Radio- Solved Question Paper BJMC Examination, December 2017

Radio- Solved Question Paper BJMC Examination, December 2017

Section A-Each Question Carries 3 Marks

Question 1- News Service Division

Answer-

The News Services Division (NSD) of All India Radio disseminates news and comments to listeners in India and abroad.

From 27 news bulletins in 1939-40, The News Services Division works round-the-clock and it broadcasts over 607 news bulletins in 82 languages/dialects in the Home, Regional and External Services. 

In addition to the daily news bulletins, the News Services Division also mounts everyday a number of news-based programs on topical subjects from Delhi and some other Regional News Units.

There are 46 Regional News Units in All India Radio.

 

Question 2- Characteristics of Radio

Answer:-

The main characteristics of radio are as follows-

Radio makes pictures- Radio works to create a picture in the mind of the listeners through words and sounds.

The speed of radio- Radio is the fastest medium. It is instant. As things happen in a studio or outside, messages can be sent or broadcast.

Simplicity of radio- Compared to all other media, radio is simple to use. Radio needs very simple technology and equipment.

Radio is inexpensive- As it is simple, it is also a cheaper medium. The cost of production is low and a small radio can be bought for as low a price as say fifty rupees.

Radio does not need electric power supply- You can listen to radio using dry battery cells even if you do not have electric power supply or a generator.

A radio receiver is portable- This facility of moving an object which is called ‘portability’ gives radio an advantage.

One does not have to be literate to listen to radio- Unless you are literate, you can’t read a newspaper or read captions or text on television. But for listening to radio, you need not be literate at all.

Question 3- Farm Radio Officer

Answer:-

Farm Radio Officer is a post in All India Radio who works in Farm and Home Unit. This unit was started in 1966 during the Green Revolution era in All India Radio. The aim was to help spread awareness about the mega-farm programs going on in the districts of the country at that time. 

Initially ten such units were open and these units were responsible for the entire rural broadcast output. The head of the Farm and Home Unit was called the Farm Radio Officer. The Farm Radio Officer was a graduate in agriculture and had experience in agricultural work. To help him, there is one or two farm radio reporters and a script writer from the same agricultural background. 

Initially Farm Radio Officers and Reporters used to come on deputation from the Agriculture Department of the States, but now they are appointed through the Union Public Service Commission. Farm Radio Officers prepare programs related to rural India and farming.

Question 4- Spoken Words Programs

Answer:-

A Radio format can be split into three parts. They are:-

(a) Spoken Word or Human Voice programs (b) Music and (c) Sound Effects

Spoken words programs include the following-

1.     Announcements

These are specifically written clear messages to inform.

2.     Radio talk :

The radio talk probably is the oldest format on radio.

3.     Radio interviews: 

There can be different types of interviews in terms of their duration, content and purpose.

4.     Radio discussions :-

In radio, this technique is used to let people have different points of view on matters of public concern.

5.     Radio documentaries/features:

A radio documentary is a program based on real sounds and real people and their views and experiences.

6.     Radio Drama/Play:

A radio play has only 3 components. They are the human voice, music and sound effects.

7.     Running commentaries :

Running commentaries on radio can be on various sports events or on ceremonial occasions like the Republic Day Parade.

Magazine programs/ specific audience programs :

A radio magazine is broadcast at a particular time on a particular day of a week or a month.

9-     NEWS :

News bulletins and news programs are broadcast every hour by radio stations.

Question 5- Sound Effects

Answer:-       

A Radio format or program can be split into three parts. They are:-

(a) Spoken Word or Human Voice (b) Music and (c) Sound Effects

Since radio is a medium of sound, the effect of sound on this medium is of great importance. Radio cannot function without sound effects. Sound effects are needed in almost every program of radio. Let us see how sound can be used in radio formats.

·       Sound can play a major role in evoking interest.

·       Sound can be used for comic effects to evoke laughter

·       Sound can be used to create certain moods or enhance them.

Section B-Each Question Carries 7.5 Marks

Question 6- What do you understand by Radio News Bulletin?

Answer-

Radio News Bulletin

·       A radio news bulletin is a brief radio news broadcast, giving the bare facts of news stories before more depth is added in a full program.

·       It is a brief/short radio news broadcast (generally of 10 minutes) also called summary. 

·       A bulletin is usually broadcast on the hour or half hour.

·       Radio news bulletins are typed.

·       Bulletin begins with headline followed by main news and main points at the end.

·       News writing in radio takes place in a diamond-shaped form.

·       In radio news writing, special care is taken to limit the time and words. For example, news bulletins of 10 minutes carry news in about 1200 to 1300 words.

·       In radio news bulletin the division of time and words is something like this-

 

Start	10 sec	10-15 words
News Headline	50 Seconds	100-110 Words
News Highlights	8 min 20 sec	1000 to 1100 words
Title repetition	30 seconds	80-90 words
Closing	10 sec	10-15 words

 

Rules about Radio News Bulletin

·       A ten minute news bulletin should not contain more than 10-12 news items.

·       In radio there is a news of 30-40 words and within that what, why, where, when, who how etc. is mentioned very briefly.

·       The sentences of radio news should be short and concise. While short sentences make it easier to read the news, the source is also easy to hear.

·       In radio news writing, special attention is paid to brevity, simplicity, clarity, accuracy and appropriate word selection.

·       The use of obsolete, complicated, ligatures and difficult words is avoided in radio news writing.

·       Try to convey only one information in one sentence.

·       The use of words like 'following', 'aforesaid', 'above' is not considered appropriate in writing radio news.

·       Radio news should be typed in capital letters in double spaces.

·       The news should be written on standard size (8.5 by 11) paper.

·       Write on only one side of the paper and leave 5 gaps i.e. 5 spaces between paragraphs.

·       Count the number of lines on each page and write it down.

·       The news symbol or slug should be given at the top of the page itself. There you should write the name, date and time of your news, first name and number of lines of the copy.

·       The (-O-X-) sign should be placed at the end of the news.

·       Each news should be given on a separate page. If there is related news, it can be given on the same page, but there should be a (-O-X-) sign between them.

·       News should not be carried from one page to another. If a story is long, the sentence should not be left incomplete on that page.

·       Abbreviations are not given in radio news. Only those words are abbreviated to which the listener is well acquainted. Like CBI, SP etc.

·       Full names of institutions and organizations should be given. We can use abbreviations later. Like State Bank of India. Later it can be called SBI.

·       Symbols are not used in place of words. e.g. = for equal or + for addition

·       Data should not be used too much. Large numbers should be simplified. For example, 1504 should be written as fifteen hundred. 2, 25483 can be written as 2 lakh 25 thousand. Along with this, words like 'almost', ' approximately' should also be used.

·       Words below 10 should be written in words.

·       ½ should be written as half, ¼ as quarter, ¾ as three-quarter.

·       Abbreviations are not used in place of Rupee, Paisa. Write them in full, like 12 rupees 60 paise.

·       If you want to write telephone number, license number etc. in the news, then use the sum indicator marks i.e. hyphen. e.g. 9-8-3-7-8-9-0-6-0-0

·       The source should be given before the statement of opinion and not after.

·       News should not start with any person's name. It is necessary to give his designation before his name. If the person is very famous then only name can be given.

·       Give full name for the first time in the news. The surname can be given later.

·       Use present tense in sentences. If the event is in the past, the past tense should be used.

Question 7- Describe the role of language in Radio program.

Answer-

Role of language in Radio program

Importance of language in radio

·       The existence of any mass media cannot be imagined without language, but it is the soul of radio.

·       Radio is a spoken medium. Language is the cornerstone of its success. Be it news or music, intellectual programs or literary and emotional programs, it all depends on the words.

·       If the language is simple and intelligible, then it can be understood by ordinary and learned, illiterate, literate and children, young and old alike.

·       A radio message isn't like printed material, you can add context by turning the previous page if you don't understand a part, or you can turn the page of a glossary to find difficult words.

·       Once a sentence, phrase or word is broadcast on the radio, it goes away like a gust of wind. Therefore, simplicity of language is the basic need of transmission.

·       Unlike newspapers and magazines, listeners cannot listen to the radio again, so special attention is paid to the language of the radio.

·       The language should be such that it is so easy and understandable that the listener can understand it as soon as he hears it and he does not have to put pressure on his mind to know its meaning.

·       A reader has the option to read or repeat any information or article several times, but there is no such option in front of a radio listener.

 

Features of the language of radio

 

Mainly the following characteristics are necessary for the language of radio-

 

1.     Intuition

The language of radio should be intuitive. For this it is necessary that such words should be used in the language which are in colloquial and folk practice.

 

2. Standardization

Standardization of the language of radio is essential. This standardization should be based mainly on four aspects - standard, spelling, standard script, standard grammar and standard pronunciation.

 

3. Visibility

The quality of visibility is also essential in the language of radio. Language is meaningful if the scene of the event or information becomes present while listening in front of the listener. For this, the writer should give a visual form to the incident while making a meaningful selection of words.

What should be the language of radio?

·       The language of the radio should be smooth, flowing and clear.

·       Sentences should be short and complete in themselves.

·      The syntax should be such that it is able to easily convey the feelings and thoughts of the heart to the listeners.

·       Use of difficult words and overly figurative language should be avoided as the listener's attention gets distracted as the meaning becomes complex.

·       The success of writing a radio program lies in the fact that it creates an instant impact on the mind of the listeners. At the same time, produce a picture of that subject in front of the listener's eyes.

·       Words should be used in such a way that they are completely open with their meaning.

Question 8- What do you understand by Specific Audience Program?

Answer-

Specific Audience Programs:-

·       Radio has magazine programs like those in the print media. These programs are also called specific audience programs.

·       Magazine programs are generally broadcast for a special or specific audience. As the name suggests, a specific audience refers to listeners with specific needs.

·       A radio magazine or specific audience program is broadcast at a particular time on a particular day of a week or a month. That means it has periodicity. Similarly it has plenty of variety in contents.

·       Some or many formats/ programs of radio are included in a radio magazine. These may be talks, discussions, interviews, reviews, music etc.

·       Likewise, the duration of each program or item in a magazine program/ specific audience program also vary.

·       Another characteristic of a radio magazine is that it has a signature tune. A signature tune is an attractive piece of music which is specific to a program. It can be like the masthead (title) of a magazine.

·       A magazine program/ specific audience program also has a name and one or two presenters or anchor persons who link the whole program.

·       In the beginning, the titles of the day’s program will be given by the presenters after the signature tune. They also give continuity and link the whole magazine.

·       These specific audience of a magazine program can be women, farmers, youth, students, literate, illiterate, urban people, rural people etc.

·       As an example, we can put 'Yuvavani' program of All India Radio in this category.

Section C-Each Question Carries 15 Marks

Question 9- Describe the history and growth of Radio in India.

Answer-

History and Growth of Radio in India

Beginning

·       In India, Radio Broadcasting began in June 1923 during the British Raj with programs by the Bombay Presidency Radio Club and other radio clubs.

·       According to an agreement on 23 July 1927, the private Indian Broadcasting Company Ltd (IBC) was authorized to operate two radio stations: the Bombay station which began on 23 July 1927, and the Calcutta station which followed on 26 August 1927.

·       The company went into liquidation on 1 March 1930. The government took over the broadcasting facilities and began the Indian State Broadcasting Service (ISBS) on 1 April 1930 on an experimental basis for two years, and permanently in May 1932.

·       It then went on to become All India Radio on 8 June 1936.

·       When India attained independence, there were six radio stations within Indian territory, at Delhim Bombay, Madras, Tiruchirapalli and Lucknow. 

·       FM broadcasting began on 23 July 1977 in Chennai, then Madras.

·       Currently, analog terrestrial radio broadcast in India is carried out in Short Wave (SW) (6–22 MHz), Medium Wave (MW) (526–1606 KHz) and Fequency Modulation (FM) (88–108 MHz). 

All India Radio

·       All India Radio, the public service broadcaster – has established 467 radio stations encompassing 662 radio transmitters, which include 140 MW, 48 SW, and 474 FM transmitters for providing radio broadcasting services in India.

·       Private sector radio broadcasters transmit in FM mode only.

·       All India Radio(AIR), officially known since 1956 as 'Akashvani' is the national public radio broadcaster of India.

·       It was established in 1936. 

·       All India Radio is the largest radio network in the world, and one of the largest broadcasting organizations in the world in terms of the number of languages broadcast and the spectrum of socio-economic and cultural diversity it serves.

·       AIR's home service comprises 420 stations located across the country, reaching nearly 92% of the country's area and 99.19% of the total population. AIR originates programming in 23 languages and 179 dialects.

Private radio

·       Private participation wasn't allowed until 1993 when the government experimented with a daily, two-hour slot on the FM channels in Delhi and Mumbai. 

·       In 2001 the first phase of private sector participation (FM Phase I) India's radio sector began and the government conducted open auctions r a radio licenses.

·       Of the 108 licenses issued, only 22 became operational in 12 cities.

·       Radio City Bangalore, which started on July 3, 2001, is India's first private FM radio station. 

·       The second development phase of radio privatization was in 2005 (FM Phase II) with 338 FM slots up for auction. 245 frequencies were taken up in the auction and the government earned US$295 million in one-time entry fees.

·       In 2019 the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has sought Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) recommendation on reserve prices for auctions of radio frequencies in 283 cities to expand private FM radio across the country.

·       This includes 23 existing cities where the government has auctioned private FM radio frequencies in the previous batches, while 260 cities will see auctions of private FM radio for the first time.

·       In 2020 April TRAI had issued recommendations on reserve price for auction of FM radio channels under FM Phase III policy.

·       The major private radio players in India are 

-        Entertainment Network India Limited which hosts Radio Mirchi, BiG FM 92.7 Jagran Prakashan Group's, 

-        Music Broadcast Limited which hosts Radio City (Indian radio station)|

-        DB Corp Ltd. which hosts My FM & Sun Network which hosts Red FM. 

·       Currently, there are 371 private FM stations operating across 107 cities in India. Out of these, 31 are operated by micro, small & medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Community Radio Stations

·       In December 2002, the Government of India approved policy for the grant of licenses for setting up of Community Radio Stations to well established educational institutions including IITs/IIMs.

·       On 1 February 2004, Anna FM was launched as India's first campus ‘community’ radio station by the students of the Anna University.

·       In 2006, the Government of India amended the community radio policy which allowed the agricultural universities, educational institutions and civil society institutions such as NGOs to apply for a community radio broadcasting license.

·       First NGO operated community Radio in India was Sangham Radio licensed to Deccan Development Society which started broadcasting on 2008 in Pastapur village, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh.

·       Government of India announced in November 2019 that 118 new community radio stations are in the process of setting up. Currently India has 262 Community Radio Stations serving Farmer, Tribal, Coastal communities, ethnic minorities and special interests.

Amateur Radio Stations

·       The first amateur radio operator was licensed in 1921, and by the mid-1930s, there were around 20 amateur radio operators in India.

·       Amateur radio operators played an important part in the Indian independence movement with the establishment of illegal pro-independence radio stations in the 1940s.

·       India has around 16,000 licensed users of Ameteur Radio in India.

Market Share

^·           In April 2020, as per a survey by AZ Research PPL, commissioned by the Association of Radio Operators for India (AORI) Radio listenership in India touched a peak of 51 million.

Advertising Revenue

·       According to a 2019 report by FICCI-EY, the radio industry grew 7.5% in 2018.

·       It contributes 4.2% to the overall advertising revenues of the media and entertainment sector.

·       Radio advertising revenue in India is estimated to almost double in the next five years, to Rs. 3,900 crore from Rs.2,000 crore in 2015, rating agency CRISIL said in a report released in March 2020.

Question 10- What are the steps of Radio Program Production? Discuss.

Answer-

Radio Program Production

There are three stages in radio program production process. These are:-

1-     Pre-Production

2-     Production and

3-     Post-Production

 

Pre-Production

·       While planning is required at every stage, extensive planning is required at the pre-production stage when the program is conceived and all the necessary preparations made.

·       There are some common elements in planning programs in different formats though the methodology of planning certain programs may vary. Let us have a look at some of these common elements.

 

Identifying the Aim and Defining the Scope

·       In planning, the most important step is to identify the broad aim of the program- whether it is educational, informative or entertaining etc.

·       The next stage is conceptualisation. The producer has to draw an outline of the program indicating the main focus and other aspects that need projection.

Selection of Format

·       In radio language, the word 'format' is used to refer to the form of the program such as the talk format, the story format, the feature format and so on.

Content Planning

·       Content planning begins when the researcher makes available all the material connected with a subject.

·       Selecting the right material help in content planning which must ensure that the program does full justice to the subject chosen.

Selection of Scriptwriter and Other Talents

·       If it is a program in the talk format the producer selects a talker who writes the script.

·       If the producer gets a good script, half the 'battle' of making a good program is won.

Selection of Time Slot

·       The selection of time slots is done by the station management taking into account the views of producers.

Completing Contractual Formalities

·       There may be occasions when the producer has to make use of published material which attracts the copyright law. She has to secure the necessary clearances from the copyright holders.

·       There are several OB- based programs like the kavi sammalans and sporting events. Getting clearances from the organisers in full or in part is essential.

Specific Planning for Programs of Special Nature

For some formats, additional planning needs to be made, as detailed below:

·       Planning a Drama Program

-        Look out for good script covering different themes

-        Selecting well-known writers

-        Planning the cast of artists for participation in drama

·       Planning a Music Program

-        For overall planning, a balance between classical light, folk (vocal and instrumental) and film music needs to be made.

·       Planning of Special Audienrs Programs

-        This planning will have to be done in consultation with the agencie; associated with them.

-        For example, in the case of Agricultural and Industrial Workers programmas, there are consultative panel/advisory committees attached to the radio station. The inputs received from these committees will have to be included.

 

Production

·       This is the actual process of recording and editing a radio program.  Proper studios, microphones and computers are required to record and edit the program.

·       The three important process of production are:

1-     Rehearsal

2-     Recording and

3-     Editing

·       Most of the radio stations have a separate room in the studio complex for rehearsal known as Reader Over Room (ROR).

·       This is the first stage of rehearsal without microphone.

·       The second stage of rehearsal is inside the studios with microphones.

·       The producer has to plan the ROR studio bookings in such a way that s/he has adequate time to do the rehearsals and recordings.

·       Recording during non-peak-hours and holidays will enable the producer to devote more time to rehearsals and recording.

·       There would be no need for postproduction, if the producer and the artistes devote adequate time and attention to these two aspects of production.

Planning Outside Broadcasts (OBs)

·       The OB programs can be broadly categorized into two; 'Live' and 'Recorded'.

·       Normally, OB programs consist of coverage of:

-        special events such as Republic Day Parade, Independence Day function, etc.;

-        field- based discussions, interviews etc.;

-        coverage of exhibitions, fairs, melas etc.;

-        international conferences such as NAM, CHOGM, SAARC, etc.;

-        national and local events, viz., funeral procession of VIPs, religious functions like Ruth Yatra, etc., swearing in ceremonies of Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, etc.; and

-        direct broadcast/relay of sport commentaries, viz., cricket matches, Asian Games, National Games, etc.

·       The producer in charge of an OB program along with the appropriate engineering staff has to plan and prepare for the forthcoming event.

·       For OB program, the commentators need background material and reference material, which will give details such as the number of contingents, participating, details of armed forces display, details of school children's presentations, various states tableau etc.

·       The producer must procure all this material in advance from the organizers, keep at least one copy and pass it on to the commentators who must prepare their notes in advance.

Post Production

·       Writing to inform people involved in the production is a major activity during this phase.

·       The program has to be given publicity both on radio and in other media.

·       This is done to ensure that people know about the programs and also listen to them.

·       The announcements for the presentation of the program are also written and provided for the actual broadcast of the program.

Question 11- Describe the qualities of Presenter for Radio programs.

Answer-

Qualities of Presenter for Radio programs

Radio Presenters are the voice of the station. They create the tone and style of the station and establish a relationship for listeners. A good radio presenter knows how to captivate and engage their audience. A good radio presenter should have the following qualities.

Articulate

Radio Presenter needs to be able to speak clearly and confidently to capture the attention of his audience. He should be coherent in what he says.

Know What’s Up

Current affairs can be political or entertainment. Radio Presenter should make it a part of his life. His/her knowledge on current affairs has to be very rich.

Enthusiastic, Energetic and Positive

Radio Presenter should always remain enthusiastic, energetic and positive. Enthusiasm is catchy and negativity drags everyone down. Who wants to listen to a boring person? The number 1 secret to becoming a great radio presenter is to have a unique voice and perspective that sets you apart from the crowd. The best radio presenters can make even the most boring topics interesting through just their enthusiasm and ability to offer a new perspective.

Knows the audience

It is important that Radio Presenter understands and relates to his/her audience so that they can relate to him/her. To be a great radio presenter, you need to keep your ear to the ground and stay in touch with your community.

Uses social media

The world is now more connected that ever; your online presence will enable you to talk to your audience so that they can keep up to date with you. Social media also enables your audience to interact and engage with you and share their views to other listeners. Regularly check your social media during your show to give shout-out and share some interesting views.

Be authentic

People who do not change their personality on air make the best presenters. So don’t use unnatural words/phrases you wouldn’t normally use and never put on a fake laugh. That is, the radio presenter must look authentic.

Addresses listeners as individuals

Radio Presenter should always present as if he is talking to a friend. Radio is an intimate medium, try to address your audience as “you” as much as you can rather than “listeners”. Listeners are usually multi-tasking and only half-listening – Radio Presenter should never pluralize his audience as this will break the bond between him and his listener.

Keeps himself calm

The world of live broadcasting is unpredictable. Anything can happen that could derail one of your shows; an angry caller, technical issues, guests being uncooperative. It’s Presenter’s job to keep calm and reassure everyone. If he can all stay composed he’ll be better equipped to solve any problems.

Do Research

Radio Presenter should always do his research. It’s his job to inform and not spread misinformation, so if he is making obvious mistakes and getting facts wrong, it’s going to destroy his audience’s trust in his ability as a presenter. He’ll also just look lazy.

 

Always Pre-Read Scripts

If Radio Presenter wants to avoid mistakes, he should read his scripts beforehand and rehearse them otherwise he may make a fool of himself.

 

Don’t Be Prejudiced

Radio Presenter’s behaviour doesn’t just affect him; he is representing the entire station every time he is on air. He should not presenting himself as being prejudiced or bigoted, even in the name of a joke, makes him more trouble than he is worth to the station.

 

Prioritize Tasks

Being a great radio presenter means there’s always something to do; paperwork, arranging guests, working with producers, it’s endless. It’s good to prioritize your tasks and prepare for shows well in advance. Come up with a schedule you can follow;

 

Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously

If you want to be a great radio presenter, you have to be likeable. Learn to laugh along with people and don’t always take criticism personally.

 

Professional and Punctual

The beauty of radio is that you are heard, but never seen. However, this doesn't mean you should come to the office in your pyjamas and slippers. Dressing nicely, relaxing before a show, always being on time or earlier and acting professionally puts faith in others that you know what you’re doing. Run your station like clockwork.

 

Promote Fellow Presenters

Building working relationships is vital to working in the radio industry. The other presenters, producers and assistants are your support network, the people you can turn to for advice and honest feedback, so appreciate everything they contribute to your shows.

 

Learn Useful New Skills

As brilliant a presenter as you may be, you’re never going to know everything about radio. Take every day at your station as an opportunity to learn new skills and forge bonds with your coworkers.

Question 12- Radio Interview is different from Interviews on other mass mediums. How?

Answer-

Radio interview

An interview can be casually described as a conversation between the interviewer and the interviewee.

In media, be it the newspaper, magazine, radio or television, journalists use this technique of asking questions to get information. There can be different types of interviews in terms of their duration, content and purpose.

 

Since radio is primarily an audio medium, the type of questions asked is very important. It is these questions and their relevance that will keep the listener hooked.

 

There are many types of interviews in radio. That's why the journalist has to prepare for the radio interview in the same way.

 

The Opinion Interview- According to the topic of the program, experts are called from various fields. These experts then give their sound opinion and advice on the concerned topic. These interviews are also known as personality interviews. This interview style does not adhere to a script. The interviewer can react, comment, opine and ask questions as the conversation unfolds.

 

Information Interview- The purpose of this interview is to give information about a particular something to the people. In such interviews mostly everything is scripted. Many a times the script is practiced and rehearsed before the program goes on air. The interviewee can pass factual information or experiences based on a cause or purpose. When the script is written the personality of the interviewee should be kept in mind.

 

There are interviews which are used in various radio programs like documentaries. Here the interviews are short, questions specific and not many. The purpose is to get a very brief, to the point answer.

 

There is another type of interview based program. Here generally just one or two questions are put across to ordinary people or people with knowledge on some current topic to measure public opinion. For example when the general budget or the railway budget is presented in the parliament, people representing radio go out and ask the general public about their opinion. Their names and identity may not be asked. Such programs are called ‘Vox Pop’ which is a Latin phrase meaning ‘voice of people’.

Apart from these, there are a lot of interviews or interview based programs in news and current affairs programs. With phone-in-programs becoming popular, you might have heard live interviews with listeners. These interviews have been made interactive.

Timing has to be taken care of in radio interviews as there are interviews of different durations.

Firstly, there are full-fledged interview programs. The duration of these may vary from 10 minutes to 30 minutes or even 60 minutes depending up on the topic, and the person being interviewed.

 

Microphones, recorders, etc. also play an important role in radio interviews, so it is also necessary to have these equipments properly.

 

In radio interviews, care has to be taken that the spoken words and the chosen sounds create a clear picture of the subject in the mind of the listener.

 

In radio interviews, it is necessary to clearly explain facts, figures etc.

 

Radio interviews involve listening to the feelings, thoughts and experiences of the people involved.

 

We have to be very inquisitive and hard working to be a radio interviewer with good general awareness and communication skills.

 

Apart from this, the interviewer on the radio should also keep in mind the following things-

 

·       Acknowledge and accept that every interviewee has a point of view, and respect them for it.

·       Develop an ability not only to see both sides of an argument but also to know the best way to challenge them if you have to act as devil’s advocate.

·       Ask relevant questions and allow your interviewee time to answer.

·       Give the impression you are listening by clever use of body language, and ask further questions based on previous replies.

·       Ask carefully worded questions that are based on sound research, are factually correct and that investigate a topic and gently probe the thoughts of the interviewee.

·       Know enough about the topic of the interview to be capable of asking informed questions and making sensible comments.

·       Ensure the style and range of questioning is appropriate for the subject and the mood of the piece.

The radio interviewer also has to take care of those things which the interviewer in any medium has to keep in mind. For Example-

·       Do background research

·       Schedule the interview with basics. For example: introduction, conclusion, questions and so on.

·       Maintain a notepad and take notes

·       Agree with the guest if required and ask for explanations when a certain point is unclear

·       Observe and fine-tune the interview as required

·       Be fair

·       Relax

Some things to keep in mind when conducting a phone interview:

·       Introduce yourself properly

·       Speak slowly and clearly

·       Make statements that will put the guest at ease

·       Ask brief questions

·       Give the interviewee sufficient time to respond

·       Do not talk simultaneously

 

Question 13- What do you understand by A.M., F.M. and Community Radio? Describe in Detail.

Answer-

 

AM

AM broadcasting is radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation (AM) transmissions.

It was the first method developed for making audio radio transmissions, and is still used worldwide, primarily for medium wave (also known as 'AM band') transmissions, but also on the longwave and shortwave radio bands.

The earliest experimental AM transmissions began in the early 1900s.

However, widespread AM broadcasting was not established until the 1920s, following the development of vacuum tube receivers and transmitters.

AM radio remained the dominant method of broadcasting for the next 30 years, a period called the 'Golden Age of Radio', until television broadcasting became widespread in the 1950s and received most of the programming previously carried by radio.

Subsequently, AM radio's audiences have also greatly shrunk due to competition from FM (frequency modulation) radio, Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB), satellite radio, HD (digital) radio and Internet streaming.

AM transmissions are much more susceptible to interference than FM or digital signals, and often have lower audio fidelity.

Thus, AM broadcasters tend to specialize in spoken-word formats, such as talk radio, all news and sports, with music formats primarily for FM and digital stations.

In AM, a radio wave is known as the ‘carrier’ or ‘carrier wave’ is modulated in amplitude by the signal that is to be transmitted.

In this, the frequency and phase remain the same.

AM has poorer sound quality, and a lower bandwidth but is cheaper and can be transmitted over long distances as it has a lower bandwidth that is why it can hold more stations available in any frequency range.

AM transmitters and receivers are less complex than FM and PM, but synchronization is needed in the case of SSBSC carriers.

AM receivers are very less susceptible to noise because noise affects the amplitude, which is where information is stored in AM signals.

AM radio ranges from 535 to 1700 kHz or up to 1200 bits per second.

Apply in MW (Medium wave), SW (short wave) band broadcasting and video transmission in T.V.

 

FM

FM broadcasting is a method of radio broadcasting using frequency modulation (FM).

Invented in 1933 by American engineer Edwin Armstrong, wide-band FM is used worldwide to provide high fidelity sound over broadcast radio.

FM broadcasting is capable of higher fidelity—that is, more accurate reproduction of the original program sound—than other broadcasting technologies, such as AM broadcasting. Therefore, FM is used for most broadcasts of music or general audio (in the audio spectrum).

FM radio stations use the very high frequency range of radio frequencies.

Throughout the world, the FM broadcast band falls within the VHF part of the radio spectrum. Usually 87.5 to 108.0 MHz is used, or some portion thereof, with few exceptions.

In FM, a radio wave is known as the ‘carrier’ or ‘carrier wave’ is modulated in frequency by the signal that is to be transmitted.

In this, the amplitude and phase remain the same.

FM is less affected by interference, but FM signals are impacted by physical barriers. They have a better sound quality due to higher bandwidth.

Bandwidth requirement is greater and depends upon the modulating.

Bandwidth requirement is twice the sum of the modulating signal frequency and the frequency deviation.

 Let’s say, if the frequency deviation is 75kHz and the modulating signal frequency is 15kHz, the bandwidth required is 180kHz.

FM (or PM) transmitters are more complex than AM because the variation of modulating signal has to be converted and detected from the corresponding variation in frequencies. 

FM receivers are better immune to noise and it is possible to decrease noise by further deviation.

All transmitted power is useful so that’s why FM is very efficient. 

Apply in broadcasting FM, audio transmission in T.V.

Community Radio

Community radio is a radio service offering a third model of radio broadcasting in addition to commercial and public broadcasting.

Community stations serve geographic communities and communities of interest.

They broadcast content that is popular and relevant to a local, specific audience but is often overlooked by commercial or mass-media broadcasters.

Community radio stations are operated, owned, and influenced by the communities they serve.

They are generally nonprofit and provide a mechanism for enabling individuals, groups, and communities to tell their own stories, to share experiences and, in a media-rich world, to become creators and contributors of media.

In India the campaign to legitimize community radio began in the mid-1990s, soon after the Supreme Court of India ruled in its judgment of February 1995 that "airwaves are public property".

The judgment inspired several free speech advocates, academics and community members across the country to being a concerted campaign to legitimize community radio in India.

In December 2002, the Government of India approved policy for the grant of licenses for setting up of Community Radio Stations to well established educational institutions including IITs/IIMs.

On 1 February 2004, Anna FM was launched as India's first campus ‘community’ radio station by the students of the Anna University.

In 2006, the Government of India amended the community radio policy which allowed the agricultural universities, educational institutions and civil society institutions such as NGOs to apply for a community radio broadcasting license.

First NGO operated community Radio in India was Sangham Radio licensed to Deccan Development Society which started broadcasting on 2008 in Pastapur village, Medak district, Andhra Pradesh.

Government of India announced in November 2019 that 118 new community radio stations are in the process of setting up. 

Currently India has 262 Community radio stations serving Farmer, Tribal, Coastal communities, ethnic minorities and special interests.

Community Radio Association (CRA) was formed soon after the first Sammelan of CR stations in 2011 in Delhi.

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has promoted EK duniya anEK awaaz (Edaa एक दुनिया अनेक आवाज) - which is an audio and knowledge exchange portal for Community Radio practitioners in South Asia. It was launched in 2008.

Edaa is South Asia's biggest community-produced audio bank and hosts more than 2,900 radio programs in 28 different South Asian languages.

 Another online space that supports learning and knowledge exchange between Community Radio stations in India is the Community Media Manch Platform.

- Lav Kumar Singh

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