Customer Reviews

Radio Production: A Manual for Broadcasters

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This is a highly practical textbook on the how and why of radio broadcast production. Based on the experience of the author in radio production, the book covers a broad range of radio programming and provides a sound understanding of radio production.

The book begins with a comprehensive discussion of the characteristics of radio, including its strengths and weaknesses as a medium of communications. There's also an introduction to typical studio layouts, including a discussion of the pros and cons of using CDs, records, and tapes in the production of radio programs.

There is extensive information on how to interview people under a variety of circumstances, with particular emphasis on how the interviewer should prepare for the various types of interview. There are also specific sections on how to prepare to be interviewed and how to do 'man in the street' interviews.

The book covers an extremely wide range of radio programming situations, providing practical and effective advice for each. Particular attention is given to news programs, from the issues involved with news item selection to how best to write and read news scripts. Additional topics covered include talk show and phone-in radio programs, making radio commercials, music programming techniques, handling remote broadcasts and commentaries. There are also sections on radio drama production and documentaries that discusses everything from sound effects to music and the acoustic environment.

The author is Robert McLeish, an independent consultant and trainer and past head of the BBC's management training program. With many years in radio production, the author currently teaches radio production around the world and advises small stations in development countries.

The book includes an extensive glossary of terms used in radio production and a selection of suggested books of various aspects of radio broadcasting.

I recommend this book for anyone wanting a comprehensive overview of radio broadcast production.

Review by Mike Powers, Radideo.com Guide, February 2000

Pick this book up and you'll be just about set to venture out and set up your own radio station. If you have an interest in broadcasting, radio, internet radio, or anything near being similar to radio, you need to read this book.