Monday, October 2, 2006
Since I'm just getting to this update on Monday
morning, I'll wait until class tomorrow (Tuesday, October 3) to review/introduce/discuss ALL the things you need to be thinking
about/planning for/working on as we begin our sixth (already?!) week in Audio Production .
In the meantime, let's see if you can add some points to your In-Class Group Work and "Homework"
Activities score sheet.
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
#1:
If someone tells you you have a "great set of pipes," chances are they are NOT harrassing
you nor commenting on your plumbing. What are they complimenting you on? (Remember, this is an audio production class.)
#2:
In the same vein, in an audio environment, what is someone referring to if they are talking about
their "cans"?
Now, here is a "fill in the blanks":
#3:
The meaning of a sentence can be changed if the emphasis is shifted from one word to another. Writers,
for example, can put words in CAPITAL LETTERS, underline or use italics,among other devices. Voice performers
must use _______ _______ (two words).
#4:
The correct answer to #3 is important for two reasons. What are they?
Note: Questions #1-3 are worth one (1) point each and Question #4 is worth two (2) points.
#5:
There are no incorrect answers to this "question," but please list two or three (or half a dozen)
"things" you are going to try to do (immediately?!) to improve the quality/effectiveness of your
voice communication. (Your response here is worth up to five points.)
E-mail me (Jim) your answer(s) by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 5, to earn up to ten (10) points
on your grade sheet.
(Note: This week I changed the e-mail link here so your answers will go
to my Earthlink account instead of my La Salle account, because I can respond to your answers more efficiently through my
Earthlink e-mail.)
Please remember that your fifth weekly essay is
due Tuesday (October 3).
As always, please be sure to let me know (phone call, e-mail, in person) if you have any questions
or concerns.
Jim Templeton
If you missed it, here's last week's "News" within easy reach:
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Remember that your first out-of-class recording
project – your PERSONAL STORY #1 – is due Thursday ( September 28). There is relevant/pertinent
information concerning this project in previous "editions" of this semester's "Latest News," so be sure to take advantage
of the extra guidance by coming to this Web site page every week. You can access all updates here; the information from previous
weeks is accessible by clicking on the appropriate date/link below my name at the bottom of this column.
Again, strive to have your final audio for this
project as close to 60 seconds as possible; 50 seconds is
acceptable as is 70 seconds, but try not to go too much below or above those limits.
Your current LISTENING ASSIGNMENT is the "Writing For Radio" CD I distributed
to students Tuesday morning. You are supposed to listen
to this 2-track, 60-minute audio CD by Thursday (September 28), and to write 10 valid "statements" concerning
the content of the program. These 10 statements should be 10 "highlights" or 10 "important points" that you glean from your
listening. Be sure to explain your main point for each statement so I know you understand what you're saying. Write
conversationally. Support what you've heard with other sources/research if/when possible.
Each statement should be two or three (or more,
if necessary) sentences in length. Each statement is worth 3 points, and the points you earn will be added to your In-Class
Group Work and "Homework" Activities Score Sheet.
Here are three links that can provide you with some additional information
about the Midwest Radio Theatre Workshop (MRTW), the "producer" of "Writing For Radio":
The Midwest Radio Theater Workshop is now a part of the National Audio
Theatre Festivals and the 2007 Audio Theater Workshop (ATW) is scheduled for June 23-30. You can read about the 2006 workshop
by clicking here.
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK
This week you have three more chances to add points to your In-Class
Group/"Homework" Grade Sheet:
First, as a followup to one of last week's QOTW, Philadelphia
station WBEB (101.1 FM) won the Legendary Station honor at the annual NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner and Show Thursday
night (September 21).
On Tuesday (September 19), B101 also topped the Summer/Phase 2 Arbitron
Ratings for Philly's 12+ population of 4,354,900. What stations finished #2 through #6 in the September 19 Arbitron update?
(Correct answer is worth two points; note that there was
a tie for fifth place).
Second, Arbitron, Media Monitors and Coleman released a "landmark study" Thursday (September 21) at the National Association
of Broadcasters Radio Show in Dallas which showed radio listener behavior "contrary to popular belief." What did the survey
– covered by Mediaweek, among other news outlets – reveal? (Include specific details
in your answer! Correct answer is worth four points.)
Finally, some students last week wrote about the re-broadcast of
an interview between 60 Minutes' Ed Bradley and Howard Stern last Sunday (September 17) concerning Stern's departure
from terrestrial radio and his then-imminent arrival on satellite radio, specifically, Sirius. Stern frequently has blamed
the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) and its rules for forcing him to make the move. The FCC is responsible for regulating
terrestrial radio but has no jurisdiction in what is said/heard on satellite radio.
Many people misunderstand the mission of the FCC. Many assume FCC commissioners
or employees "police" the airwaves looking (listening) for violations/violators. That is not true. The FCC does NOT monitor
programming and does NOT collect information on the programming format (country, rock, jazz, talk, etc.) of radio broadcast
stations, that information not being necessary for the FCC's regulatory functions. The FCC exists to respond and to react
to complaints from listeners and viewers. To put it simply, they do not involve themselves in any case unless a listener/viewer
files a complaint, which requires some specific documentation the listener/viewer must provide to the FCC.
That said, it IS a violation of federal law to
air obscene programming on public airwaves at any time. You can look up the definition of what the law considers "obscene"
on the commision's Web site (www.fcc.gov). It also is a violation of federal law to broadcast indecent or profane programming during certain
hours (which means that indecent and profane programming is allowed during certain hours).
So here's the third question: When is broadcasting indecent
or profane programming ALLOWED by federal law and what is the two-word phrase that describes that period of time?
(Correct answer is worth four points.)
E-mail me (Jim) the correct answer(s) by 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 28, to earn up to ten (10) points
on your grade sheet.
In class ...
We need to complete burning audio CDs of everyone's "Newsbrief" Tuesday
so students can particpate in a discussion of voice on Thursday. We also will begin to look more in-depth at the Mackie® console in room 103 and its pots/functions. The heart of audio production – editing – is a topic
we need to begin exploring in the near future, too.
Finally, remember that your fourth weekly essay is due
Tuesday (September 26).
Please be sure to let me know (phone call, e-mail, in person) if you have any questions or concerns.
Jim Templeton
P.S. You can access earlier "editions" of this
semester's "Latest News" by clicking on the appropriate date/link:
