Production Log 1

Production week/date: 14.01.24

Individual Contributions this week
Name	Specific Individual Contribution – evidence in detail and judgements
Tavleen	I looked at the different types of radio, found the differences between them and then compared them all together in an essay. I also managed to do my programme analysis.
My Successes
I managed to complete all of my work on time and successfully compare all of the radio dramas effectively.
My Challenges
One challenge that I faced was that I was not able to find specific data for the shows, or the data that I would find would vary on different websites. Therefore, finding accurate information was hard. The programme analysis also took lots of time to complete.
Key Learning Points
Find a well-known and verified website to help provide me with the best statistics.
My Targets for the next task
Learn about the different ways to distribute radio channels and investigate audience profiles.

Programme Analysis M1

Click on me to find the episode that I am referring to. 

The Archers (since 1951) was originally a show that would air to educate farmers after the Second World War, hoping that there would be an increased production in food. Their target audience was for females who looked after their home, allowing them to learn about agriculture and tips that could help them. Since then, it has slowly evolved over time and has now become a popular audio soap opera with over five million listeners.

 

To access the show, you can tune in to BBC Radio 4 either via website or by traditional stereo. They have multiple frequencies being: 92-95 FM or 103-105 FM. This allows it to be accessible in local areas, since it is popular in many small places. The show broadcasts Sunday to Friday at 7.p.m, then for those who missed the last episode it runs again the next day at 2.p.m (excluding Saturdays). If you managed to miss all the episodes that aired during the week, an omnibus plays every Sunday at 10.a.m. This allows audiences to always follow the story, even with a busy lifestyle.

The episode is generally quite concise. There is no host that intervenes or narrates the episode, for example it instead speaks for itself and starts and ends with a theme song. The episode is also quite coherent, there is a flow throughout the episode, and we follow through step by step. There are no flashbacks, flashforwards or recaps, instead viewers are expected to be caught up with the episodes and be able to follow through.

The purpose of the episode comes across with the purpose to educate and inform rather than promote or entertain. This is due to the intense violence and heavy topics that the episode focuses on, such as: Domestic abuse (DA), violence, manipulation, verbal and physical abuse. With these elements, the episode can touch on a very sensitive topic that may have been experienced by some listeners. For example, at 10:35 Rob declares “you’re mine” (Helen), which portrays the control that Rob has given himself. He demonstrates this many other times: 8:45 “Every night should be like that, when you completely belong to me,” 7:53 “I made you feel desired for the first time in your life,” 8:00 “You wanted it because you wanted me,” “You wanna know how you can leave? You see this knife? Take it.” These are few of the many times he has displayed his control. Using this language, the directors can convey the impacts, and the mental torture some people unwillingly must go through. This episode educates the people who may be oblivious or unaware of how serious DA can be, in hopes to also raise money for those currently going through it. The plan did work, and many ended up donating or fundraising for victims like Helen, presenting how the purpose of the show was to inform and educate.

The episode begins with an intro theme song and then jumps into the episode straight away. Throughout the beginning of the episode (until 2:18) there is an absence of any music; it is heavily dominated with dialogue. We are introduced with a restless feeling with the characters Helen, her son and Kirsty (who seems to be her friend). Helen seems to be shuffling and trying to get ready to leave her house and reveals as to why she wants to leave her controlling husband, Rob.

He then enters the room seeming much calmer than everyone else and Helen reciprocates the tone. His This is further continued, and he asks if he should put some music on, which he does at [2:18]. The genre of song is country, which further emphasises the farmer-life they are living. So far, we are clearly shown the dynamic between the two characters; one is anxious and restless whereas the other is calm and comfortable. This is further presented where Rob asks, “Have I got time for a quick shower?” The dialogue is very mundane and does not seem to be out of the ordinary, which therefore strikes the question as to why Helen is so adamant, she needs to leave (for new first-time listeners).

Once Rob leaves the tense atmosphere is swiftly reintroduced when Helen lets Kirsty out the cupboard. This time, Rob does not present a calm tone. Instead, he yells and states “I know what you’re up to!” Rob finds her suitcase [3:15] and demands an explanation as to why she wants to leave. She lies saying it’s for the hospital and that she could be due anytime soon, which vividly presents how she is at a threat. After Rob calms down, he decides that he does not want to have a shower and instead commands “Lets have supper now [4:16].”

The atmosphere is once again tense, although in a different way. Everything seems calm, however now we know that Rob can unexpectedly have an outburst which keeps the audience on edge. Rob begins to dominate the conversation, whilst Helen seems to agree mostly. There is an obvious power dynamic between the two, and Helen seems to be in control by Rob. He even begins to comment on the music stating at [8:37] this music was playing the night he gave Helen “our son” after they argue once again.

Helen announces that she wants to leave at [10:19] which then heats the episode up. She is then hit, and we hear lots of cutlery clanging loudly, which helps to create a tense atmosphere. When Rob tries to touch their son, Helen stabs him out of protection. Everything has now become quiet, which may imitate the stillness of Rob and his state. After this Helen calls Kirsty admitting to what she’s done, and the episode ends abruptly with the outro song.

The actors address one another making the dialogue indirect to the audience, and the actors do not break the fourth wall. This creates a continuous feeling to the episode. Furthermore, there are two modes of addresses. Rob has a very authoritative mode of address, whereas Helens is more submissive and exhausted. Rob exercises this when he states, “Lets have supper now [4:16]” The use of imperatives portrays how he displays his controlling nature, demanding Helen to do as he says. On the other hand, Helen portrays her helpless nature when she seems to constantly speak less and quieter than Rob (with the few exceptions of when she attempts to fight back). At [8:02] She accepts defeat to Rob saying, “I know, I’m sorry,” demonstrating the lack of power she has. 

The Archers were created by Godfrey Baseley, but as of 2017 till now Julie Beckett has been producing the episodes. The Archers have a house-like set where they use various items to make sounds for the show. For example, there will be a soft room where minimal sounds can be heard, or a room with wooden planks to hear footsteps in a house. With time and dedication, they use these tools to help create the episodes we hear today.

Comparison of TV shows

 400 WORD ESSAY:

The shows I have decided to talk about are the lifestyle radio Magic Radio and The Archers which I had previously talked about in my 1000-word essay. It could be argued that Magic Radio is like the radio drama The Archers in some ways. One similarity is that both radio shows have relatable style dialogue, which makes the audience feel as though they are with the host/ characters in the conversation. Magic Radio has hosts who interact with their audiences in different ways. For example, sometimes it is via phone-ins or social media or they may ask rhetorical questions that the audience can answer. Similarly, The Archers also have a relatable feel to their drama. This is seen through how their characters speak to one another in a familiar tone and lingo, which is likely used by its audience. With this tone, audiences can feel as though they are with the characters experiencing this with them, adding a sense of verisimilitude. Additionally, there is a use of informal language, which helps to create a natural tone as we feel comfortable. The shows mentioned are both very friendly and engaging. Together, both the Archers and Magic Radio demonstrate their similarities through their relatable tone and nature, helping the audience immerse themselves fully in the conversations.

However, the shows also present their differences. This is evident through the difference in whom they are addressing and speaking to. Magic radio tends to constantly break the fourth wall as it directly addresses the listeners and audience. As previously mentioned, Magic Radio sometimes allows its audience to get involved with phone-ins. These are games that the audience can actively participate in when listening to the radio show. The idea of a lifestyle radio is to be as relatable as possible so that it can engage the audience, therefore it is likely that the show will often address the listeners directly. In contrast to this, The Archers does not break the fourth wall as it refrains from directly addressing the audience. The show guides itself without any narration which demonstrates how it lacks total engagement, unlike Magic Radio. With this lack of direct address, the show allows the audience to interpret their opinions by themself, which makes the show unique for every listener and more meaningful. It could be argued that having a fourth wall allows the audience to become more connected than having a narrator since we are making these personal and individual bonds with the characters and the show.

In conclusion, both radio shows demonstrate how radio programmes can use different methods in order to entertain and attract their audiences. There is no specific set rule as to what your radio drama should be like, the only thing you need is the equipment to air a radio.

Unit 14 - LO1 - P1 Differences between types of programmes

Talk/ Music -> Capital

A talk show includes discussions, interviews and conversations with music tracks. The show usually starts with a jingle and an introduction of the host’s name. Afterwards, the host occasionally may speak over the music (at the beginning or end) to keep the audience entertained. There are also talk segments such as Discussions, challenges, interviews or commentary. This helps to break up the show and keep a big engagement between the host and the audience. Their discussions may involve trending topics, such as Love Island or opinions on the news. Their challenges involve phone-ins or social media interactions with the listeners. The tone of the show is quite comedic and less serious than some others, it makes audiences feel like they are in a conversation with the host and keeps everyone engaged. Their interviews usually involve special guests or interviews with celebrities who are relevant to their target audience. And finally, their commentary is consistent throughout the show, broken up with music or advertisements.

Sport -> BBC Radio 5X

A sports show has maybe hosts or commentators talking about sports-related news and can give things such as live updates, or news and updates. BBC Radio 5 Extra features a lot of typical conventions. As usual, it starts with a jingle and the host would introduce themselves. It also features headlines and updates for sports, usually a roundup of the main events or the latest scores. Additionally, it contains commentary from the hosts and/or expert analysts who provide in-depth commentary on recent games and events. Another thing the show may feature is special guests such as athletes, coaches or sports experts. This helps to make the show very engaging and appealing to sports fans. Furthermore, there are contests and giveaways related to sports. For example, you can put bets on horses as a means of a contest. As always, it concludes with a summary and some closing thoughts.

Current Events -> BBC Radio 4

Current events and radio shows usually focus on the news and provide information to educate. BBC Radio 4 follows a lot of conventions that a typical current events radio show would have such as news updates, commentary, interviews and a global perspective. The schedule for BBC Radio 4 involves a lot of hours that provide the news midnight – midnight, providing news on current events. During those updates, there is usually commentary, sometimes with other experts or guests. They may feature famous politicians or newsmakers to provide a deep understanding of the topic. Like other radio shows, it also involves an introduction of the host and/or guests.

Lifestyle -> Magic Radio

A Lifestyle Radio focuses on every day topics that a person could relate to. It may be health and wellbeing, fashion, beauty and more. Lifestyle radios are typically lighthearted in nature and have an uplifting tone. Magic radio represents this as it has a smooth-toned playlist and has presenters with relatable personalities. One of the key things about a lifestyle radio is its presenters as they relay all the information. Magic radio has this and holds relatable hosts who connect with their audience like friends would. With this, it helps to provide tailor-fit lifestyle hacks and updates in an engaging way. Another key feature is that it interacts with the audience using phone-ins or social media. This emphasises the lifestyle nature as it allows people to give their real experiences.

Dramatisations -> The Archers BBC Radio 4

Radio dramas usually involve fantasy characters that we can only hear, not see. This may include the actor's voice, sound effects, music, narration and more. The Archers is an example of this, as we follow the story of families and how their life progresses. The show doesn’t have a narrator guiding the story through; however, it still has a clear storyline for those who have been tuning in. There is also a lot of dialogue between the characters, helping to progress the story. Additionally, there is a theme song intro and outro, which is played at the beginning and the end. This clearly helps the audience to know when the drama has started and ended.

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L01 - Types of Radio operation (P1)

 

Radio Industry Operations	Definition	Examples of Stations	Ethos and Purpose	Funding / Revenue Streams	Typical Content	Reach/ Size
National commercial	Broadcast across the country not owned by the state	Classic Fm, Capital FM, Kiss, Magic, Heart	Provide a popular service	Advertising and marketing	Rap pop or R&B, or other popular forms of music	Capitals reach in the UK is 6,151,000 Link
Public	Supported by a government,	Heritage Radio, Juice Radio, LMR Manchester, Love 80s MCR,	More niche approach to music	Government + taxpayers	Country, niche genres	Heritage radio reaches 1 million people Link
Regional	these can be delivered by the BBC as well as commercial and independent radio broadcasters.	BBC local radio	Allows those with heritage to listen to their music	Advertising and marketing	Foreign language music.	BBC Radio reaches 15.5% of adults in England Link
Community	a system of licensing small, micro-local, non-profit radio stations	Punjab radio, sunrise radio, Lyca radio, Brit Asia Radio	To spread messages with a purpose	None	Local messages, music	Punjab radio has 59,000 listeners per week by people over 15 Link
Internet	Audio stream accessed through internet	Capital FM Classic FM Smooth Radio BBC World Service	Allow those at home to listen to music	Advertisements or subscriptions	Music, podcasts, shows	Classic FM has 4.69million listeners according to David Taylor
Non-profit	For a community	Scout Radio, Seahaven radio, Desi radio	Let people who want to listen to niche music be able to without money	none	Niche music stations	Desi radio had 133,093 as of 2004 Link