Jour1111 Lecture 4 Audio Recording - Sound

Due to the Ekka break, our 4^th lecture was not on; instead our lecture took form as an audio piece we had to listen to in our own time. The recording was about sound, particularly on conversing and telling stories over the radio, it was divided into two parts (or interviews) and began with Abc’s critically acclaimed interviewer Richard Fidler becoming an interviewee. He began with a short induction on how he got into the world of radio then got straight into talking about the raw advantages radio has to offer. “Radio is the most intimate form of mass communication”, Fidler proclaimed, which is true as often radio is heard while the listeners are completing other tasks (driving, housework etc.) so it effortlessly slides into the lives of its audience. Rather than being talked at, radio seems to feel as though it comes from your head. Listeners can call in and really feel like they are having a regular human to human discussion and feel included. The radio is about human stories in there rawest form, there is no media hype or visual distraction to take any focus off the emotional content. Television on the other hand operates by feeding information to its viewers through a distance. Arguably one might suggest television is very intimate as you can be home in your underwear watching tv, but it functions on the viewer flicking through channels until something makes them put that tv remote down. Even after choosing a program you are only being talked at, your opinions go no further then your room and your inclusion in any discussion is limited.

Whilst reporting current affairs is vital, Radio mainly focuses itself on human to human interaction. News elements or rundowns of a radio show only really go no longer than 7 minutes each sitting but provide interviews with special guests that can go on for as long as an hour at a time. Because of the longevity of some of the interviews they must remain interesting to keep an audience, to do this Fidler said it was “absolutely crucial that the interviewer is genuinely interested” and bouncing back off the guest to create a comfortable discussion space, otherwise the guest begins to sound like a broken down record and emotionlessly relates an almost pre-recorded spiel they’ve related in every other interview beforehand. Sometimes, however regardless of the interviewers interest in their guests and discussion topic, interviewees can go into a radio interview rather uptight and highly prepared to answer questions in an overly formal, strictly interview kind of manner. It is important as the interviewer to break this down and turn the formal meeting into a normal conversation you would have with someone anywhere at any time of the day. “You have to discombobulate and perhaps take a different approach to shake your guest up, get them laughing and have them talk like a normal human being” advised Fidler For then and only then you will get the raw one on one intimate story. In doing this it is imperative to NEVER BE AFRAID OF SILENCE.

He finished his interview with a few pearls of wisdom, two that stuck most prevalently in my mind was to keep asking questions, don’t assume something and take a back seat, fill in the gaps…ask ask ask and ask!!! The second was to expose yourself to the thoughts and ideas of people you don’t agree with that way you’ll become aware of different currents of thinking, which is key to truly becoming aware of a whole topic itself.

Part two of the lecture recording was an interview with Steve Austin a radio talk show host on local Abc Queensland. Like Fidler, Austin began with a brief spiel of himself and talked about working his way up in the industry.  Then he said this “Radio is the theatre of the mind” which is so completely true. You have to create pictures for your audience with words and to be truly successful at this you must describe, articulate and most importantly annunciate your words perfectly. As was said in the Fidler reflection, there is nothing to distract from the discussion content so your conveying must be on point. Clarity helps break down the barriers of your guests and audience, when you achieve such clarity there is no grey areas to confuse or throw of your listeners. Slightly with more intent on his audience, Austin said the most important question to continuously ask yourself is “what does the audience want?” I assume the reason you so continuously must ask this question is because your audience and their demands will always change. It is important to know that your listeners pick up on your vocal empathy, and it really brings an emotional element to the conversation, this extends on breaking your audience/guest down. Speak tenderly, ask simply and listen attentively are the most important slices of advice I’ve taken from Austin. He also noted that frustration makes for the best responses, discuss something that annoys people and let their issues be heard! (Humans operate more on an emotional level than a rational one). Stay persistent at your goals no matter how bleak your chances may seem, (you’ll probably become more interesting after a few knockbacks anyway) and remember “as it is in life, as it is in radio…if you wouldn’t do it in life, don’t do it in radio”- Austin

Image Origin: Space and Astronomy. 2012. http://www.davidreneke.com/dave-on-radio/ Accessed 11th August 2012