A RADIO PRODUCTION COURSE as taught by Geogre Lessard
(adapted for use with the Inuit of Arctic Quebec)

COURSE GOALS & DESCRIPTION

A production course in how to use the microphone, audio tape & digital 
audio equipment. Also, how to edit audio, especially for use in broadcast 
journalism. Brief overview and history of electronic journalism and 
some issues of controversy.

OBJECTIVES

General

To develop in the student the skills, techniques and art of radio news 
through sound and the spoken word. It is a "hands-on" course teaching 
the use of the microphone, recorder, the phone, satellite networks and 
the editing equipment used to create the short inserts used in normal 
studio news programs.

SPECIFIC 

At the end of the semester the students should know;
A) the difference and similarities between print and broadcast journalism
B) radio news production; know it's definition and contribution to local 
   broadcast journalism
C) know how to use remote equipment, especially the audio tape recorder
D) know the technique of mixing audio sources
E) know the techniques of audio tape editing, especially for use in radio news.

COURSE OUTLINE

I  - Equipment for Radio News Production
		1.1 Microphones
		1.2 Sound recording Machines
		1.3 Portable Sound Mixers
		1.4 Sound transmission over lines
		1.5 Telephone Recordings
		1.6 Wireless Microphones and Microphone Transmitters
		1.7 Radio Newsgathering Vehicles
		1.8 Wireless News Links
I I   - News Directives
		2.1 Organization of the Newsroom
		2.2 What is news
		2.3 News Sources
		2.4 News Formats
		2.5 National constraints and legal aspects
		2.6 The A.B.C.: Accuracy-Balance-Clarity
I I I    Writing for Radio News
		3.1 Writing for the ear: five principals
		3.2 How to make your copy sound lively
		3.3 How to shape a sentence
		3.4 How to structure a news item
		3.5 How to grab the attention of the listener
		3.6 How to retain the interest of the listener
		3.7 Helping the newsreader
I V  -  Reporting
		4.1 The Basics of Reporting
		4.2 Quoting the Source
		4.3 Tools for Newsgathering
		4.4 Handouts, News Releases
		4.5 Covering Speeches
		4.6 Covering Seminars, Conferences
		4.7 Covering Disasters, Obituaries
		4.8 Crime and Court Reporting
V   Interviewing for Radio News
		5.1 Types of Interviews
		5.2 Planning and Preparation of the Interview
		5.3 The Question Line during the Broadcast Interview
		5.4 Recording the Interview
		5.5 Editing the Recorded Interview
V I    Bulletin Editing 
		6.1 The Basics of Bulletin Editing
		6.2 Lifetime of a News Item Follow up of News
		6.3 Length of a Story
		6.4 Bulletin Structure and Content
		6.5 Main Points and Recapitulation
V I I  Presentation
		7.1 Towards more lively news
		7.2 Types of news programmes
		7.3 Actuality - inserts
		7.4 Voice Reports
		7.5 Running Order
		7.6 The approach of the newscaster

PRE-REQUISITES
Communications-150 (for majors) Permission of Department/Instructor

EVALUATION
A) A written final exam or - 
B) A News Portfolio (audiotape) to be turned in at the end of the semester 
   containing what the student thinks is the best of this work. This audio 
   tape should contain examples of course news principles and audio recording 
   & editing techniques. Tapes will be limited to 10 minutes in length. 

GRADING 

Project # 1 - Record & edit a 1-minute news segment with "studio" audio only
              ...10 %

Project # 2 - Record & edit a 2-minute news segment with "studio" and "sound bit"
              ...10 %

Project # 3 - Record and edit a 5-minute news show with at least 3 news "bites". 
              Show requires an "in-studio" news anchor, telephone feeds 
              opening & closing. 
              ...15 %

Hands on test # 1 - Audio Recorder & microphone work: Student demonstrates 
                    privately to instructor a professional knowledge 
                    of the unit and its accessories and resolves problems 
                    set up by instructor. 
               ...15 % 

Hands on test # 2 - Editing: Student demonstrates professional knowledge of 
                    editing and resolves problems set up by the instructor
               ...15 % 

Quiz # 1 - Written quiz based mostly on text, especially vocabulary and
           tape editing concepts 
               ... 5 % 
Quiz # 2 - Written quiz based on text/vocabulary 
               ... 5 % 

Final tape - Students edits the best of their three projects into 
             an 8-10 minute "demonstration" (demo) tape (that the 
             student can take and use for employment/resumé possibilities). 
             The tape may contain 2-3 minutes of new recording specifically 
             for this tape. Tape should clearly show such talents as 
             good recording, news value, focus, writing, "flow" & pacing: 
             plus good editing practices, clean edits, good audio levels 
             & audio balance.
               ...20 %

Professional grade - (absences, lateness, news sense, equipment 
                      appreciation (care, maintenance, security) 
               ... 5 % 
TOTAL............100 % 

TEXTS :

HERE'S THE NEWS - A RADIO NEWS MANUAL 
                - Compiled & edited by Paul De Maeseneer 
                - Unesco Associate - Expert

THE BROADCAST NEWS PROCESS (THIRD EDITION)
                - BY FREDERICK SHOOK/DAN LATIMORE, MORTON PUBLISHING 
                - ISBN 0-89582-164-8

BROADCAST NEWS, REPORTING & PRODUCTION 
                - by  White, Ted & Meppen 
                - ISBN 0-02-427010-5, Macmillan Press, 1984