Answers to my research
My research seeks to answer whether digital radio will have an effect (if any) on community radio stations in Melbourne. Seeing that digital radio is the next generation in radio having the capacity to provide listeners with more services, clearer reception and superb sound quality. I will explore how digital radio will fit in the current media landscape.
Focusing on two differing Melbourne community radio stations 3ZZZ (ethnic & multicultural broadcaster) and 3RRR (independant/alternative music broadcaster) I hope to examine the ways that they will adapt to the onset of digital radio.
My project will attempt to explore the features of digital radio and how community radio stations will put them to use. (tuning station by name,record and rewind capability, text information, graphics,pictures and webpages etc)
The implications of funding, will all community radio stations see the way of digital radio in the near future or will it only be limited to the wealthier community stations?
- Will audience change?
-How will programming be affected?
-Access/Legislation issues
Add comment May 29, 2008
Intro to Radio Course (Class 2)
Our first task was to write up a short script then back announce a song we had chosen, then read an advertisement then forward announce the second song we picked. Sounds simple enough, although when nerves hit and the butterflies that live in my tummy on these special occasions start to emerge, everything becomes a little mumbo jumbo and my voice becomes shaky and I can feel my heart hitting hard across my chest. The Next Gen system was relatively easy to use but learning new software is always a challenge. We were all left in the room by ourselves whilst the others would listen outside as we were being recorded. Yes it was no competition, but we all wanted to perform well. I’d say I did an average job except Simon noticed that I used a pun with the song title of the song and I also should not tell the listener how long that I will be presenting for eg. “101.3 MIXX FM that was Love Today, Mika. Adriana here taking you through till nine, I hope you have loved today as much as I have?”. These were big NO NO’s as puns were old school and instead of telling the listener how long you will be presenting for they would rather you use those words to say something else. So those were lessons learnt.
We also looked at radio audience measurement and how seriously it is taken at a commercial radio station. We discussed the importance of Nielsen Media Research (Survey Company) and how they are a multi-million dollar company that aids radio broadcasters with guidance into which demographics listen to which shifts, radio stations etc. The current method of audience measurement is done via a diary system that the selected person has to carry around for 8 weeks and tick boxes to notify Nielsen when and which radio stations they listen to. This method is extremely inconvenient and outdated and I hope they look into better methods for this approach.
Radio stations also conduct focus groups, online surveys, telephone surveys, hire auditoriums etc to make sure that they are doing a satisfactory job at keeping the listeners to that station loyal. There are 8 rolling surveys that occur in Melbourne each year. The diary system is mainly quantitative research with some qualitative research and also helps advertisers make their decisions about which radio station they should choose to promote their product depending on the quantitative figures and because of this “commercial radio stations do not drive the way they follow”. Simon explained further that they try and give the listeners what they want eg. some songs wouldn’t work here as they are too American, music director needs to cater for Australian listeners.
Add comment May 27, 2008
Intro to Radio Course (Class 1)
Don’t you just hate those social situations where you are placed in a room with a group of strangers and everyone is too afraid to say ‘hi’ and it’s so quiet that you just want to burst out and laugh? Well my group consisted of 5 others…Perry, Dina, Dan, Jorja and Will an eclectic mix of people. A woman in her 50’s, a Hungarian sound engineer, two from the country and one pondering about a career in radio and then myself. I was quite pleased that it was such a small group as it meant it would be a more intimate working environment. Simon our lecturer was an easy going, funny yet very knowledgeable man about the radio industry. We discussed the history of the company and spoke about an overview of Australian radio today.
Commercial radio differs dramatically from community radio as:
-they can carry advertising to self regulated limits
-pay a license fee to the Government based on their revenue
-provide survey results included in official and regular independently audited audience surveys.
-are high powered to cover and service wide coverage areas such as an entire metropolitan area, city or specified regional area.
-they also adhere to the commercial radio codes of practise.
Even though I have always known this fact, Simon seemed to drill it in my head and make me aware that like any business, the objective of a radio station is to make a PROFIT. It’s a timeless business cycle as advertising profits keep the station on air. This is done by the listeners who support the program by tuning in, this attracts advertisers who ultimately keep playing the dollars which in reality keep the station operating.
I also learnt that there are usually six shifts in a radio station’s twenty-four hour day.
Breakfast: 5:30/6:00 am to 9:00am
Morning: 9:00am to Noon
Afternoon: Noon to 4:00pm
Drive: 4:00pm to 7:00pm
Evening/Night: 7:00pm to Midnight
Mid Dawn: Midnight to 5:30/6:00am
The most important shifts of the day are Breakfast and Drive as these are the peak times when people are listening to radio on the way to work/school etc and on their way home from work/school etc. The slots are presented by well known radio personalities eg: Breakfast (Nova 100) Hughsey & Kate and Drive (Foxfm) Hamish & Andy. The rest of the presenters are used as fillers and are usually not as well known, they re-play segments from breakfast and drive slots to promote them as these two shifts make commercial radio millions of dollars.
Simon also mentioned something that I believe will stick with me “while presenters are putting on make-up and the newspaper companies are waiting for their machines to heat up, radio presenters have told their story”.
Add comment May 21, 2008
Money, Money, Money
The world revolves around money…money, money, money. Yes my friend nothing is free in this world even if Janet Jackson claims that “the best things in life are free”. What ever happened to having a passion to do something without having a hefty price tag attached to it. You are probably wandering what the hell I am ranting on about…gone are the days when we want learn something or broaden our skill set without having to fork out an arm and a leg to pay for it. I have just faced this hurdle and here are the outcomes.
I have recently enrolled in a course. Just by randomly reading an email and following one link after an other I came across a web page “Melbourne Radio School” and I was extremely excited about the courses they had to offer as they were specifically related to my interests.
They offered:
- Intro to radio course
- Voiceover course for TV & Radio Commercials
- Creative writing for radio commercials
- News reading and writing for radio
Of course the next most important thing that would determine my enrolment was pricing. How much would I have to fork out to pay for the pleasure of learning about radio for one hour each week for a total of ten weeks? Let’s play a guessing game shall we…
Who places their bet on $249 ok how about $399, anyone for $499, $699??
How about I just give you the answer, guessing games are for teenagers anyway (drum roll)…the cost was $1090. Now you must sympathise with me and forgive me for ranting on in this post. What type of uni student can afford to pay that?…honestly, luckily for concession card holders which brought the price down to $990 AND they had a promotion on at the time which resulted in becoming $890 for the ten weeks!!!
Coincidently I was approached with another fantastic opportunity; NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) will be going on tour to a destination near you. This was what my booking agent forwarded to me. Courses ranging from a day up until 8 weeks, starting prices from $220 to $2,000. For those who have dipped their toe in the acting world of knowledge would know that NIDA is Australia’s national theatre school; a centre of excellence in training for theatre, film and television.
The fact that they are touring is an opportunity not to be missed but who can afford these pleasures, I certainly cannot.
Now that I have that off my chest I can say that I am really looking forward to learning about commercial radio. The Melbourne radio school guarantees you work experience in a commercial radio station as well as teaching you the latest broadcast software (Next Gen) and has affiliation with AFTRS (Australian Film Television and Radio School). I shall keep you posted about my progress and switch from community to commercial.
Add comment May 20, 2008
Labsome Lunch
What a wonderful way to work. Today was not just an ordinary class, we had our first lunch. We were required to bring something to add to the table. Libby was keen on sausages and Jon on party pies and sausage rolls so I knew that this lunch would go incredibly well. Being the salad junkie that I am I was adamant that I brought something healthy for lunch. I could imagine it would have been quite embarrassing to hurdle around 2 big plastic bags full of vegetables on the way to uni, so I decided to drive and save myself from the weird looks and stares.
My shopping bag contained the following items:
Cherry Tomatoes: check
Cucumber: check
Mixed Salad: check
Vegetable oil: check
Vinegar: check
Salt & Vinegar Chips: check
Oops…I know what you’re thinking, so how about you throw your black critising hat out the door, and stop judging me. Yes you read right, Salt & Vinegar Chips (I am crunching on them as I write this).. Those who know me well can vouch that I am a S & V lover and besides we can’t be eating too much healthy food, its good to mix it up.
Other than the amazing food that was on offer, dips, curry, pita bread, sweets, sausages, party pies, hot dogs, salad, chips and drinks (just to name a few) it wasn’t just my stomach that benefited as this lunch gave us a chance to socialise and get to know each other on a more personal level.
Add comment May 14, 2008
Exegesis - Community Radio and the transition to digital
Radio has an extremely persuasive nature in our everyday lives. Currently there is a revival of interest in the radio services in Australia which coincides with the growth of new media technologies. More than ever before Australians trust radio as it as a medium that the public turn to in cases of emergency, hard hitting-news and current affairs. It is a technology that offers strong opinion, talk back, a variety of music, topics and segments targeted at all ages. It is an easy listening medium that is used and cherished by millions of Australians.
The community radio sector fulfils a broad and particularly unacknowledged role in the Australian media landscape despite the fact that it has developed as Australia’s third media sector. Its role is to provide a diverse range of services that meet community needs. Community broadcasting stations are strongly committed to providing local news and information, the promotion of local and Australian artists, arts and culture and the opportunity to provide training in media skills. There is no doubt that digital radio is the next generation in radio however it is worth acknowledging how community radio stations are going to adapt to the onset of digital broadcasting. The commercial radio industry, the ABC and SBS have been quick to join forces to establish the necessary infrastructure to deliver digital radio to Australian listeners, as to these broadcasters digital radio is the most significant development since FM radio.
The coming of digital radio technology being introduced in Australia will bring a number of challenges for community broadcasters. The concern in the community radio sector is that minimal budgets will see individual stations unable to extend to all the new infrastructure required to commence digital broadcasting.
These are the reasons and motivations behind the intention of producing a radio based research project. I have formulated a project abstract in order to guide and direct me in creating a practical research study into how digital radio will affect community radio stations.
Project Abstract: How will two key players in Melbourne’s community radio sector adjust to the inception of digital broadcasting? Public and commercial radio have been quick to adapt to the new technology and have begun to venture into digital domain In comparison to community radio who has not yet embraced digital radio having a unique funding system and specific broadcasting values.Having one of the largest community radio sectors in the world, Melbourne’s community radio stations (3RRR and 3CR ) two of its biggest players can provide interesting case studies on the move to digital radio.How these two stations adapt to digital may test and give understanding for other community broadcasters.
Theoretical framework:
I will be creating a radio based research project. I intend to interview and discuss the topic of digital radio and the effects it will have on community radio stations/broadcasters. There will be many topics that will be discussed and looked at in depth such as funding/financial implications of digital broadcasting, audience issues (is the audience going to change?),programming and content (how will it be affected?) and volunteer workforce (will there be any changes?).
Research methodology:
This will be Primary Research. This will involve formal and informal interviews,discussions and with myself and other practitioners. To compliment this methodology other research methods will be implemented such as secondary, qualitative, professional and action research.
Research methods:
Secondary Research: Is the natural outcome of the project. These will be things such as documents, journals etc. These will be used to conduct and complement the outcomes of primary research.
Qualitative Research: This method will be used to gather information about the effects digital radio will have on a community radio station. It will be done via direct observation, in-depth interviews and analysis of documents and material.
Professional Research: This will be used to look in to the technical aspects of how digital radio works. This research method will also be used for the pod casting component of my project.
Action Research: Will be used to examine and improve the ways of radio based research practice. I will be able to examine the concept of podcasting through the reflection on my own personal experience of the project.
Style & Length: The style of this research project will be a creative yet documentary type piece. It will be presented in 5-6 podcasts of 30 min each on a theme related to the main question.
Application to project: This project is a practical research study into how community broadcasters will be affected by the onset of digital radio.
Add comment May 1, 2008
Oh what a night…
Invitation read:
IT ’S MONICA’S Hen’s Night!
And she’s going to do it in serious style! On the 29th March 2008 from 7pm,You are invited to join her at Marrakech where we’re going to party in the mystical surrounds of Melbourne’s most majestic venue. It’s a very classy affair so lose the rags, dress it up and join Monica in celebrating her special event in style. Be early to join us indulging in canapés and signature Marrakech shooters. LET’S CELEBRATE MONICA’S HEN’S NIGHT IN Style…
Lets just say this was one pre-wedding party that was executed in style. Firstly I knew I had paid $80 to attend this night but had no clue about where it was all going. Maybe Monica needed some extra pocket money for the wedding?…ahh I doubt it.Being my first hen’s night I wasn’t sure what to expect. All I knew was that I was only familiar with the bride to be, Monica Karmy a good friend of mine from University and the rest would have been strangers. All it took was a glass of champagne to get the ball rolling and by the end of the night 12 strangers had become best friends. There was a buzz in the air as we all eagerly anticipated what was in store for us.
The term hen’s night also known as hen’s party or Bachelorette parties are renowned for adult games, strippers and plenty of alcohol. The bride to be is dressed in some type of attire that stands out from the rest whether it is a veil, the colour white or a sash.It is in a sense a girl’s night out or in and is usually the hen’s “last night of freedom”. This means getting in all sorts of trouble due to the fact that the bride to be and her closest friends get quite intoxicated by the end of the night.Well that’s a typical version of a hen’s night but instead I was pleasantly surprised by the order of events that took place that evening.
How could I have been so naive? We were mingling, drinking, eating and laughing when all of a sudden the room was raided by two policemen…well they weren’t REAL policemen. It was just the strippers who arrived to show Monica a good time.
It was my first experience of strippers, they were fun and tasteful, not tacky. I know what you are all thinking, stripping isnt my thing but hey there is nothing wrong with a bit of harmless fun. Even if my hands were covered in baby oil from touching their perfectly sculpted abs and buttocks, I guess it was a real ice breaker and a great way to start the night. If anyone enjoyed the show the most it would have been hands down Veronica, Monica’s mother who claimed the boys could perform at her home any day. Ahh what a character she was.The night was filled with laughter which echoed through the club walls, strippers, belly dancers, smoking arguileh and a lot of champagne. All in all I believe it was a great way to really get to know Monica and her closest friends as this would be a night she would remember forever.
Add comment April 2, 2008
Project Abstract
How will two key players in Melbourne’s community radio sector adjust to the inception of digital broadcasting? Public and commercial radio have been quick to adapt to the new technology and have begun to venture into digital domain In comparison to community radio who has not yet embraced digital radio having a unique funding system and specific broadcasting values. Having one of the largest community radio sectors in the world, Melbourne’s community radio stations (3RRR and 3ZZZ ) two of its biggest players can provide interesting case studies on the move to digital radio.How these two stations adapt to digital may test and give understanding for other community broadcasters.
Add comment March 27, 2008
What is Quantitative Research?
Quantitative research involves analysis of numerical data. The aim is to organise the results, count them and construct statistical models in an attempt to explain what is observed. Quantitative research is often used to investigate research questions and is applicable to a wide variety of academic disciplines, from the natural and social sciences to the humanities, and to government and business.
The project that I’m working on will explore how community radio will adapt to the digital age. There may be a small section of my project that will involve using statistics or other quantitative methods to collect data. An example would be to find out how many people listen to community radio or the stations that I have chosen to investigate (3RRR & 3ZZZ) and the ways in which they use this media such as listening online, in the car, via podcasts etc.
Quantitative research may help combine my project together as a whole, however it will not determine or be the sole focus of my research as it will only be used in conjunction with claims made by qualitative research. Qualitative research will be useful as it doesn’t just find the answers, but it finds the reasons behind the answers and what inspires them. Some of the qualitative research methods that I will be using to gather information will be in-depth interviews and analysis of documents and materials. The reasons why this type of research is more relevant than quantitative research is because it can determine information from a deeper to more complex level. This will go hand in hand with my project topic as I will be exploring the funding/financial implications of digital broadcasting, audience issues, programming and content and volunteer workforce.
The methodologies I intend to use for my research project are interviews and surveys. This method will help me gather information that can form quantitative responses, as they are usually yes/no answers. The information I gather will be collated into 30 minute podcats based on specific case studies from 3RRR and 3ZZZ.
Add comment March 26, 2008
The social networking syndrome
If you’re unsure about what I mean, well what else could I mean other than the ’stalking syndrome’? Don’t act like you don’t have it. We all do, well those at least who are active users of social networking websites such as MySpace and Facebook. I know I certainly do.
I have to admit I have an account with both. This means endless time wasting and procrastinating when I have better things to do like my uni homework, but instead I will literally log in and out about 10 times a day. I would check more if I could. Yes…as sad as it is just like the rest of you I am a little sticky beak like Colleen from Home & Away who wants to know anything and everything. I call it the ’stalking syndrome’ for a reason, now more than ever I am interested to see what everybody else is doing from browsing their most recent uploaded photos to reading their comments. For some odd reason this gives me satisfaction. Now the targets can range anywhere between ex-boyfriends to girls that I didn’t particularly like back in high school. I mean how could you not stalk when Facebook offers you a News Feed, giving you information about which friend broke up with who, what even they are attending or comments they have received on their page. Honestly, what happened to privacy? No wonder I have ’stalker syndrome’ it seems they like to rub all that juicy goss right in your face.
Some of you may think that I am being extreme and that this is the whole purpose of these type of websites, to see how everybody is doing. I disagree. The purpose of these type of websites is to offer the user an easy way to keep in contact with friends and easily connect and interact with other people. Now I can assure you the amount of people who join these websites join them for the sole purpose to ’see’ what everybody else is doing…STALKER! I’d say I have a love/hate relationship with these social networking websites as in one aspect it fufills the stalker in me and on the other hand it is a complete waste of my time.
What do you think?
Add comment March 15, 2008
