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Radio Journalism
UNIT 3 NEWS GATHERING PROCESS FOR
RADIO
Structure
3.0 Introduction 3.1 Learning Outcomes 3.2 The history of Radio Journalism 3.2.1 Origin 3.2.2 BBC and Radio Journalism – ‘Inform, Educate and Entertain’ 3.2.3 Radio Journalism in other countries 3.2.3 Second World War and Radio listening 3.3 The New Role of Radio and its Responsibilities 3.3.1 Radio as Participative Media 3.3.2 Rural Focus 3.3.3 Radio and Environment 3.3.4 Health and Family Welfare 3.3.5 Women and Children’s Programme 3.4 Changing Technology and its Impact on Radio 3.4.1 Change of Technology 3.4.2 Early Days Sound Equipment 3.4.3 New Technology 3.5 All India Radio and News 3.5.1 History 3.5.2 Iconic Indian Broadcasters 3.5.3 News Services Division 3.6 News Gathering 3.6.1 Sources of News 3.6.2 Methods of Gathering News 3.6.3 Principles of Reporting 3.7 Let Us Sum Up 3.8 Further Reading 3.9 Key Words 3.10 Check Your Progress: Possible Answers
3.0 INTRODUCTION
Despite being almost a century old profession, radio journalism has undergone a sea change during the past few decades. The catalysts for this are changes in ways of news gathering, news production and news dissemination. The basic content, production methods, presentation styles and evolution of technology have all been factors in this change. There is hardly any area of human life now not touched by news and news based programmes. Being one of the easiest and quickest media, radio provides real time news and plays an important role in society. Gone are the days of just hearing a newsreader rattling off a series of
news items as written in the text of a news bulletin. The sound bytes and actuality inserts make a news bulletin more lively and interesting to listen to. The listeners not only hear the newsreader but also the voices of the news makers and other people. For instance, news of an accident is no longer just a description but often includes the anguished voices of the victims too. Thus, the earlier monologue style presentation is being replaced by the increasingly popular interactive radio style enabling the listeners to participate in the programmes. Even before other social media emerged, radio had started evolving into the two way communication pattern. Further, news alone is not sufficient but detailed news analysis is also required. This has also contributed to an increase in multiple voice programmes. Delivery of radio programmes is also possible through several new and emerging platforms like ‘Direct to Home (DTH), satellite radio, Internet streaming, web radio, mobile apps, podcasting etc. Therefore, these days a radio journalist has to has to be equipped with the latest formats in news gathering, news production and news dissemination techniques keeping pace with the technological advancements in the field. News gathering has become a very important area of radio’s functions.
3.1 LEARNING OUTCOME
After going through the unit, you should be able to: state the origin and growth of Radio Journalism; analyse the growth of radio broadcast in India; explain the meaning of news gathering; elaborate the Process, Techniques and Tools of news gathening; state the Important principles of news gathering; and explain Reporting.
3.2 THE HISTORY OF RADIO JOURNALISM
3.2.1 Origin
Since the invention of Radio by Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, Radio has grown by leaps and bounds impacting life of the entire humanity on our planet. Marconi was recognized generally for sending out the first radio transmission on a temporary station in 1895. Though he was a pioneer in the field, many radio stations had sprung up in the United States by the time his New Street Works factory in Chelmsford went on air with the first entertainment radio broadcast in
- Since then the world has begun to shrink with the radio waves reaching every nook and corner of the world carrying entertainment and information. Ironically, Marconi’s great invention was banned by the licensing authority – General Post office in 1920 giving in to the pressure of those who opposed it, as it interfered with military and civil communication. However, public enthusiasm for it led to revocation of this ban in 1922 paving the way for BBC.
3.2.2 BBC and Radio Journalism – ‘Inform, Educate and
Entertain’
British Broadcasting Company (BBC) was a private company established by the then leading wireless manufacturers including Marconi in 1922. It’s first General Manager John Reith gave the golden rule for broadcast- “inform, educate News Gathering Process for Radio
so popular among the farming community that a rice variety promoted in the programmes for farmers was named as Radio Rice. Programmes for rural listeners were specially designed to cater to the day to day seasonal needs of the farming community. These helped the farmers about modern and improved agricultural practices, the benefits of using right fertilizers and identifying the best seasons for sowing their crops. Farmers could also get information about the best possible prices for their produce and guidance of agricultural experts. The radio programmes for farmers were broadcast not only in Hindi but also in different regional languages and dialects.
3.3.3 Radio and Environment
Radio has been able to focus on preserving environment and conservation of wildlife and forests. Information about government initiatives for forestry, wildlife conservation and maintaining ecological balance is provided to the listeners to create awareness, which is crucial for the success of such efforts. Besides World Environment Day, many other relevant global events such as World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, World Water Day etc. are also observed by AIR stations every year. Radio can be the game changer in meeting these challenges effectively because concerned initiatives need people’s participation for success.
3.3.4 Health and Family welfare
Radio’s contribution through its Health and Family Welfare programmes is immense. Subjects covered in these programmes have a lot of variety such as raising the age for marriage, maternal care, breast feeding, child survival, children’s rights, girl child, adverse child gender ratio and regressive mindsets leading to female infanticide. Creating public awareness about Tuberculosis, Leprosy, HIV/AIDS and so on is critical for better health of the people.
3.3.5 Women and Children Programmes
There are several issues facing women which require creating awareness. The areas of concern include atrocities on women, trafficking of women, female foeticide and infanticide, education and employment opportunities and security for women. There are other problems as well like obscene portrayal of women and gender discrimination. International Women’s Day is observed with special programmes by AIR to highlight these issues. Children programmes broadcast by radio stations target children of age group 5-14 years. Check Your Progress 1 Note : 1) Use the space provided below for your answers.
- Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
- List the benefits for farmers from Radio programmes designed for them. ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ News Gathering Process for Radio
Radio Journalism
3.4 CHANGING TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S
IMPACT ON RADIO
3.4.1 Change of Technology
Change of technology has impacted journalism in many ways. It has influenced how journalists do their work, the content of news, the structure and organisation of newsroom and the relationships between news organisations, journalists and public. New media like the Internet, World Wide Web and digital videos are examples of technologies that are transforming journalism. New communication technologies, digitalisation and technological convergence are transforming broadcast news production. Now let us know something about the equipment used for news gathering. There are two broad categories of equipment used in Radio stations.
- Transmission equipment
- Studio equipment
3.4.2 Early Days Sound Recording Equipment
Microphones There were two types of microphones – Dynamic and Condenser. Both are extensively used even now. Dynamic microphones are stronger and can withstand heat and humidity better than Condenser types. Therefore, these are preferred for outdoor recording. Condenser microphones give better quality but are more sensitive to heat and humidity. Therefore these are used for indoor/ studio recordings. Sound Recording Machines The equipments used now are completely different from what it used to be. The older ones were quite heavy to carry. For instance, ¼ inch magnetic tapes were used in open reels in recording machines. These were reliable and rugged but editing was cumbersome and time consuming. Later, cassette recorders came to the market which used thin magnetic tapes. These were easy to handle but their output was of lesser quality.
3.4.3 New Technology
As the world moved on to digital technology, equipment of yester years have become primitive. Today, radio channels operate in a multi-platform world. This means tailor made softwares are available to take care of A to Z operations of production. The traditional tasks of audio programming include scripting, audio recording, editing, scheduling, on-air broadcasting and logging. But now new challenges and opportunities have to be addressed like multichannel web delivery web-streaming, on-demand audio, stereo channels etc. The latest technologies and delivery platforms also came out with solutions. AIR has also kept pace with the changing and evolving technology. New advanced software systems take care of the entire radio production and broadcasting needs. Most of these systems have the facility for the flow of news in text and also insertion of sound bites.
Radio Journalism (^) Talks Unit of NSD deals with the current affairs and news based programmes. These include daily ‘Samyiki’ and ‘Spotlight’ and weekly ‘Charcha Ka Vishay Hai’ and ‘Current Affairs’ programmes on national hook-up. Many other programmes are broadcast by stations on regional hook-ups and also locally. To make the news programmes more sound based, Radio Newsreel was started on December 10, 1955 both in English (Radio Newsreel) and Hindi (Samachar Darshan) from Delhi. These have a sharp one sentence lead and move on to sound bites or correspondent reports. Similar programmes are organised on respective state hook-ups by concerned RNUs. The News Services Division is headed by a Director General (News), who is one of the senior most officer of the Indian Information Service. The different operational wings of NSD at headquarters in Delhi include: General News Room, Hindi News Room, Reporting Unit, Talks Units (English and Hindi), Newsreel Unit, New Format Cell, Indian Languages Units, Monitoring Unit etc. Check Your Progress 2 Note : 1) Use the space provided below for your answers.
- Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
- When did the first news bulletins broadcast in India? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
- What are the three main categories of News bulletins broadcast by AIR? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
- What is a News reel? Explain. ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
3.6 NEWS GATHERING
According to Collins dictionary News Gathering means “The work of collecting news for publication or broadcast”. So it is related to the process of collecting the news. Before getting into methods of news gathering and principles of reporting let us try to understand what could be the sources of news.
3.6.1 Sources of News
The main sources of news for a radio news room are its own correspondents, news agencies and its monitoring unit. News doesn’t happen in the radio station or newsroom. It is also not necessary that it will materialise only during the day. So how do the reporters get their stories? They get these from different sources. One such source can be some person who gives information. For this to happen
the reporter needs contacts. A contact can be any individual, who could be associated with a government or private department or institution like hospital, police station, political party office etc. The journalist needs to keep on expanding his/her range of contacts and also updating the contact list. Whenever required, the journalist can call his/her contact relevant to the information needed. Sometimes, contacts can also approach the journalist to provide new information. How does one know whether the information being provided is correct or accurate? The information should not only be credible (true) but also accurate (correct). The best way to ensure this is by cross checking the information received from one source with another source. Double sourcing or multiple sourcing will contribute to accuracy, balance and objectivity of the news story. The reporter should also find out whether it is a fact or an opinion. Facts cannot be disputed but opinions can vary. News items have to be based on facts alone. Opinions can be presented in analysis oriented programmes. However, speculation cannot be news. The next task of the journalist would be to get all information by using the 5Ws and H method. The 5 Ws are Who, What, Where, When and Why whereas H stands for how. Who was involved? What happened? Where did it take place? When did it happen? Why did it happen? And... How? Based on this the journalist would draft a story. Official statements: Government actions affect all people and therefore constitute news. Thus, a major source of news for all journalists is official statements and press releases/communiques issued by various government ministries, departments and organisations. These could be on multifarious occasions. One such occasion for the government to issue official statements arises following talks/interactions with leaders of other countries. These statements provide the official position of both the countries or in the case of multilateral international fora, a group of countries. A radio journalist may follow it up with reactions from various quarters. Press Releases/Communiques: Press releases and communiques provide official news as well as news from private organisations and firms. These are often composed in a chronological form and thus the main news may not be in the beginning. At times it may be at the bottom. It is the news person’s job to find out where the real news is. The release has to be edited and redrafted for a radio news bulletin. Press Conferences: Unlike press releases, press conferences provide journalists an opportunity to pose questions to those who address the media persons. Clarifications and elaborations can be sought then and there on the floor and many a times the real news will come from such responses and replies and not from the press releases or opening statements which are normally distributed before the beginning of the press conference. Interviews: An interview involves a conversational technique designed to procure information and it requires practice. Generally interviews are of two types. The first is confrontational and the other uses the art of employing interview to gently elicit information. These days most of TV news anchors and interviewers adopt a confrontational style. They start with attacking questions. But some of the best interviews are masterpieces of the art of gently eliciting information. For instance Martin Basheer’s interview with Princess Diana and David Frost’s interview with former US President Nixon were the most watched programmes in history. Interviews can be conducted by appointment or can be taken on the spot or even News Gathering Process for Radio
3.6.3 Principles of Reporting
Unlike newspapers, writing or reporting a story for radio is for ears and not for eyes. While reading newspapers, the eyes can catch several words at a time. But, ears can hear words only one after the other. A listener cannot absorb a lot of details at a time. Besides many are casual listeners. Their attention span is very short. They may be distracted by other things happening around them. If what you are reporting is not interesting, they may easily switch off mentally and even literally. Moreover their understanding levels are vastly different. One may be an illiterate and the other may be a highly educated person. One may be a young man and the other may be an 80 year old lady. But there is one thing in common. All of them want not just to hear the news but see the news. It is easy for a TV reporter to show the scene of action by showing visual footage. What does a radio reporter do? He/she adopts the technique of reporting the picture of what is happening through sound. So writing for radio is writing a picture in sound. The radio reporter not only conveys the information but transports the scene to the listeners using a microphone. In a way the listener sees the scene through the eyes of the reporter. This is the essence of creative writing for radio. How do we do it? We do it by using all our five senses for our writing. That is how a picture in sound is created. Example: Foreign Secretary Raghunath has arrived in Islamabad. He will hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart tomorrow. They will cover various topics relating to bilateral ties. The talks are expected to be tough. Correspondent’s voice report or voice cast: “The sky over Islamabad was overcast, when Pakistan International Airlines plane carrying Indian newsmen landed there last night. It appeared as if nature itself was forecasting tough days ahead, when Foreign Secretary Raghunath picks up threads and resume talks with his Pakistani counterpart tomorrow. The talks could be as bumpy as the flight was…… The correspondent’s voice report brings in a picture in sound to the listener. A severe cyclone has struck the coastline near Chennai. The damage to communication and road traffic has been reported in the region. Correspondent’s voice report or voice cast: “The road leading from Puducherry to Chennai seems to have almost disappeared after the Cyclonic storm that hit the coastline near Chennai. Roads are submerged as torrential rain flooded the area. Trees are uprooted and electric poles have fallen with the wires hanging precariously. Few fishermen colonies along the coastline have disappeared. However, there has been no casualty as the people living in low lying areas had been moved to safer places well before the storm lashed the coastline. Use the five senses - sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch - in your reporting as per the requirements of the situation. News Gathering Process for Radio
Radio Journalism (^) Check Your Progress 3 Note : 1) Use the space provided below for your answers.
- Compare your answers with those given at the end of this unit.
- Elucidate three sources of news. ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
- What are the principles of reporting? ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ..........................................................................................................
- Writing for Radio is writing a picture in Sound. Explain. ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................ ............................................................................................................
3.7 LET US SUM UP
In this unit, we studied the history of radio journalism, its growth in India and the pioneers and iconic broadcasters. The world events that boosted radio’s potential to reach out to the world were explained. The cardinal functions of radio to inform, educate and entertain were analysed. The role and responsibility of radio in the present scenario particularly in health and agriculture sector and emancipation of women were looked into. News Gathering and its principles were also studied. Source of news were discussed and writing pictures in sound was learned.
3.8 FURTHER READING
De Maeseneer, P. (1989). Here’s the news. Manila: Reginal Service Center.
3.9 KEY WORDS
Sound bites : the recorded voice of news makers. Multi-platform : wholly computerised radio work station for broadcast of news, music and other programmes like Dalet or Netia. Voice cast : a news dispatch by correspondent recorded in his/her own voice Radio Bridge : It is a radio format linking correspondent or experts on one platform to analyse a news event like election Phone in : It’s a Radio programme to enable a listener to ring up a number to interact or get the latest news.
