Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 3)

Ideas are the lifeblood of what we do as writers and broadcasters. I'll have more about them in a moment, but first some things to avoid. Especially if you're a big beleaguered British public service broadcaster in the mid 2020s with a reputation to defend, with the right-wing press baying for your blood, and with … Continue reading Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 3) →

Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 2)

In which I discuss W. H. Auden's habit of cultivating ideas and how writers like us need desperately to generate and hold on to our good ones. Just to be clear, this comes under a headline (above) that in itself is not 100% accurate. Perhaps that admission is poignant given the fragile state of public … Continue reading Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 2) →

Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 1)

Here for you: a piece of writing about the process of writing… In the doing of it I'll write about - and reflect upon - er, the writing of it. With examples of pieces by E. M. Forster and other Eng. Lit. heavies. Post Modern maybe but I think all writing - good writing that … Continue reading Radio & ideas – all our scrapbooks (Part 1) →

Radio speak (Part 2) Bots and AI on air… what could possibly go wrong?

I’m considering how radio-speak – the inane gabble of a mindless jock – is a constant danger for us presenters and DJs. In a previous article I wrote about the foot-in-mouth escapades of DJs who forgot to engage brain before opening the microphone fader. Yes, dear reader, it’s happened to me on many occasions. I … Continue reading Radio speak (Part 2) Bots and AI on air… what could possibly go wrong? →

Radio speak (Part 1) Why we’re all turning into brainless bots. Sort of.

So, here’s the moment when your radio alarm goes off and the DJ, all-bright-and-breezy, says: "Hey! Good Morning! It’s now five-after-the-hour of six AM in the big Monster City." The slick breakfast jock is actually Mike. He’s really good at doing impersonations and spouting cliches like this. Either way, what's this I can see? Is … Continue reading Radio speak (Part 1) Why we’re all turning into brainless bots. Sort of. →

Radio becomes visual – why “bi-media” is an eternal dream in the industry

A bit later on I’ve got a treat from the 1930s - a non-CGI, analogue recreation of a wireless set. That’s strangely important in this context. But first, I’ve written about how the word “visualisation” is being used in recent times in connection with the radio. Read more here… https://prefadelisten.com/2025/06/14/is-radio-just-all-about-the-sound/ Indeed, putting the visual into … Continue reading Radio becomes visual – why “bi-media” is an eternal dream in the industry →

Radio: It’s all about “The Sound” …isn’t it?

Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers sang about the blood-pumping thrill of "the pine trees in the dark / with 50,000 watts of power / [as] we go by faster miles-an-hour". Listen carefully and you can hear the visceral hum that comes from a high power AM transmitter. Or at least, you could when radio … Continue reading Radio: It’s all about “The Sound” …isn’t it? →

The story so far. Radio and its cultural places in British life…

I’ve written over the years here about how important radio has been in Britain during the past century. Radio Culture is the central theme of this website resource. Here’s some reflections based on my research. In this piece there’s memories of Wogan, the pirates, the joys of AM and FM, and modern tech stuff too, … Continue reading The story so far. Radio and its cultural places in British life… →

The power of international radio. You won’t miss it ’til it’s gone.

Or to use the accurate quote by Joni Mitchell from 1970, “Don't it always seem to go / That you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone”. Well, now something’s gone. And it hurts. The late winter and early spring of 2025 have seen some seismic changes to international radio from the USA. My … Continue reading The power of international radio. You won’t miss it ’til it’s gone. →

Radio time | The art of subtracting-base-60 to keep the live show on the road…

Time is a key element to radio. Live radio that is. You will have noticed how podcasts – because they’re “listen on demand” – just seem to go on and on. On the other hand, live radio has to conform to the hour. I’ve worked for the BBC World Service and know first hand the … Continue reading Radio time | The art of subtracting-base-60 to keep the live show on the road… →