Reading Notes: Speech Packages (Radio in Context)

SPEECH PACKAGES IN CONTEXT

Speech Package - informs listeners about a subject in which the radio station considers they will find interesting. (Rubbin and Ibbotson, 2002)

These packages are used in news bulletins or programmes and can range from 2-60 minutes.

Feature - a 'stew' containing every ingredient in the medium. (Kaye and Popperwell 1992)

Wrap - a short, simple package which may consist of a reporter delivering a script or a short interview. Billboard are extended news wraps.

Packages may be used to educate and entertain as well as inform. In essence, a 'package' tells a story (most of the time true, rather than fictional)

An important ingredient in many packages in actuality

- This is to add variety and colour to the narrative of the package delivered by the reporter.

- This could be spoken word from an interviewee or non-verbal sound effects.

Other comments may take the form of vox pops

- These are a range of opinions, edited together in a juxtaposition which invites the listener to compare different responses.

It is vital that the content and style of the package must suits its main purposes as well as it being appropriate for the target audience.

MAKING PACKAGES

Target audience and subject matter are the first decisions you need to make when its comes to relating to context.

- Deal with the subject in the way that most fairly intelligent members of the audience will be able to understand what is being said. Some radio shows specify to a certain target audience. eg. medical profession. (it would be time wasting and patronizing to explain to a wide audience)

- Find an appropriate idea!

This can be done via brainstorming. It really helps inspiration strike.

TRY TO BE ORIGINAL. Listeners get bored with the same material being endlessly recycled. Try and tell them stories which they don't know.

FINDING AN ANGLE

The choice of angle will influence the type of interviewees to be included. Finding the right potential interviewee is down to how relevant they are to the package. For example, a chief constable would be a good option if you were doing a package on crime. 

A person's opinion only constitutes worthwhile evidence for inclusion in a package in this way if he or she has some form of credentials that are appropriate to the role. 

Each perspective might have an important role to play in the package, bit its also important not to use the interviewee in the wrong way. Make sure that you know that you interviewee will actually have a good response. 

Finding the right interviewee may take a considerable amount of research. Make sure these people sound appealing on the microphone and not monotone. This may be because they voices aren't radiogenic. Ask if they could recommend someone?

Remember stuttering can be reduced in the editing stage. 

INTERVIEWING FOR PACKAGES

Be realistic with who you chose to interview, celebrities and politicians may be hard to come by as they receive numerous requests from journalists elsewhere.

Remember both legal and ethical issues involved in being over persistent in your approach to find an interviewee.

DON'T PROVIDE QUESTIONS IN ADVANCE

- With inexperienced interviewees who lacks confidence, they tend to prepare answers which sound boring and scripted when recorded and not 'real'

- It is often useful to compromise to just indicated to interviewees what areas of their specialist knowledge you're going to ask about

Try to make as little promises as possible before the interview so you are not liable for anything.

PLANNING INTERVIEWS

Make it relevant and focused! Find out about the subject matter and try and find opinionated questions to ask. The quality of research for your questioning is likely to show in the quality of the finished piece.

Remember there are Primary Sources:

- First hand information; face-to-face interviews, talking over the phone; written emails or letters

Secondary Sources

- Second hand information; books, web pages, radio programmes, videos, newspapers, CDs and magazine.

All research you do, you must check the reliability. Eg. Books are strict on publication but anyone can write anything on the web.

Questions are intended to draw the interviewee into providing the detail, the concepts or the real-life experience and observations that can be more clear. 

REMEMBER TO LISTEN TO THE ANSWERS! Its bad if your interviewee makes and really good point but you don't follow it up.

Have a combination of open and closed questions

LOCATION OF INTERVIEW CAN BE VITAL- Be sure to have the right equipment for the right environment. 

- In a studio there is minor ambient sound and high quality equipment. Be sure to use the right equipment if your outside to block ambient sounds or if your taking a recording on the phone