...Or is it just noise? This website is called 'pre-fade listen'. That's a bit of radio jargon that I've tried to explain elsewhere. For example, I've recorded a video where I point to a pre-fade listen button on a studio mixing desk and talk about how it allows the on-air presenter to make sure that … Continue reading Is it sound?…
In 1946 the writer and novelist George Orwell complained that, In very many English homes the radio is literally never turned off. [...] This is done with a definite purpose. The music prevents the conversation from becoming serious or even coherent. (Tribune, 11 January 1946)Which coming from someone who once worked for the BBC is … Continue reading The trouble is…
...on radio is at once both radically complex and stultifyingly mundane. I wrote a previous article in February 2018 about some of my favourite radio presenters. In simple terms I reckon you've either got 'it', or you could - at a pinch - struggle to learn it. But mostly I'm of the opinion that the … Continue reading The art of presentation…
The jingles are the bits between the news, weather, sport, DJ and music. And this is an example of how they are made. https://youtu.be/O1Bb_DI77SE One of the great all-time jingle production houses was PAMS in Dallas, Texas. In its time it made jingles for the British offshore pirates, and BBC Radios 1 and 2. Simply … Continue reading Radio jingles…
One of my favourites is a really old one that I first heard over thirty years ago: "I've got a friend who's a newsreader on a medium wave radio station. When we go for a drive he keeps fading out under bridges." ...which probably doesn't work too well in these days of DAB, FM and … Continue reading Know any good jokes about radio…?
...bear with me this once. This article will appear to be joyously off-topic at the start because it won't mention much about radio; just superheroes. The reason is I want to talk about finding reality in fiction. On the face of it that sounds like nonsense, but if I try to explain I hope you'll … Continue reading Don’t Touch That Dial…
The challenge is to get the trust of our listeners. According to a survey in 2018, journalists are (along with estate agents, advertising executives and politicians) amongst the least trusted professions. Technical details of the survey can be found at the bottom of this link. I'm not quite sure how I feel about being lumped … Continue reading How far would you trust a journalist?
