odisha Television Limited -the parent company of news channel OTV - is expected to
begin operations soon.
RADIO JOURNALISM
Odisha has a robust community radio media. Its first community radio was ‘Radio
Namaskar’ which began broadcasting from Konark on February 12, 2010. ‘Radio
Sanskaar’ from Jagatsinghpur and ‘Radio Kisan’ from Balipatna followed. ‘Radio
Muskaan’ started broadcasting programs on April 14, 2012 from Phulbani. Educational
institutions have set up community radio stations at their campuses or internet radio
stations. Ravenshaw University started ‘Ravenshaw Radio’ in 2011. Sikhya O
Anusandhan University’s ‘Voice of SOA Community 90.4’ went on-air on October
15, 2012. Indian Institute of Mass Communication too recently set up a community
radio station at its Dhenkanal centre.
Odisha’s first internet radio www.odiaradio.com became available to listeners on June

21, 2012. Odisha State Open University’s (OSOU) internet radio ‘Pragyabani’ was
launched on June 10, 2016 for students and the public. It covers the syllabus and
related educational information.
2.6 SUMMARY
In this section, we discussed the evolution of radio broadcasting and how it began with
Guglielmo Marconi successfully transmitting information using air waves to England
and Reginald Fessenden initiating the first radio transmission of the human voice. We
also traced the journey and growth of radio broadcasting in India and discussed the
scenario in Odisha as well.
2.7 ASSESSMENT
1. Discuss the evolution of community radio in Odisha.
2. Discuss the growth of Radio during first five year Plan.
3. Briefly write about History of FM Radio in India.
2.8 PRACTICAL
1. Visit a radio station and probe about its organizational structure. Write a report
on this. Draw a sketch of a radio newsroom
2. Prepare a list of the FM channels in Odisha and some of their popular

programmes.

RADIO JOURNALISM
UNIT – III:
WRITING FOR RADIO
3.0 UNIT STRUCTURE
3.2 Introduction
3.3 Scripting For Audio Medium
3.4 Compilation of Radio Bulletin
3.5 Audio Editing Skills
3.6 Presenting Radio News
3.7 Summary
3.8 Assessment
3.9 Practical
3.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

While creating content for Radio, it has to be kept in mind that it is a completely an
audio based medium. The script therefore must ensure that the idea is conveyed with
appropriate bytes, voice despatches, music and sound effects. The intention of this
study is to provide a comprehensive view on this.

RADIO JOURNALISM
3.2 INTRODUCTION
Unlike print and television media, radio has no scope for news broadcasts with the
help of visuals. The news is delivered instantly and fresh update on events is broadcast.
This is the reason why news is prepared in a mission mode at a radio station.
Various correspondents stationed at national and international locations send in their

reports and bytes to the newsroom through electronic medium. The news team then
sifts through them and lists them in order of prominence. It selects important news as
headlines and other news are broadcast later. This segregation is done under the watch
of the head of the news team. A Bulletin Producer creates content and programming
and News Reader flawlessly reads it out. The entire process has been discussed in this
chapter.
3.3 SCRIPTING FOR THE AUDIO MEDIUM

Each mass communication medium is unique in its own way. The writing style for print
medium varies from that of electronic medium. Similarly, programming and creating
content for the radio is different from that of the television. Therefore, a sound
understanding of the medium is necessary before embarking on creation of content.
We must always remember that news on Radio is meant for listeners, not readers or
viewers. The content should be such that a listener can grasp it after listening to it once.
Unlike newspapers which you can read and re-read, it is one-time chance for listeners
to grasp the words in a bulletin on Radio. It is, hence, essential that news must be
presented with clarity.
Radio bulletins are usually made up from three types of material:
 Written stories in the form of a script;
 Voice reports from journalists, either recorded or live;
 Recorded sound called actuality. This is usually the sound of someone

speaking, perhaps taken from an interview or a speech. A short segment
of actuality is called a grab. Grabs are used in a similar way to quotes in a
newspaper story. In some countries, grabs are called cuts or inserts or
bytes.
RADIO JOURNALISM
You should keep the following points in mind before preparing news for Radio:
 Each script must be kept short and simple.
 The duration of a Radio news story is limited to 90 seconds.
 The script of each news story must be written within 100 words.
 Since it is an audio medium, for the script to have impact, the listener
should be able to visualize each word.
 It is important to limit each sentence to five to six seconds.
 The interest and literacy level of listeners should be kept in mind before
creating content.
 Words must be carefully chosen, so that the listeners can easily

understand them.
 Every sentence must be simplified to facilitate better understanding.
 Usage of simple language attracts listeners.
 Use of ornamental language must be avoided.
 Script for Radio is written in spoken language.
 Since a sentence consisting of more than 15 words is difficult to

understand, sentences must be kept as short as possible.
 Instead of one long sentence, it is better to split it into several short

sentences.
 If it is necessary, names of people can be repeated in the news script.
 To simplify difficult words, synonyms which are easier to understand

can be used.
 Synonyms, technical words and abbreviations should be used carefully

and appropriately.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 Since Radio is neither a print nor a visual medium, exact numerical
figures can be rounded off.
 To explain a comparative topic, everyday examples should be used.
 Explanatory and exploratory words should be used when necessary.
 Script should be in present tense.
 Script must be written in active voice rather than passive voice.
3.4 COMPILATION OF NEWS BULLETIN

It is a fact that in Radio, each word must be understood after listening to it only once.
This makes the script a key cog in the Radio machinery. The interests of listeners are
kept in mind during news presentation.
After editing, news is divided into different categories at the desk. First, broadcast
worthy news is kept separate. Secondly, news script should be written in broadcast
format. Thirdly, the bytes and sound clips necessary to supplement the news are
collected.
The following procedure is generally adhered to in a Radio News Room:
 The pool copy is sent to Editor of Bulletins.
 News Editors arrange stories based on their importance. Time is, then,
accordingly allotted to the stories.
 Some stories are included keeping the interest of listeners in mind.
 News gathered in other languages is translated before inclusion in the bulletin.
 Bulletin is sorted according to the requirement and interest of regional, state,

national and international listeners
 A bulletin is compiled piecing together political, educational, sports, culture,

entertainment, crime and other stories.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 Since Radio is primarily an audio medium, the news presenter must possess a
clear and excellent voice.
 Instead of a long bulletin which drags on, it is better to prepare an impactful

one of shorter duration.
 The script of the bulletin must appropriately earmark pause, commas and full
stops. The news presenter must read out the script with clarity.
 Every bulletin must contain new and updated news absent in the previous
broadcast.
 A good bulletin includes sound bytes and voice despatches.
 A news broadcast must be a collection of news stories with easy, simple and
direct sentences.
 The bulletin must be short and simple.
 If the duration of a bulletin exceeds seven minutes, it is better to repeat the

headlines before ending it. This helps listeners remember the key news stories.
 While reading out news of an event or accident, it should be presented without

any dramatization.
 Bear in mind that news worthiness of a story is more important than being
pleasing to the ear.
 Any complex information must be simplified for convenience of lay listeners.
 Emphasize on choosing noise free sound bytes with clear audio as far as possible.
 Including bytes of an accused or eye witnesses from ground zero makes a

bulletin lively.
 The staple formats of bulletins are sacrosanct and should never be changed
without prior notice to listeners.
 If a fresh bulletin is aired every hour, the aim should be to re-arrange headlines.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 Length of minor and major stories must be kept uniform throughout the bulletin.
 Each story should be read out with the same pace.
 After arranging the news stories in the designated chronological order, headlines
must be culled out and placed at the start and end of the bulletin.
 A soft story – either from sports or entertainment – is placed at the end of the
bulletin to attract the listeners.
 Music is usually used at the start and end of a Radio bulletin.
 Using background music in the middle of a story distracts listeners.
 Crucial information can be repeated in a story.
 All unnecessary words must be edited out of the bulletin.
 Figures must be written alpha-numerically in the script. This makes it easier for
the presenter to pronounce it.
 Names of people, companies and abbreviations must be pronounced fully for

easy comprehension of listeners.
It will be easy to compile a good bulletin if the aforementioned rules are followed.
3.5 AUDIO EDITING SKILLS

The process of retaining the required portion and discarding the unnecessary portion
to make a program appealing and beautiful is called editing. The term ‘editing’ here
concerns public broadcasting. It refers to making all sounds which come to the studio
fit for broadcast on news and other programs. Keeping high quality sounds and removing
harsh and poor audio is done in Radio editing.
The following points should be kept in mind while editing radio programs:
a Listening to the voice component carefully – Select the voice/s which

will be used in final production stage. After selection, the portion which
is to be retained is made fit for broadcast using different sound software.
After listening to the audio to be used, its start and end points are

RADIO JOURNALISM
marked and the duration of the clip is duly noted. The remaining portion
is chopped off.
b Listen to other elements – Background sound, sound and music are

chosen at this stage. Music and sound effects which match the earlier
selected audio are decided. The duration of each of these clips are
jotted down. All these files are properly named and saved on the
computer.
c Listening to the recorded audio again and editing – Before creating a

final program, importance is given to its sound of the program being
produced. Hence, it is crucial to listen to the recorded audio repeatedly
and make desired changes in the initial stages while producing a
program. While listening to the audio again, portions with bad audio in
recording can be eliminated. Along with this, each and every sound
clip’s duration must be noted in the cue sheet. Keep in mind that a
copy of the complete audio file must be stored on the computer before
progressing to the final editing and mixing stage.
d Final Editing – All the audio files are first normalized by referring to the
cue sheet. After removing the portions not inside the In’s (starting points)
and Out’s (end points), sound effects such as Fade In, Fade Out,
Reverbe, Delay, Echo, Pitch Checker, etc are added. Sound mixing is
always done in multi-track. By doing this, changes can be made in the
sound track as and when required.
VOICE EDITING: -
For Radio, editing the voice is of prime importance and much time is devoted to it. The
following points are kept in mind while voice editing:
 The portion which is of no use is removed.
 Lengthy answers and unnecessary information are edited out.
 The order of questions and answers are shuffled based on their importance.
 If required, silence is included in the audio file.

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You must be as careful as possible during editing. Improper language and words captured
during recording must be removed. The significant thing is to retain the key portions of
the recordings. That is the chief purpose of editing.
Process to prepare a cue sheet:-
A cue sheet contains the following elements:
 Start Time
 End Time
 Name of the Sound Clip
 Total Duration
 Details of the Fade In’s and Fade Out’s
EXAMPLE
Producer’s Name: Biswa Mishra Date: 02.02.2018
Technician: Asish Tripathy
Start End Name Time (in Fade Remarks
Seconds)
0.00 0.45 Jingle 45 Out
0.45 0.60 Start of voice over 25
0.57 1.08 Background Sound 11 Out
1.05 2.00 Interview 55
2.02 2.12 Voice Over 10 In & Out
2.45 3.45 Interview 60
3.45 4.50 Show Music 60 In End

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3.6 PRESENTATION OF NEWS
Before television sets appeared in every home, the radio was the popular medium for
news consumption as well as entertainment. People used to gather around the radio
sets and listen to the programmes together. Being an intimate medium, it seemed as if
radio talked to them. Today, radios do not enjoy that central place. Unlike the attentive
newspaper reader, the radio listener is often driving, working, or engaged in some task
other than absorbing the latest news, and consequently is paying less than full attention.
As a result radio news stories should be written as “conversational.” Many a times,
people become fans of presenter/s, and hence, regularly tune in to Radio for this reason.
Hence, a presenter plays a significant role in a Radio news bulletin.
A presenter must possess some qualities to present news effectively. They are as
mentioned below :
 Good Voice
 Professional
 Aware of local issues
 Talent
 Personality
 Trustworthy
 Friendly Attitude
You must imbibe the aforementioned character traits to be an endearing news presenter.
Take a look at more points mentioned here to become a good presenter:
 First of all you must bear in mind that you are working for an audio medium.
This means that you can only be heard, not seen. Hence, your focus should be
on your voice at all times.
 Gather as much information about the place and its surroundings where the
station where you work is located.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 Your listeners should be able to visualize what you are saying.
 If the script of the news is long, you must take advertising breaks in between
the news bulletin.
 It is extremely important that you read, understand and rehearse the news
script before presenting it on air.
 You should read each news capsule and the entire script thoroughly.
 Always include the updated information if you are presenting a weather report.
 You must read and familiarize yourself with the run order before broadcasting
it.
 You must forget your personal feelings such as anger, sadness, pride, etc upon
entering the studio. While speaking in front of the microphone, present as if
you are the listener’s best friend.
 Do not blindly trust information from sources such as newspapers, television

and especially, social media. Onus lies on you to cross-check data and modify
them, before presenting it on the air.
3.7 SUMMARY
In this section, you learnt about the process of writing script for Radio. Since radio is
for the ears alone, the script must be kept short and simple. It should be so impactful
that the listener should be able to visualize each word.
We discussed in detail the steps for compiling a radio bulletin. It is compiled piecing
together political, educational, sports, culture, entertainment, crime and other stories.
It is sorted according to the requirement and interest of regional, state, national and
international listeners.
The segment also discussed the factors that one must keep in mind while editing
programmes for radio. Keeping high quality sounds and removing harsh and poor
audio is done in Radio editing,

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Presenting Radio News was also dwelt at length in this segment. In order to become a
good presenter, a person must be aware of local issues, possess a good voice, be
professional in his or her attitude etc.
3.8 ASSESSMENT
1. What are the materials used in Radio Bulletins?
2. What is Audi Editing? What are the important points to be considered

in Audio Editing?
3. How News Presenter plays a significant role in Radio bulletins?
3.9 PRACTICAL
1 Compile a news bulletin taking into consideration news stories of the
day. Read it out in front of the class as a Radio news presenter.
2 Probe into the various editorial functions by visiting a Radio station.

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UNIT – IV:
RADIO PROGRAMMING AND
PRODUCTION
4.0 UNIT STRUCTURE
4.2 Introduction
4.3 Radio Production
4.4 Types of Radio Production
4.5 Summary
4.6 Assessment
4.7 Practical

The objective of this unit is to gain an understanding about what is the process of
making of radio programmes, its various formats and the purpose it serves in Radio
broadcast.
4.2 INTRODUCTION
Radio programmes consist of speech, music or other sounds. These sounds are either
live or prerecorded. Live sounds are broadcast at the same time they are produced
and include words spoken by announcers. Pre-recorded sounds are not broadcast
when first produced. They are stored on tapes and broadcast later. Almost all the
music and most commercials/advertisements are pre-recorded.

RADIO JOURNALISM
There are many thousands radio stations across the world which provide different
content to their listeners. They have the liberty to fix their own programming schedules
so listeners would be able to understand what they want to listen to. That’s why there
are radio programming formats. Every broadcast station has its own duration of being
on air each day. Some are on air for 24 hours while others operate for a number of
hours less than 24. The principal aim of being on air is to present acceptable programmes
for the listeners.
The plan of allocating programmes according to time of the day and duration of each
programme is known as programming. The schedule is drafted in such a way to take
care of a variety of programmes such as drama, music, sports, documentary, discussions,
& current affairs based programs, agriculture, farmer and rural life based programs
and a host of others.
4.3 RADIO PRODUCTION

Production is tailored as per the requirement of different The different stages involved
in the making of these Radio programs collectively are called production. The three
major stages are pre-production, production and post production. The pre-production
stage comprises: Ideation, planning and development, formatting, research on topic
and resources etc and writing the rundown and the script. The next stage deals with the
actual production of the programme and relies heavily of the creativity of the producer.
Presentation is the final stage in radio programme production. It involves choosing the
right presenter to deliver the product.

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The production of audio based Radio medium is different from movies, which is an
audio-visual medium.
While reading a publication, readers encounter many components: attractive layout;

advertisements; articles on politics, current affairs, entertainment, sports, etc; interviews
and features. Readers look forward to their copy of the publication to browse through
the wide range of articles. Similarly, a Radio station offers many kinds of programs
such as news, features, interview, discussion, book reviews, film reviews, sequence
and timings of programs to be broadcast, film music, etc. By keeping the listener’s
interest in mind, programs of various types and catering to different tastes are carefully
decided and produced.
The production of Radio programs consist of three major stages:
(A) Pre-Production
(B) Production
(C) Post Production
Lets discuss these three stages.
(A) Pre-Production
Like every program is conceptualized beforehand, pre-production precedes production

stage. Let us discuss what this stage entails.
1) Before an idea takes shape into an approved concept, it is subject to detailed

analysis.
2) The concept is then bracketed into one of the programming formats: Interview,
drama, discussion, discussion, story, play, etc. The logistical parameters like
where and when it will be recorded, which equipments are required for
recording, which equipments will be required, etc are zeroed in.
3) After elaborate discussion on several encompassing aspects, befitting

programming is created taking the listeners’ tastes into account.

RADIO JOURNALISM
4) If the voice of the staff is deemed unfit for a program, professional artistes are
invited. The guest artistes have to sign on the designated agreement. This is
how official procedures are completed in this stage.
5) Before recording commences, announcer/s and/or artiste/s rehearse once or

several times, if necessary.
6) After those required for the program are present at the studio, the talk, discussion
or song is recorded.
(B) Production
In this stage, production work is undertaken. Recording and editing is done in production
stage. Apart from a good voice/s, good microphone, computer, recording studio are
essential for high quality recording. Since recording studios are sound proof, artistes
and announcers have to be careful during recording. Since high quality microphones
are installed in studios, there is a possibility of even a loud whisper being recorded on
tape. When an announcer is reading, if the paper in her/his ruffles, it makes a sound. If
while speaking on the microphone, an announcer clears his/her throat, the sound that is
produced can ruin an otherwise beautiful program. Hence, it is extremely important to
be as careful and conscious as possible.
(C) Post Production
This stage involves publicity of the programs scheduled for broadcast. After a program
is created, its timing/s and date of broadcast are announced. This information is shared
with the staff and technicians involved in the programming.
A Radio producer possesses a specific set of unique qualities, which makes her/him
efficient and productive in a medium devoid of visuals. Let us discuss the characteristics
required to be a good Radio producer.
- You must be a keen observer of events happening around you.
- You must examine every event critically as such analysis will deepen your
understanding of the occurring.
- Try to learn and broaden your world view from experience.

RADIO JOURNALISM
- Form a view based on information from different sources and other data. You
must have the ability to translate your thoughts into tangible reality.
- You must be empathetic and sensitive.
- You must have expertise and command over the language/s and spoken ability.
Various equipments/facilities used in Radio broadcast:
The following equipments/facilities are used in Radio broadcasting:.
Studio: A Radio studio is a room which houses equipments to record voice, sound
and music. It should be sound proof so that the result is high quality recording.
Microphone: This is a technology that

amplifies and regulates the sound output
in a programme. It is a device which
converts the variation of sound pressure
in a sound wave into corresponding
electrical variation in an electric circuit. It is very sensitive: can catch the minutest sigh,
the subtle variations in the voice. Based on structure and capacity, microphones can
be divided into two categories:
(1) By the pickup pattern
(2) By the materials they are made with
(1) Pick-up Pattern: Microphones are classified on their abilities of pick-up pattern
and are of three categories.
a. Uni-directional microphone: This device can record sound from only

one direction. The advantage it has is that it discriminates unwanted
sounds. Such microphones are used for recording crystal clear sound.
b. Bi-directional microphone: It can record sound from only two directions

and not from sides.
c. Omni directional microphone: It can record sound from all directions.

RADIO JOURNALISM
(2) Materials they are made with: Other microphones can be identified with the
material they are made up with.
They are broadly classified into two:
(i) The Pressure Microphone: contains a thin metal diaphragm structured somewhat
like the head of a drum inside a rigid frame. This diaphragm is part of the electric circuit
so that when sound waves strikes the diaphragm, it vibrates. This vibration produces
corresponding signals that flow into the circuit system.
(ii) The Velocity Microphone: Has a very tight ribbons of aluminum foil loosely
suspended in a strong magnetic circuit so that when sound waves touch the ribbon, it
vibrates, generating different amount of current inside the ribbon. The condenser and
dynamic microphones are examples. They can give very high sound quality though
expensive. They can be used for outside recording or broadcasting.
There are many microphones designed for special purposes like the lapel microphones
which can clipped into the shirt’s collar and is of uni-directional type. It is normally
used in TV programmes and not radio. Then there are noise cancelling microphones
used in noisy places, e.g. sporting events where the time of the loudest noise may
coincide with the greatest need for explanation by the commentator. One way of dealing
with this is to give him an omnidirectional microphone and allow him to control the
ratio of voice and background noise himself. These microphones are often omni
directional ones. There are also cordless microphones used mainly on stage shows.
They have a small transmitter in them which can send the sounds to an amplifier.
Audio Console: The audio console, which is complex network of faders, equalizers,
various buttons and switches, plays an important function in every radio broadcast
production. Also called the control board, it is the primary piece of equipment in the
production facility. It is used for the amplification of sound and is used to regulate and
modulate signals. The mixing console has a lot of input and output, which are these
days digitally operated.
Sound Effects: These effects serve to make a program lively. Sound effects help
listeners to vividly visualize a program in their mind. They are usually of two kinds.
They are as follows:
(1) Spot effects
(2) Recorded sound effects

RADIO JOURNALISM
Spot sound effects are recorded during the recording of a program. During recording,
some sound effects which have been decided earlier, are recorded along with the
recording of the voice/s. Sometimes, the necessary sound effects are recorded prior
to the voice recording. They are used after accounting for the time, ease and applicability.
Keeping the requirements of today’s times in view, sound effects of almost all kinds
are readily available like animals, rain, thunder, hailstorm, water, floods, etc.
Music: The soul of an audio medium like Radio is its music. Music is used in many
ways on Radio. It is sometimes put as background music or music preceding the
program. It makes talk shows lively. Adding music to a dull program will enliven it and
make it entertaining. Music can convey a wide array of emotions such as happiness,
sadness, anger, pride, hatred, etc. It can also depict place and timings.
Artificial echo: If you say something inside a cave on a mountain or a large hall, the
resulting sound reaches a short distance and can be heard again in a milder Hertz. The
sound bounces back and is heard is called an echo. Usually, different types of echoes
are copiously used in music based programs and Radio dramas.
Filter: Many kinds of sounds are used for varied situations, places, timings and subjects.
The audio filter function in audio software is used to apply different kinds of sounds.
By using this filter, any kind of sound effect can be created. It can then be mixed into
the audio of the program.
Voice: The chief component of Radio production is the voice. It has been stated at the
start of this chapter that Radio is a blind and audio medium. A Radio announcer uses
only the power of her/his voice to entice listeners in this medium of zero visuals. Usually,
voice is used to read news, make announcements, read the screenplay of various
characters in a drama, sing in a musical program, etc.
4.4 DIFFERENT TYPES OF RADIO

PROGRAMME FORMATS
A radio programme format refers to the overall content broadcasted over a radio
station. These formats are designed to reach a defined listening population based on
such demographic criteria such as age, gender, ethnicity, background, etc. All radio
formats have three ingredients—spoken word, music and sound effects. Apart from
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news bulletins, the various types of radio programmes include magazines, features,
talk, discussion, interviews, voice despatches and radio bridge.
4.4.1 News Magazine
You would have read a magazine in print medium. They are usually published weekly,
bi-monthly, monthly, quarterly, annually or from time to time. Some magazines cater to
general readers while others are meant for a specific audience. Some magazines focus
on youth, women, children, health, education, science, technology, literature, culture
or films. These magazines contain cover story, features, interview/s, health tips, cooking
recipes, movie reviews, among others. While Radio magazine is similar to print magazine,
the former is in audio form. Some of the features of radio magazines are listed here:
 Radio magazines are broadcast weekly or on a specific date in a month.
 A Radio magazine has plenty of variety in its contents. It contains interviews,

music, reviews, discussion and discussions.
 The duration of each segment in a Radio magazine is not fixed.
 Like the masthead of a newspaper, every Radio magazine has a signature tune
in the beginning.
 A unique name is chosen for the Radio magazine.
 Announcers and producers keep track of the chronology of episodes of a

program and broadcast them accordingly.
 Radio magazines cater to a certain kind of listeners.
 At the start of the program, the announcer mentions the kind of listenership it
seeks to serve.
4.4.2 News Feature
The feature is an in-depth news story which gives more details of events. It deals more
with facts rather than opinion and is usually not perishable. Feature writing needs
focusing, understanding, thinking and care. It contains more information, more
explanation, interpretation details, and analysis. Features tend to be based on the profile
RADIO JOURNALISM
of people who make the news; they explain events more; they give analyses of what is
happening in the world, nation or community; they teach the audience how to do a
particular thing; they suggest better ways live and they examine trends and entertain
readers.
But the making and manner of presentation in various mass media is different.
The writing and printing style of print media is one of a kind. It consists of excellent
writing, corresponding photographs, pictures on the topic and graphics, which makes
for a wholesome read. Similarly, good visuals support the script of a good TV feature.
In some cases, the video is shot first and a script is prepared later. But a radio feature
is very unlike the ones used in these media. The salient features of a feature on Radio
are given here:
1 A wireless feature is meant only for listeners.
2 The interest of listeners is kept in mind while creating an audio feature.
3 Proper conceptualization and corresponding script form the crux of a

Radio feature.
4 The script of an audio feature is presented in an attractive manner.
5 Radio features are based on real people and use actual sounds.
6 A Radio producer uses voice-over, music and sound effects

appropriately to create a feature.
7 The language which suits the subject most is chosen.
4.4.3 Radio Talk
Talk is the oldest and a traditional format used in a Radio program. In this type of
programme, you have mostly only one person dwelling on a subject matter. Or it may
have one or more experts called in to deliver a talk on one or more topics.
 The duration of a Radio talk is between usually ten to fifteen minutes.
 Voice modulation is of essence in a Radio talk as listeners visualize the tone

and gravity of the topic by listening only to the voice/s.

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 The popularity of Radio talks has diminished in recent times. In today’s times,
the duration of Radio talks has become shorter.
 Radio talks are considered as a program in public service broadcasting on All

India Radio.
 The presenter begins the talk after which guests deliver their talks.
4.4.4 Discussion
In a family or an organization, the solution to a problem is found after sitting and discussing
the issue together. Similarly, the help of mass media is sought to discuss and solve issues
arising in a society. Hence, a powerful and personal medium like Radio has a crucial
role to play in solving problems of the public. Discussions on important matters are
broadcast on Radio to arrive at solutions, which can be implemented to redress
grievances.
This programme entails inviting different personalities from different sociopolitical

background to the studio to discuss in detail a topic of community or national urgency.
The discussion programme has a moderator who pilots the programme.
Issues affecting the public are discussed on Radio.
 If society is faced with an economic, political or social problem, such a program

is broadcast.
 A specific topic is chosen for a discussion.
 A senior journalist usually moderates Radio discussions.
 The moderator mentions the name of the topic, gives a brief insight to the issue
and introduces the panel of experts to the listeners.
 Several experts on the subject participate in the discussion and propose

solutions.
 The duration of Radio discussions are from fifteen to thirty minutes.
 The presence of one or more influential personalities, who give their opinion on
the topic, attracts listeners.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 If all experts are given equal opportunity and time to put forth their views, the
content of the program becomes interesting.
 It is the primary job of the moderator to ensure that the panelists stick to the
topic and do not deviate from it.
4.4.5 Interview
Like other mass media, Radio programming includes interviews. This involves a chat
or a discussion/conversation between the presenter and a guest who may be an important
personality in government, in civil society, industry, entertainment or a professional in a
particular field of endeavour. A question and answer session are the nature of the
interview programme.
Some of the salient features of Interviews are discussed here:
 Interviews are a compete program in themselves.
 Its duration may be from ten to thirty minutes or may stretch up to an hour.
 The duration of an interview depends on the topic and answers given by the
interviewee.
 Most interviews are of people or personalities.
 Personalities from social work, politics, literature, music, sports, science, culture
and entertainment are interviewed.
 Radio interviews can be used in different ways such as in news or

documentaries.
 If the program is entirely interview based, listeners hear both the questions and
answers.
 To reach a wider set of listeners, listeners get a chance to connect with the
personality being interviewed through phone-ins.
 Public views on current topics such as Railway Budget, Financial Budget,

demonetization, etc may be treated as interviews.
 The opinion of experts on issues concerning the public can be treated as

interviews.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 You have to enhance your general knowledge, presence of mind and
presentation style to be able to take good Radio interviews.
 Before commencing the interview, experts must be briefed about the topic and
its facets. This will make the experts speak uniformly and keep them focused
on the subject.
 Several experts can be interviewed at the same time. Effective moderating

ability of the presenter will make the program interesting and hard to miss.
4.4.6 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 bytes are a short summary of a

recorded speech.
4.4.7 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
 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.
4.4.8 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.
4.5 SUMMARY
In this segment, you learnt about the various formats of radio programmes including
radio magazines, features, radio bridge, voice despatches etc and the processes involved
in their production. You were given an overview about the three major stages of pre-
production, production and post production. The pre-production stage, we learnt,
comprises ideation, planning and development, the next stage deals with the actual
production of the programme and finally it is all about the presentation.
4.6 ASSESSMENT
1. What are different types of Radio Programme Format?
2. What is the role of sound byte in a news bulletin?
3. What is Radio Talk?

RADIO JOURNALISM
4.7 PRACTICAL
1. Organise a panel discussion on any burning topic of the day.
2. Prepare a ten-minute Radio talk on Mahanadi river water sharing row.
3. Interview an eminent personality of your area.

RADIO JOURNALISM
UNIT – V:
TYPE OF BROADCAST
5.0 UNIT STRUCTURE
5.2 Introduction
5.3 AM Broadcasting
5.4 FM Broadcasting
5.5 Community Radio
5.6 Internet Radio
5.7 Summary
5.8 Assessment
5.9 Practical

Through news and a wide array of programs on sports, music, culture, drama, arts,
literature, etc, Radio plays an important role in mass education and entertainment. The
system of Radio programming and broadcast is vastly different from that of the previous
generation. The 21st century has witnessed the evolution of Radio in various new
formats such as FM, Internet Radio and Community Radio. The objective of this
study is to gain broad understanding into the evolution of Radio as we know it today
by taking its various dimensions into account.

RADIO JOURNALISM
5.2 INTRODUCTION
In the early days, programs were broadcast at specific timings through some Radio
stations. But with the passage of time, technology advanced in leaps and bounds. This
resulted in the invention of AM (Amplitude Modulation) Radio, FM (Frequency
Modulation) Radio, Internet Radio and Community Radio. Now, FM Radio, Internet
Radio and Community Radio are readily available for public consumption. The objective
of this study is to trace their history, evolution and how these forms of Radio became
functional.
5.3 AM BROADCASTING
The full form of the abbreviation AM is amplitude modulation. It is the earliest method
in Radio broadcasting. The capacity of AM Radio stands between 535 and 1705 Kilo
Hertz. We can see this while setting the dial of a Radio.
While FM functions in high frequency, AM works in low and medium frequencies.

Many stations of the same frequency cannot be located at one geographical location.
It means that many stations can work on different frequencies at various locations. AM
signal depends on many factors such as station frequency, capacity of transmitter
wattage, broadcast antennae and ionospheric penetration.
The development of the technique is attributed to Lee de Forest and Reginald Fessenden.
The first transmission took place in 1906 from a garage in Brant Rock, Massachusetts.
Fessenden, a Canadian inventor transmitted the world's first voice message by using
an Alexanderson alternator and a rotary spark-gap transmitter. His message was heard
by radio-equipped ships within a range of several hundred miles away from the
transmission point
The use of AM broadcasting became more extensive in the years before World War I.
Back in 1909, Charles David Herrold founded the first radio station in San Jose,
California, known as KQW. After World War I, the number of radio experimentalists
increased dramatically and so did the use of AM radio.
A number of inventions are attributed to Lee de Forest, who started broadcasting

many events live on Radio in 1917.

RADIO JOURNALISM
Due to compressed audio bandwidth of AM Radio, it broadcasts voice based programs
such as news, sports commentary, Radio Talk, etc. Since AM Radio is affected by
thunder, power cuts and other factors, AM signal cannot always be accessed. It is due
to these factors that small Radio stations operating on AM stop broadcasting after
sunset. The signal of one station overlaps with that of another station in the same
geographical radius. As a result of this, the listener who is tuned into one station instead
hears another station.
5.4 FM BROADCASTING
The most popular among all forms of Radio broadcast is FM Radio. The full form of
the abbreviation FM is Frequency Modulation. American engineer Edwin Armstrong
invented FM technology in the year 1933. FM carries out very high frequency
transmission. Since it could maintain the high quality of sound and produce stereo-
sonic sound, FM gained popularity among the masses in a short span of time. FM
Radio can broadcast programs with capacity between 88 and 108 Mega Hertz.
FM signal can spread over a specific distance and broadcast programs. One frequency
can signal at a different location in the country under another name. Since FM signals
travel through waves, physical obstacles in its path such as a mountain can hamper
accessing the signal. This is the reason FM Radio signals fluctuate while driving. Many
FM stations apply audio compression technique to send high quality audio to remote
areas.
It is for this reason that FM antennae are gigantic in size and installed at high altitudes.
The shape and placement at high altitude ensures that accessing the signal is easy. FM
signal boasts of the capability to accept and transmit in high and low frequency. It is
due to this that music sounds better than human voice on FM Radio. In India, dime a
dozen private companies have chosen to broadcast on FM, like Akashvani. On 23rd
July, 1977, the first FM Radio was broadcast at Chennai (then, Madras). FM radio
expanded its reach over the nation in the 1990s. In the initial years, FM could successfully
captivate listeners in metro cities: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.
When All India Radio sold some airtime, companies in Indore, Hyderabad, Delhi,
Mumbai, Kolkata, Vizag,Goa could broadcast their programs. In 2000, the

RADIO JOURNALISM
Government of India called for a nationwide auction of 108 FM frequencies. Winning
a bid, Radio City began broadcasting on July 3, 2001 at Bangalore. A local FM radio
station was inaugurated on July 1, 2001 at Kodaikanal. Two months after it was
launched, it received the tag of Metro FM. This station’s programs were broadcast
within a radius of 200 kilometres. It was the largest station if we take the broadcast
area and number of listeners into account. Information and Broadcasting Ministry had
set a target for establishment of 86 more FM radio stations by March 2017.
5.5 COMMUNITY RADIO

Community Radio is a radio broadcast that caters to the interest of a certain area and
it generally broadcasts those programmes which is of interest to the local audience but
is overlooked by more powerful broadcast groups. It is entirely different from general
and commercial broadcast.
 The broadcast of a Community Radio is usually limited to a geographical radius,

usually within five kilometers aerial distance of its transmitter.
It focuses on a specific set of listeners such as students, farmers, rural population, an

ethnic group or a range of listeners within its small broadcast area. Their target is to
benefit communities and the society at large.
 These stations never broadcast for commercial gains.
 Most of the Community Radio stations in the world act as Non-Government

organizations.
 Community Radio stations take up issues which big commercial radio stations
choose to miss.
 The Community Radio stations typically avoid content found on commercial

outlets such as Top 40 music.
 Until late 2006, only educational institutions were allowed to set up campus
radio stations having a transmission range of 10-15km. The first Community
Radio station in India was started at Anna University on February 1, 2004.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 The Government of India granted licenses to several NGOs, educational
institutions, citizens’ societies, etc on November 30, 2008.
 India had 200 Community Radio stations by January last year.
 ‘Sangham Radio’ was the first NGO from Andhra Pradesh to be granted a
Community Radio license on October 15, 2008.
 Madhya Pradesh’s ‘Radio

Bundelkhand’ became the
second Community Radio
station to broadcast on
October 28, 2008.
 The Government of India

has permitted the broadcast First Community Radio of Odisha
of news; information
beneficial to the public such as on sports, weather, traffic update, festivals,
power cuts, warning about disasters, health, etc till now.
 The Central Government has allowed advertisement upto five minutes on

Community Radio.
 It is mandatory for all programs of Community Radio must abide by the

guidelines of the Central Government and State Governments.
5.6 INTERNET RADIO

 Internet Radio is a new and emerging broadcast medium.
 Listeners only need a working internet connection to tune into Internet Radio.
 It is also known as e-radio, web radio, online radio and streaming radio.
 Listeners can listen to it by gradual streaming.
 The broadcast quality of Internet Radio depends on the speed of the internet
connection. If speed of the internet connection is slow, broadcast of Internet
Radio will be slow or stop.

RADIO JOURNALISM
 Internet Radio
bro adcasts the
same set of
programs available
on commercial
First Internet Radio of Odisha
Radio like music,
drama, sports, etc.
 This Radio can be easily accessed in any part of the world using the internet.
 The Internet Radio listeners of one country can listen to programs of another
nation.
 Internet Radio is heard on all kinds of computers using a working internet

connection.
 Carl Malamud, an American

technologist, start ed
broadcasting on Internet Radio.
 The first internet concert was

broadcast by Severe Tyre
Damage Party on June 24,
1993.
 WXYC Radio channel was the

Internet Radio by OSOU
first to broadcast on the internet on November 7, 1994.
 The first Internet Radio www.scotburnnetradio.com was established in 1995.
 In 1996, Virgin Radio situated at London in England started live broadcasting

all its programs.
 Most Internet Radio stations today stream on either 64 Kb/second or 128

Kb/second.

RADIO JOURNALISM
5.7 SUMMARY
This section traced the journey of various forms of Radio broadcast and dwelt on the
working of the FM and AM broadcasting, Community Radio and the Internet Radio.
We discussed how FM has come in a big way after the year 2000, when the
Government of India called for a nationwide auction of 108 FM frequencies. The
section also focused on the role of Community Radio new age forms of broadcasting—
the Internet radio—which has caught the fancy of the younger generation.
5.8 ASSESSMENT
1. What is Community Radio?
2.. What is FM Radio? Why do listeners prefer listening to FM Radio?
3. Write a Short Note on Internet Radio.
5.9 PRACTICAL
1. Visit a FM radio station in your city and try to understand the way it
functions.
2. Track the programmes of a Community Radio station in your district.

Critically analyse its programming and point out the operational
deficiencies.
3. Consider yourself as an announcer of a Community Radio station

and write a script on an issue affecting your community.
4. Note down your experience on the broadcast by tuning into a Radio

program on Internet Radio.

RADIO JOURNALISM
FURTHER READINGS
1. Mass Media Mass Culture, An Introduction -
James R Wilson – McGraw Hill Publication –
First Edition – 2002
2. Mass Communication and Media – S A Chunawala – Himalaya
Publishing House – First Edition - 2010
3 Broadcast News:Writing , Reporting and Producing – Ted White
and Frank Barnas – Focal Press-Fifth Edition-2010
4 Broadcasting in India—P C Chatterji, Sage- 1987
5 History of Journalism in Odisha – Dr Mrinal Chatterjee – Sephali
Communications – First Edition - 2013
6 Growth and Development of Mass Communication in India – J V
Vilanilam – National Book Trust – First Edition – 2003
7 Broadcast Journalism: A Guide for the Presentation of Radio and
Television News- David Keith Cohler-Pearson- 2nd Edition-1994
8 Broadcast Journalism: Techniques of Radio and Television News
Paperback –Stewart—Focal Press—6th Edition-2008
TERMINOLOGY
There are many terms and phrases that are frequently used in the radio industry.
Mentioned below is a list of such terms that we come across in usage with reference to
radio. These terms have been explained for proper understanding of students.
Ad-Lib or Ad-libbing is when a presenter improvises. Usually, when something goes

wrong like the show is disturbed or theirs a technical fault.
Actuality Also known as grabs or a sound bite, this is recorded segment of a newsmaker
speaking, generally lasting from 10 to 20 seconds
Bandwidth is the range of the broadcasting equipment in terrestrial radio. In internet

radio, bandwidth is the amount of data consumed by listeners.
Clock A radio clock that is automatically synchronized as per the schedule of a

broadcast hour, with precise time in minutes and seconds allotted for the various
programming segments

RADIO JOURNALISM
Live shot report introduced by an anchor that has not been recorded but is read live
by another journalist, often at a news scene
Nat or natural or raw sound is recorded sound, such as the chirping of a bird or a
marching band playing or a crowd cheering;
Cue is the beginning of a track. It’s often used as a remark to prepare before starting
something, for example, a presenter about to do a live show.
Fade In The audio level of a track gradually becomes louder until it reaches its proper
level. Commonly fade ins are used for smoother transitions.
Fade Out The audio level of a track gradually becomes quieter until it disappears
altogether. Commonly fade outs are used for smoother transitions to segue into a new
track or DJ segment.
OQ or "out cue" -- the last words recorded on a cut
Reader The script that is script is read live on the air by the anchor; the recording of
a reader by a reporter is called a "voicer"
Script It is the writtent version of a news story, the text of which is read on the air; a
newscast is made up of a collection of scripts read by an anchor
Slug is the title of a news report, mostly found in agency copies
Tease is a brief phrase spoken by the anchor immediately before playing a spot or
going to traffic (or some other interruption of the newscast) to tell the listener about a
story coming up later;
Voicer is the segment of the recorded report that contains only the journalist's voice -
- there is no actuality; can be understood as a recorded reader
Wrap is the recorded report in which a journalist's voice occurs at the beginning and
end
Frequency is any of the electromagnetic wave frequencies that lie in the range extending
from around20 kHz to300 GHz, roughly the frequencies used in radio communication.
Mic is an abbreviation for a microphone, used by the presenter to talk into.
Mixer is a console desk with several inputs for audio equipment.

RADIO JOURNALISM
Q Card is a written piece for the presenter to read.
Desk – The space designated for sorting, compilation, scripting, editing, etc for editorial
staff at a radio station
Script is written piece for the presenter to read during the show.
Wattage Capacity: The power of transmitters used in Radio refers to its wattage
capacity.
Broadcast antennae: It is a large device shaped like an umbrella which captures

signals from a Radio station and transmits it onto radio sets in its radius.
DTH – Direct To Home (The transmission that occurs directly from satellites to houses)
Final Editing – All the audio files are first normalized by referring to the cue sheet.
After removing the portions not inside the In’s (starting points) and Out’s (end points),
sound effects such as Fade In, Fade Out, Reverbe, Delay, Echo, Pitch Checker, etc
are added. Sound mixing is always done in multi-track. By doing this, changes can be
made in the sound track as and when required.
ANSWER TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS
UNIT I
1. What is radio? Why it is called an intimate medium?
Radio is mass communication medium of sound. It is an aural or auditory medium, a

medium of the ear. In radio broadcasting, the broadcaster always addresses the listeners
as if he is talking to him/her alone and tries to build an instant rapport. The listeners too
feel connected with him, if he addresses issues close to their heart. So it is called an
intimate medium.
2. What are the components of radio broadcasting? Explain.
Radio broadcasting consists of three major components. these are Talk, Music and
Sound Effects. These three components reach listeners through air waves and need to
be pleasant and meaningful to appeal to listeners.

RADIO JOURNALISM
3. What are the limitations of radio as a medium of mass communication?
Radio as a mass medium has several limitations. Unlike television, radio broadcast is
not reinforced by the powerful medium of sight. It entirely depends on the sense of
hearing. The listener has to use his imagination to picturise the situation in his mind. And
there can be gaps between illusion and reality. it is also an ephemeral medium, unless
one has access to a recording or a repeat broadcast, the message can be lost forever.
Messages on radio can be easily forgotten. it also depends a lot on presentation. If a
presenter is boring, the listeners may lose interest in the programme. Lastly, radio has
little value for the hearing-challenged.
UNIT II
1. Discuss the evolution of community radio in Odisha.
Its first community radio was ‘Radio Namaskar’ which began broadcasting from Konark
on February 12, 2010. ‘Radio Sanskaar’ from Jagatsinghpur and ‘Radio Kisan’ from
Balipatna followed. ‘Radio Muskaan’ started broadcasting programs on April 14,
2012 from Phulbani. Educational institutions have set up community radio stations at
their campuses or internet radio stations. Ravenshaw University started ‘Ravenshaw
Radio’ in 2011. Sikhya O Anusandhan University’s ‘Voice of SOA Community 90.4’
went on-air on October 15, 2012. Indian Institute of Mass Communication too recently
set up a community radio station at its Dhenkanal centre.
2. Discuss the growth of Radio during first five year Plan.
During the first Five Year Plan (1951-1956), several schemes aided the development
of radio broadcast. Renowned musician Pandit Ravi Shanker started the first National
Orchestra in 1952. Lucknow and Nagpur stations started broadcasting news bulletins
in Hindi and Marathi respectively, in 1953. The first music festival was broadcast in
1955. Radio Newsreel started broadcast on December 10 and Sardar Patel memorial
lecture was broadcast the same year. In 1956, the wide variety of national programs
included opera, feature, drama, poetry festival, etc. By the end of the first Five Year
Plan, the number of radio stations in India had risen to 27.
3. Briefly write about History of FM Radio in India.
In India, the first private FM broadcast was in Chennai on July 23, 1977. FM radio
expanded its reach over the nation in the 1990s. In the initial years, FM could successfully

RADIO JOURNALISM
captivate listeners in metro cities: Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. In 2000,
the Government of India called for a nationwide auction of 108 FM frequencies. Winning
a bid, Radio City began broadcasting on July 3, 2001 at Bangalore. A local FM radio
station was inaugurated on July 1, 2001 at Kodaikanal. Two months after it was
launched, it received the tag of Metro FM. This station’s programs were broadcast
within a radius of 200 kilometres.
UNIT III
1. What are the materials used in Radio Bulletins?
Radio bulletins are usually made up from three types of material. these are (1) Written
stories in the form of a script, (2) voice reports from journalists, either recorded or live
and (3) Recorded sound called actuality.
This is usually the sound of someone speaking, perhaps taken from an interview or a
speech. A short segment of actuality is called a grab. Grabs are used in a similar way to
quotes in a newspaper story. In some countries, grabs are called cuts or inserts or
bytes.
2. What is Audio Editing? What are the important points to be considered

in Audio Editing?
Audio Editing is the process of keeping high quality sounds and removing harsh and
poor audio for public broadcasting. It is about making all sounds which come to the
studio fit for broadcast on news and other programs.
In Audio Editing it is important to Listen the voice component carefully and mark the
start and end points. The duration of the clip need to be noted. After this Music and
sound effects, matching the selected audio is decided. All these files are properly named
and saved on the computer. Before creating the final program, importance is given to
its sound of the program being produced. Hence, it is crucial to listen to the recorded
audio repeatedly and make desired changes in the initial stages while producing a
program.
3. How News Presenter plays a significant role in Radio bulletins?
Radio is a medium of Sound. Since it can be present visuals, the radio news bulletins
need to be presented in a conversational style, as if the presenter is talking to the

RADIO JOURNALISM
audience. News presenter has the responsibility of delivering the news in a conversational
style. The way he/she presents news bulletin influences the listeners’ attention. Many a
times, people become fans of presenter/s, and hence, regularly tune in to Radio for this
reason.
UNIT IV
1. What are different types of Radio Programme Format?
A radio programme format refers to the overall content broadcasted over a radio
station. the various types of radio programmes include news bulletins, magazines,
features, talk, discussion, interviews, voice despatches and radio bridge.
2. What is the role of sound byte in a news bulletin?
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. They are used in a similar way to quotes in a
newspaper story. If sound byte/s is/are added to a news story, it arouses the listener’s
interest and brings uniformity in a story.
3. What is Radio Talk?
Radio Talk is the oldest and a traditional format used in a Radio program. In this type
of programme, mostly only one person dwells on a particular subject matter. Or it may
have one or more experts called in to deliver a talk on one or more topic
UNIT V
1. What is Community Radio?
Community Radio is a radio broadcast that caters to the interest of a certain area and
it generally broadcasts those programmes which is of interest to the local audience but
is overlooked by more powerful broadcast groups. It is entirely different from general
and commercial broadcast. The broadcast of a Community Radio is usually limited to
a geographical radius, usually within five kilometers aerial distance of its transmitter. It
focuses on a specific set of listeners such as students, farmers, rural population, an
ethnic group or a range of listeners within its small broadcast area. Their target is to
benefit communities and the society at large.

RADIO JOURNALISM
MODEL QUESTIONS
1. Explain various characteristics of Radio as a Mass Communication Medium.
2. Demonstrate how radio is different from other mass media.
3. Debate the popularity of radio as a medium of mass communication.
4. Why radio is called an ‘intimate’ medium?
5. Discuss the evolution of radio as a popular medium of mass communication.
6. What is radio broadcasting? Explain its functions.
7. Elaborate on private broadcasting in radio.
8. Give an overview on the origin of radio broadcasting in India.
9. Discuss the progress of radio in Odisha.
10. How is a Radio news script prepared?
11. Why is compilation of news necessary on Radio?
12. Write about the skills necessary to be a good presenter in Radio channels.
13. Discuss how a Radio news magazine is compiled.
14. Differentiate between news and features in Radio.
15. What is the need for a Radio bridge and where is it used?
16. 2. Differentiate between AM and FM Radio.
17. How does Community Radio benefit the local population of a specific area?
18. How is Internet Radio different from other forms of radio? Discuss.

RADIO JOURNALISM
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JOURNALISM & MASS COMMUNICATION

Evolution and Growth of Broadcasting in India

Writing for Radio

Radio Programming and Production

FM, AM, Community Radio and Internet Radio

Prof. Mrinal Chatterjee Chairman

Dr. Dipak Samantarai Member

Dr. Asish Kumar Dwivedy Member

Sudhir Patnaik Member

Sujit Kumar Mohanty Member

Jyoti Prakash Mohapatra Member Convenor

Course Writer: Course Editor

1.0 Unit Structure 05

UNIT II: EVOLUTION AND GROWTH OF BROADCASTING IN INDIA

UNIT III: WRITING FOR RADIO

UNIT V: FM, AM, COMMUNITY RADIO AND INTERNET RADIO

1.2 An Introduction to Radio

1.3 Characteristics of Radio

1.4 Components of Radio Broadcasting

1.5 Limitations of Radio as a medium of communication

1.6 Radio Broadcasting: How it works

1.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The three components of radio

How radio works

Odisha State Open University 5

1.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIO

Similarly, if you listen to the commentary or a ball-by-ball account of a cricket match

Radio is an intimate medium: As earlier mentioned, the broadcaster always addresses

Odisha State Open University 6

Therefore, any programme—be it a talk show, a documentary or a feature—must

1.4 COMPONENTS OF RADIO BROADCASTING

Odisha State Open University 8

Television, being a visual medium, has the advantage of communicating a

2. Radio is an ephemeral medium, unless one has access to a recording or a

3. Messages on radio can be easily forgotten. Sometimes, a visual on television

Odisha State Open University 9

1.6 RADIO BROADCASTING: HOW IT WORKS

The signal types can be either analog audio or digital audio.

2. What are the components of radio broadcasting? Explain.

3. What are the limitations of radio as a medium of mass communication?

Odisha State Open University 10

Odisha State Open University 11

2.2 The Evolution of Radio Broadcast

2.3 Growth of Radio Broadcast in India

2.4 Private Radio Broadcast

2.5 Radio Broadcast in Odisha

2.1 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Odisha State Open University 12

2.2 THE EVOLUTION OF RADIO

However, the potential for broadcasting—sending messages to a large group of

Odisha State Open University 13

After several experiments, radio  In 1901, Guglielmo Marconi transmitted wireless

2.3 GROWTH OF RADIO BROADCAST IN INDIA

Odisha State Open University 14

The Indian Government appointed BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) Producer

Delhi station began broadcasting news bulletins from

Odisha State Open University 15

During the first Five Year Plan

broadcast in 11 Indian and 16 Prasar Bharati Website is silent on this.