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Journalism · MS elective · 3 credit hours · 16 sessions

Radio News Reporting & Production

“Writing for the ear.” This course explores the immediacy and intimacy of audio journalism. Whether for traditional broadcast radio or modern podcasting, students will learn to paint pictures with sound. The curriculum covers field recording, interviewing for audio, writing conversational scripts, and mixing news packages that inform the listener within seconds.

§ 01 By the end you can
  1. Master the "Conversational Style" of broadcast writing (short sentences, active voice)
  2. Operate field recorders and conduct "Man on the Street" interviews
  3. Edit multi-track audio stories using DAWs (Audition/Audacity)
  4. Produce a "News Bulletin": Anchoring, timing, and stacking stories
  5. Create "Soundscapes" using natural sound (Nat Sound) to transport the listener
§ 02 Sixteen sessions

The whole semester.

  1. 01History of Radio: From Marconi to Podcasts
  2. 02Writing for the Ear: The 3 C's (Clear, Concise, Conversational)
  3. 03The Radio Newsroom Hierarchy
  4. 04The "Reader" vs. The "Wrap" (Package)
  5. 05Voicing: Breath Control & Delivery
  6. 06Audio Hardware: Microphones & Mixers
  7. 07Interviewing Techniques for Audio
  8. 08 · MidtermMidterm Examination
  9. 09The Interview: Getting Good "Tape"
  10. 10Field Recording: Managing Noise
  11. 11Editing: The Non-Destructive Workflow
  12. 12Using "Nat Sound" and Ambience
  13. 13Producing a Live Newscast: Timing
  14. 14Podcasting: The Long-Form Narrative
  15. 15Ethics in Audio Editing
  16. 16Final Project: The 5-Minute Radio Magazine

Midterm around session 8. Final project briefed at session 8 or 9 and developed in stages until the juries.

§ 03 Final project

Final Project: The 5-Minute Radio Magazine

How it’s judged

Recommended reading
  1. Sound Reporting: The NPR Guide to Audio Journalism and Production by Jonathan Kern
  2. Reality Radio: Telling True Stories in Sound by John Biewen
  3. Broadcast News and Writing Stylebook by Robert A. Papper
  4. Out on the Wire by Jessica Abel
  5. The Turnaround (Transom.org resources)
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