Some Notes on Planning and Producing a Radio Magazine Programme

The aim of constantly writing almost everything is to crystallize ideas into a programme or part of a programme. [...]this notebook becomes a pool of creative ideas from which the producer constantly draws. Once the day and time of broadcast and the start-up date, etc are established the producer now knows the duration of time to be filled, the type of programme (pre-recorded or live) and where the programme is positioned on the schedule. Content A magazine programme can consist of items such as interviews, news, discussion, PSA, vox pop, tips, a feature, a voice piece (talk, live report, etc), sound effects, music, electronic effects, and drama. The producer must also familiarize the members of the team with studio ethics such as: * the proper way of testing a microphone; * the signals to be used to communicate in the studio; * unacceptable behaviour in a live studio, for example swearing, personal conversations on the telephone, loud laughter and chatter; * how to handle and not shuffle the script or any other paper when the microphone is On; * the importance of not hitting the table or stamping feet while speaking; * to avoid swirling or wheeling a chair; * to avoid eating and drinking (except water) in studio; * not to enter a live studio.