| Module Identifier | TFM3220 | ||||||||||||||
| Module Title | EXPLORATION AND ANALYSIS OF GENRE IN RADIO | ||||||||||||||
| Academic Year | 2007/2008 | ||||||||||||||
| Co-ordinator | Ms Esther Prytherch | ||||||||||||||
| Semester | Semester 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Co-Requisite | TFM1910 | ||||||||||||||
| Course delivery | Lecture | 10 x 2 hours | |||||||||||||
| Seminars / Tutorials | Each student will receive at least 3 x 1 hour seminars | ||||||||||||||
| Practical | Students will be expected to practice recording and editing skills studied in Radio Production 1 - support will be provided as needed in the production process. | ||||||||||||||
| Workload Breakdown | (Every 10 credits carries a notional student workload of 100 hours) Contact time - 25 hours Self-directed research and writing 100 hours Practical work - 75 hours | ||||||||||||||
| Assessment |
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3. Develop original ideas into a short item of broadcast quality.
Conventions within genres overview
Factual programmes cover a multitude of topics from news and current affairs to religion, arts, popular culture, business, history, environmental issues, music, nature, people and places. As a speech based service, Radio 4s output is mainly features, documentary, drama and entertainment/comedy. Examples of these will be used to analyse specific radio genres along with Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. Examples from Radio 1, 2, 3, 5, Classic FM, Real Radio and Radio Pembrokshire will also be used to analyse different genres in radio. Giving the students the broadest possible insight into public service broadcasting and commercial radio. The following genre studies will all contain elements of audience, production and programming.
Factual Documentary
Factual programmes (specific and general) cover a multitude of topics from popular culture to business, history, science, environmental issues, music, nature, people, places etc. Formats, including features, themes, access, current affairs and history documentaries will be analysed.
Arts
Arts and culture cover a wide and diverse range of subjects such as music in all its forms, literature, comedy, cinema, dance, drama, visual arts, architecture, fashion, design, international and national festivals. Programmes within the arts and culture genre are reflected in a number of formats from features, magazine programmes, documentaries, chat and debate, music-based programming, themed nights and seasons and outside broadcasts from special events. These will be explored and analysed as a part of this session.
Music
Features with a musical focus display a distinct format and production approach dependent on station identity and audience. Examples from Radio 1, Radio 3 and Real Radio will be analysed here.
Daily Strands
Radio stations attempt to match the pace, style and content of their programmes to the daily routines of the listeners. Breakfast programmes, daytime, drive-time, evening and night time stranding will be explored and analysed.
News/Current Affairs and Sport
The immediacy of radio is eminently suited for the delivery of news. The importance of news and news values to radio is evident in the different ways it is used throughout programming on both music and speech-based stations. News bulletins, discussion programmes, documentary and phone-ins will be explored and analysed. Sports coverage on radio varies from station to station. For National stations like BBC 5 Live it is a central part of the output, while the other National stations give varying amounts of time to it. It is important to most local and regional radio stations because it provides a focal point for the relationship between the station and the audience. Studio based programmes and outside broadcasts will be explored and analysed.
Entertainment/Comedy
Programmes within the entertainment and comedy genre fall into an eclectic range of entertainment, be it stand-up or broken comedy, quizzes, panel games, sketch shows. Comedy narrative includes entertaining dramatisations, comedy drama and situation comedy. Examples of these will be explored and analysed.
Events and O.Bs
From Wimbledon to the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, the National Eisteddfod and the Royal Welsh Show. Events and special occasions are reflected on live radio outside broadcasts. They are intricate operations that require meticulous technical and creative preparation. Specific events raise a network's profile and reinforce its values and distinctiveness. Examples from this genre will be explored and analysed.
Drama
Daily serialisations, adaptations, biography, comedy, contemporary, crime/thriller, drama documentary, family fantastical, period and romance are some of the genres covered in radio drama. Alongside the well-made play, there are other formats broadcast under this genre such as dramatised features, enhanced readings or monologues, poetic pieces, work by performance artists or a mix of letters, poetry, drama or s series of short plays. Examples of these will be explored and analysed.
| Problem solving | The unpredictability of production planning and process requires students to be continually solving problems related to their individual programme. | ||
| Research skills | Research skills are developed throughout the module and are finally assessed in the assignment. | ||
| Communication | Communication underpins all activities on this course and will be developed and assessed throughot this module. | ||
| Improving own Learning and Performance | Students will be encouraged to listen and analyse various genres of radio programming. This will improve their learning and performance. | ||
| Information Technology | IT will be utilised for some research work durin this module. | ||
| Personal Development and Career planning | This module will give students a clear indication of where their interest/talents lie, whether it be in history documentary or music programmes. | ||
This module is at CQFW Level 7