Radio Equipment

Acoustic tiles: In a radio studio it is best to get acoustic tiles to be fitted so sound isn’t echoed and you get the best sound quality. In LEDC (Low economically developed countries) studios may use egg shells instead for the same effect due to acoustic tiles being expensive.

Pop filters: Usually contained in studios. Pop filters are used to soften explosive consonants. 

Omni directional microphone: A Omni directional microphone allows sound to be recorded from all directions. This is good to use especially when recording an outside broadcast.

Unidirectional microphone: Allows you to record from a pacific area.








Microphone sponge: To reduce interfering sounds (i.e. blowing of wind, other people talking in the street etc).

OFCOM

Ofcom licences all UK commercial television and radio broadcasts. Their Broadcasting Code sets out the rules which television and radio broadcasters must follow. Ofcom follows the act under the "competition act 1998". E.g. Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross had a show on BBC radio 2 and they abused their position by pranking Andrew Sachs, the grandfather of a women who Russel Brand dislikes. After doing this they received many complaints from listeners which eventually led to them being suspended.


The radio broadcast that got Russell Brand and Jonathan Ross suspended from their positions: 

Analogue and Digital Radios

An example of an Analogue radio.

An example of a digital radio.

DAB Radio

Digital audio broadcasting (DAB) also known as digital radio and high-definition radio, is audio broadcasting in which analog audio is converted into a digital signal and transmitted on an assigned channel in the AM or FM frequency range.

The advantages of DAB Radio: 

- DAB radio signals can be received in many more locations throughout the world than analogue signals. - Much more increased sound quality than analogue radio. - Much easier tuning compared to analogue radios. DAB radios simply have a list of stations to select so you do not have to remember frequencies, this is much more easier and time efficient.  - With some DAB radios you can Pause, Rewind and Record. - You can choose all kind of music stations from all round the world. - DAB radios look good, they can be a stylish addition to a room. - DAB broadcast also has the ability to send data via a Radio Data System (RDS). For example many DAB Radios can show the name of the station you are tuned to plus extra text which the broadcaster wants to send such as song titles, the name of the current programme, what’s coming up next and contact details for things like radio competitions.

History of radio

Do's and don'ts

What you should do:

• At all times defend and uphold the principle of media freedom, the right of freedom and expression and the right for the public to be informed.
• Make sure that the information you spread is honest, accurate and fair.
• Protect the identity of sources who supply information , in confidence and material gathered in the course of his/her work.
• Do your most to correct offensive inaccuracies.
• Make distinctions between fact and opinion.
• Obtain material by honest, straightforward and open means, with the exception of investigations that are both overwhelming in the public interest and which involve evidence that cannot be obtained by straight forward means.

What you should not do:

• Do not intrude into anybody's private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of the public interest.
• Resist threats or any other inducements to influence distort or suppress information.
• Take no unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of his/her’s duties before the information is public knowledge.
• Produce no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a persons, age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

Responding to a real radio news cast

In Media we analysed Sky Radio News. The news that it had included was Anti-social behaviour, stalking/harassment over the internet, Indian common wealth games, power cut, Harry Potter the Deathly Hallows being realised in 3D, football- Carling Cup and Bill Gates earning a large amount of money.

I've realised the more important the story the stronger the voice.

The FOUR sound codes

Sound Effects
Silence

Voice/ Speech

Music

9 important facts about news values

1. Threshold: How the story has an impact on the success of the news.
2. Negativity: Bad news is GOOD news. E.g. Ashlee Simpson's marriage torn apart by her father, sad but people seek gossip, tragedy and a mystery.
3. Timelessness: Events that happen recently normally apply as news straight away due to people wanting the most interesting news.
4. Proximity: Closeness of an item to the audience. This is relevant to the community.
5. Prominence: People in the public eye are more newsworthy then those that aren't. Rihanna's red hair, DO or DON'T.
6. Conflict: Events and people who feature conflict tend to be more newsworthy then others.
7. Currency: What the nation is thinking about at the moment.
8. Oddity: News surrounding unusual people, events, places etc.
9. Human interest: News that makes you feel compassionate and emotional.

What is local news?

Local news covers events and news in a local context which applies to those from a specific area (i.e. Eastendlife) or be national or international scopes. The reason that their is local news is to build awareness of current affairs.

Slander and libel

Two torts that involve the communication of false information about either a person, a group, or an entity such as a corporation etc. 


Libel is any defamation that can be seen.  such as a writing, printing, effigy, movie, or statue. Slander is any defamation that is spoken and heard. Collectively known as defamation, libel and slander are civil wrongs that harm a reputation, decrease respect, regard or induce disparaging, hostile, or disagreeable opinions or feelings against an individual or entity. The injury to someone's reputation is affected through written or spoken words or visual images. The laws governing these torts are identical.