Oh, blessed are we who have ears to listen with!
This is what radio is about, listening, enjoying and taking information and interpreting it without photographs. One tragic 80's anthem may have once told you that
"Video Killed the Radio Star"...
Well folks, i'm here to tell you that someone jumped the gun, NO, he is not dead! Radio is in fact still alive and as present in modern media as ever before. Richard Fidler from ABC's 'conversations' took to the microphone to tell us budding jouros the secrets to great radio.
He begins to remind us that radio is completely different to television: it is a much more intimate form of media and possibly, more difficult as there are no visual aids to support what you're saying. Fidler continued his tips and divulged into the basics of the classic radio interview.
The standard radio interview is about seven minutes, unless it is a bibliographical segment, in which case could last upto an hour. In order to have an insightful and engaging interview, it is vital that the interviewer does in-depth research and is fully prepared. One must make the interviewee feel relaxed, it is important to make them laugh and to relate to their story while giving them lots of space.
The more comfortable they feel with you, the more they will open up and engage in the conversation. Your job is to make them almost forget they are on radio, to the point where they are emotionally involved and explore, revealing the depths of their life to you and the audience. When you have acheived this, your interview will be smooth, flowing and successful, creating a bond with the interviewee while still giving the people what they want to hear.
Steve Austin, also from ABC radio Queensland, made a statement that sparked a better understanding of the importance of radio, he proclaimed that:
"Radio is the theatre of the mind"
Austin believes that the human voice and the human ear are 'in a perfect martial relationship'. He adds his own tips for interviewing, saying that if there is something you want to discover about someone, you must pursue it continually, even if you must create different ways of asking the same question - look for emotional and thought provoking responses. Furthermore, it is interesting to note that silence can be extremely powerful. It is honest, raw and implies respect for the interviewee.
He reinforces the fact that with radio, you are the sole entertainment. Converse the same way you would in life, be casual and real, make it easy on the listener and do not attempt to lie on air, as it is much more obvious to the audience. Drive your conversations by life experiences - things that people can admire, laugh at and relate to.
It may seem that radio is taking a back seat in the media world, however it is important to remember it is, for many people, a part of everyday life. Even if you are listening to it in the car or while you clean your room, the messages are clear in your mind: there are no distractions. It is also popular with people who are desperately 'time poor': radio provides the important news and facts quickly and simply.
Radio, to me, is a forgotten, yet vital part of journalism today. I have never thought of getting into the world of radio as a career, however I can now appreciate the actual brain power, personality and time it takes to make a good show.
A good radio show has a strong connection to the human conscious, it burns into the soul and leaves you thinking long after it has ended,
and that is something I can truly respect and admire.
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