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Documentation toolkit info card: radio programmes
A radio programme is a documentation and communication product that communicates a wide variety of audio information about an organisation and its work.
A radio programme:
- Can be used to communicate specific messages about a selected subject for the purposes of publicity, awareness raising, advocacy and profile-raising.
- Can be highly flexible - from a one-off programme of an hour, to a series of two-minute "clips" (where people briefly express their points of view).
- Can reach a large and varied audience, including those in remote and rural areas.
- Can be interactive, for example providing listeners with the opportunity to phone in, or send letters or e-mails.
Key questions
Key questions to ask before developing a radio programme are:
? Who is the audience for the radio programme? Is radio the most effective way to reach them with the information you want to communicate?
? Who will make the radio programme - you or a radio station? Do you have the skills, resources and contacts that are necessary?
? What type of programme do you want to make? Will it be a news, drama or magazine programme? How long will it be? How often will it be broadcast?
Structure and content
These pages show an example of a structure and content outline for a radio programme about HIV/AIDS. The outline shows what the product will contain and in what order. The boxes around it provide some key "dos and don'ts" about how to make a radio programme as effective as possible.
Signature tune (Tape 2: 235 - 245)
Welcome
Introduction to theme and main arguments
Introduction to Argument A, including key facts
Interview to support Argument A (Tape 1: 3562 - 3570)
DON'T forget to state the name, title and occupation of the person being interviewed before and after their voice is heard.
DON'T use interview questions that are closed (and only get "yes" and "no" answers) or complicated (and lose your listeners). Instead, use simple and open questions to encourage people to fully express their opinions and knowledge. (See "Section 4.2: Preparing an effective interview" for more information.)
Music (Tape 2: 220 - 234)
DO include where interviews and jingles begin and end on your audio tapes - by noting down the numbers on the dial of the tape recorder. This will greatly help the editor of the programme.
Wrap-up of Argument A
Introduction to Argument B, including key facts
Interview to support Argument B (Tape 1: 3555 - 3561)
Music (Tape 2: 220 - 234)
DO create breaks, with music or sound effects. Choose ones that suit the theme, listeners and tone of your programme.
Wrap-up of Argument B
Briefly repeat theme of programme
Introduce Argument C, including key facts
Interview to support Argument C (Tape 1: 3590 - 3599)
Wrap-up of Argument C and theme
Goodbye and overview of next programme
Signature tune (Tape 2: 235 - 245)
DO make the beginning and end of your programme easily recognisable, for example by using the same signature tune.
DO use a simple structure, based around one theme that links the different sections. This will help listeners to follow your programme and understand its key messages.
DON'T plan a programme that is just a series of opinions. Instead think about how you can make one that will have a real impact on your audience.
DO follow a logical path. For example, for each point that you want to make: • Introduce the argument. • Outline the main facts. • Support the main facts with an interview or sound effect. • Wrap-up the argument. • Make a link to the next argument.
DO carry out some initial research - even if you know what you want to communicate. Add to your programme with information and ideas from different sources, such as history books, conference agendas, journals and transcripts of speeches.
Style
This page looks at the style of radio programmes - meaning how they are designed. It provides some ideas about how to make them as interesting and attractive as possible.
Use a speaking style that is both friendly and authoritative - so that listeners feel at home with the programme but also take the contents seriously.
Develop a style that suits the priority audience for your radio programme. For example, use appropriate language, and a manner of talking that they will be comfortable with.
Make sure that everything in your radio programme has a similar style, including the music, sound effects and speech.
Avoid over-doing the style of your radio programme. For example, too much music and too many short interviews may distract from your key messages.
Use different styles of presentation to bring the issues in your radio programme "to life". For example, in this programme a "mini dialogue" was used to highlight the issue of condom use. From: "Radio and HIV/AIDS: Making a difference." Adam, G., and Harford, N., UNAIDS, 1999.
Sound effect: Drumming at male initiation ceremony
Ratipana (old man): We are proud of you, you are men now. We have taught you many things, but we have taught you not to be stupid.
Munashe (young man): Hey! Here's Ratipana!
Ratipana: If our traditions are to stay alive, we need you to stay alive. You can have sex now, but there are many dangers. You can get HIV through sex. You can die from AIDS. I want you to use these.
Munashe: Ratipana is giving us condoms!
Source: Documenting and communicating HIV/AIDS work
This is an extract from Documenting and communicating HIV/AIDS work: a toolkit to support NGOs/CBOs, published by the International HIV/AIDS
Alliance in October 2001.
To view the whole toolkit follow this link.
To download this card and three others, complete with graphics, in pdf format (which requires Adobe Acrobat software to read it) follow this link (file size 482kb).