Students

MMCC2160 – Radio and Podcast: Creation

2023 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Convenor, Lecturer and Tutor
Helen Wolfenden
helen.wolfenden@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email. (Note that I don't access messages on my desk phone.)
10HA 193E
Please email for an appointment.
Tutor
Fereydoun Pelarek
fereydoun.pelarek@mq.edu.au
Contact via Email only
Email only
Please email for an appointment.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

Introducing students to the radio broadcasting industry, this unit has a large practical component for radio and podcast. Its main aim is to enable students to produce creative and or journalistic work, including content suitable for broadcast on Sydney station, 2SER.

Students gain a broad understanding of program making and sound production media, with attention to public, commercial and community radio forms. The unit also introduces students to the rapidly expanding realm of podcasting and online radio.

The workshop component of the unit concentrates on techniques of recording and producing pre-recorded sound 'stories'. Through hands-on production classes in the radio lab, students learn to develop skills in interviewing, story construction and voice presentation, and learn to research, record, mix, and write for radio and podcast.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO2: demonstrate a range of communication and expression skills.
  • ULO1: apply critical and conceptual skills in radio research and production.
  • ULO3: integrate a range of operational, technical and media industry/journalistic skills related in particular to audio/radio production and program making.
  • ULO4: evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on production of radio industry audio content.
  • ULO5: collaborate and plan strategically, and develop team skills to produce a range of creative and journalistic outputs.

General Assessment Information

Late Assessment Submission Penalty 

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a mark of‚ 0 (zero) will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical issue. 

This late penalty will apply to non-timed sensitive assessment (incl essays, reports, posters, portfolios, journals, recordings etc). Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs etc) will only be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application. Special Consideration outcome may result in a new question or topic. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Vox Pops 20% No Week 6: 31/3/2023 6pm
Interview 20% No Week 8: 28/4/2023 6pm
Radio or Podcast Feature 45% No Week 12: 26/5/2023 6pm
Participation 15% No Weeks 2-12: S1 2023

Vox Pops

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 6: 31/3/2023 6pm
Weighting: 20%

 

Record and edit a vox pop. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate a range of communication and expression skills.
  • apply critical and conceptual skills in radio research and production.
  • integrate a range of operational, technical and media industry/journalistic skills related in particular to audio/radio production and program making.

Interview

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: Week 8: 28/4/2023 6pm
Weighting: 20%

 

Record and edit an interview. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate a range of communication and expression skills.
  • apply critical and conceptual skills in radio research and production.
  • integrate a range of operational, technical and media industry/journalistic skills related in particular to audio/radio production and program making.
  • evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on production of radio industry audio content.

Radio or Podcast Feature

Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 35 hours
Due: Week 12: 26/5/2023 6pm
Weighting: 45%

 

Produce a short radio feature or podcast episode. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate a range of communication and expression skills.
  • apply critical and conceptual skills in radio research and production.
  • integrate a range of operational, technical and media industry/journalistic skills related in particular to audio/radio production and program making.
  • evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on production of radio industry audio content.
  • collaborate and plan strategically, and develop team skills to produce a range of creative and journalistic outputs.

Participation

Assessment Type 1: Participatory task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Weeks 2-12: S1 2023
Weighting: 15%

 

Demonstrate active engagement with the listenings and readings as well as active engagement in the practical workshop activities. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • demonstrate a range of communication and expression skills.
  • integrate a range of operational, technical and media industry/journalistic skills related in particular to audio/radio production and program making.
  • evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on production of radio industry audio content.

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

Please Note: Lectures commence in Week 1. Tutorials/Workshops commence in Week 2.

Unless otherwise advised, this Unit uses FACE TO FACE Lectures and Workshop/Tutorials ONLY. (There may be some exceptions to this in the case of staff illness or public holidays.)

Please attend all classes.

Technical assistance and demonstrations are given in tutorial/workshops and students need to be able to attend these throughout the semester. 

REQUIRED READING

A selection of readings on radio (historical aspects, forms, specialist skills etc), are allocated to each week and detailed in the Unit Schedule (see iLearn). Readings are accessed via Leganto http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto

NOTE that you MUST access Leganto via the block in iLearn in the first instance. This is how the system verifies you as a student in this unit.

RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT

• One set of good quality closed or semi-closed headphones

• At least one portable memory device

RECOMMENDED READING

(most of these are available in the Macquarie University library)

Abel, Jessica. Out on the wire: the storytelling secrets of the new masters of radio with foreword by Ira Glass. New York 2015. Alten, Stanley. Audio in Media, Tenth Edition, Wadsworth, Boston: 2014

Barkho, Leon. From Theory to Practice: How to assess and apply impartiality in news and current affairs. Uni of Chicago Press: 2013

Barnard, Stephen. Studying Radio. New York: 2000

Beaman, Jim. Programme making for radio. London & NY: 2006

Beaman, Jim. Interviewing for Radio, 2nd Ed. Palgrave Macmillan: 2011

Biewen, John & Dilworth, Alexa. Reality Radio - Telling True Stories in Sound, Duke University Press: 2010

Chantler, Paul & Stewart, Peter. Basic Radio Journalism: 2003

Chignell, Hugh. Public Issue Radio: Talks, News and Current Affairs in the Twentieth

Century, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan: 2011

Crisell, Andrew & Guy Starkey. Radio Journalism, London: 2009

Crisell, Andrew. Ed. Radio (3 Vols). London: 2009

Cunningham, Stuart & Turnbull, Sue. The Media and Communications in Australia, 4th Ed. Allen & Unwin: 2014

Dubber, Andrew. Radio in the Digital Age, London NY, Polity: 2013

Fleming, Carole. The Radio Handbook. London: 2010

Frangi, Anthony. Radio Toolbox: Everything you need to get started in broadcasting in the Digital Age. Macmillan Education, Australia: 2012

Gordon, Janey. Community Radio in the Twenty-first century, Peter Lang: UK 2012

Griffen-Foley, Bridget. Changing Stations: The Story of Australian Commercial Radio: 2009

Hausman, Carl et al. Modern Radio Production. Production, Programming, and Performance. Belmont CA: 2006

Hendy, David. Radio in the Global Age. Cambridge: 2000

Jukes, S. McDonald K. Starkey, G. Understanding Broadcast Journalism, Routledge, 2018

Keith, Michael. The Radio Station. London: Focal Press, 2000

Kern, Jonathon. Sound Reporting: the NPR Guide to Audio Journalism & Production. Chicago & London: Uni of Chicago Press, 2008.

Kramer, Mark & Wendy Call (Eds). Telling True Stories, NY: 2007

McLeish, Robert. Radio Production, 4th Edition, Oxford: 1999

Loviglio, Jason & Hilmes, Michele. Radio's New Wave: Global sound in the digital era, Routledge: 2013

Mundy, John & White, Glyn. Laughing matters : understanding film, television and radio comedy. Manchester Uni Press: 2012

Nuzum, Eric. Make Noise: A Creator's Guide to Podcasting and Great Audio Storytelling. Workman Publishing Company: 2020

Patching, Roger & Hirst, Martin. Journalism Ethics: Arguments and cases for the twenty first century: Macmillan 2013

Phillips, Gail and Mia Lindgren. Australian Broadcast Journalism. South Melbourne: 2013.

Shingler & Wieringa. On Air: Methods & Meanings of Radio. London: 1998

Squier, Susan. Ed. Communities of the air. London: 2003

Starkey, Guy. Radio in context. London: 2004

Street Sean. The Poetry of Radio. The Colour of Sound, Routledge: 2013

Talbot-Smith, Michael. Sound Assistance. London: 1999

Winer, Ethan. Audio Expert: Everything you need to know about audio. Taylor and Francis: 2012

Radio stations/programs, and audio sites of interest online which include examples of feature and interview content.

American Public Media Reports https://www.apmreports.org

Australian Broadcasting Corporation https://www.abc.net.au

ABC Editorial Policies https://edpols.abc.net.au

ABC Pronunciation Guide https://www2b.c0.abc.net.au/abcpronunciation-external/

ABC RN Features (extracted from across programming) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/features/

ABC Radio Eye (features and docs, now as an archive) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/radioeye/

ABC RN 360 Documentaries (ABC features and documentaries program - 2014/archived) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/360/

ABC RN Earshot (documentaries, lot of freelancer stuff here) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/earshot/

ABC Triple J https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/

ABC Triple J (national current affairs/interviews/features program for young people) https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/

ABC Correspondents Report https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/correspondentsreport/

ABC RN https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/

ABC Radio Sydney https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/

Australian Communications and Media Authority https://www.acma.gov.au 

ABC Newsradio https://www.abc.net.au/newsradio/

BBC (UK) Audio https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds

Commercial Radio Australia http://www.commercialradio.com.au

Community Broadcasters Association https://www.cbaa.org.au

Community Media Forum Europe http://www.amarceurope.eu/tag/cmfe/

Download This Show (popular podcast on latest technology) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/downloadthisshow/

2GB https://www.2gb.com

Love + Radio (groundbreaking podcast) http://loveandradio.org/

Macquarie Sports Radio (formerly 2UE) https://www.sportsradio.com.au

NOVA 96.9 https://www.nova969.com.au/nova969

National Public Radio (USA) https://www.npr.org

NPR Next Generations (helpful NPR training resource) https://nextgenerationradio.org

Radio Lab (groundbreaking American radio show about big ideas) https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab

Radio LaB (University of Bedfordshire community radio station) https://www.studentradio.org.uk/stations/radio-lab-97-1/

Radio-Locator https://radio-locator.com

Radioinfo (subscribe to keep in touch with latest jobs etc in Australia) https://www.radioinfo.com.au

ABC Radio Australia https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/

Resonance FM https://www.resonancefm.com

**Story Corps Sound Portraits https://storycorps.org

SBS Radio https://www.sbs.com.au/radio/

**2SER https://2ser.com

**Serial (2014 cult American podcast based on a crime investigation and attracting huge audiences and an international following) https://serialpodcast.org

Sirius Satellite Radio https://www.siriusxm.com

STown (Critically acclaimed podcast by the people who make This American Life and Serial) https://stownpodcast.org/

The Truth Podcast (radio movies, radio drama) http://www.thetruthpodcast.com

ABC Australia: The World Today https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/worldtoday/

The Heart (podcast about intimacy) https://www.theheartradio.org/

Third Coast Radio Festival (a showcase of diverse audio) https://www.thirdcoastfestival.org

**This American Life show https://www.thisamericanlife.org

**Transom (showcase for new public radio (very useful to students, highly recommended!) https://transom.org

UBU Web radio http://www.ubu.com/sound/radio_radio/index.html

UN Radio https://news.un.org/en/audio-hub

USA Public radio Hearing Voices https://hearingvoices.com

The Wire (community radio: current affairs, broadcast from 2SER) http://thewire.org.au

WNYC New York public radio station https://www.wnyc.org

World Radio Network https://www.wrn.com

Unit Schedule

 This unit outline is subject to change. Please refer to iLearn for the latest version.

MMCC2160 Unit Schedule – Semester 1, 2023

W/B

Lecture

Tutes/Workshops

Readings/Listenings

(see Leganto)

Assessment/Tasks

1.

20 Feb

Unit intro

Listening – intro

No tute this week

 

Reality Radio / Introduction

Read and review unit guide. Record assessment deadlines. Listen to live radio and research and chose your fav songs.

2.

27 Feb

The Blind Medium

 

Recording

 

Reminder to include an ID at the top of every recording – this serves as a release as well as being good practice for identifying and organising recordings.

Understanding Radio / Andrew Crisell / Ch 1 Characteristics of Radio

Form pairs

Participation assessed

3.

6 March

Vox Pops 1

16 December 1961 Four Corners asks what do you want for Christmas

https://www.abc.net.au/archives/moments/

BBC Academy: How to Film a Vox Pops

https://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/en/articles/art20141029111247531

Radio Rookies DIY Tookit: How to do vox pop

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ybkE3jEuzg

Recording – uploading into the editor and setting up a project.

Transom: The Basics

BBC Radio 4 – Archive on 4, Speaking as a Member of the public

56:41

Vox pop question determined

Participation assessed

4.

13 March

Vox Pops 2

 

Audio editing

Reality Radio / Harnessing Luck as an Industrial Product

Ira Glass

pp. 64-76 (13 pages)

Radiolab Scavenger Hunt 18.19

(Text based version: https://transom.org/2018/latif-nasser/ )

Vox pops progress discussion

Participation assessed

5.

20 March

Listening

Sound Design 1: Audio Postcards

The audience

Soundscape exercise

On air / Words, Speech and Voice

Chapter 7, Memoir for Your Ears: The Podcast Life / Siobhán McHugh

Rough edit for vox pop – in class listening

Participation assessed

6.

27 March

The interview up close

Cue sheet

Pre-interviewing

Listening to Vox Pop submissions

Interviewing for Radio / Jim Beaman

Ch1 The Birth of the Radio Interview

Ch 2 The Role and Purpose of the Radio Interview

https://transom.org/2018/losing-control-interview/

ABC NR RadioEye Toby Guthrie Coils the Spring 54.41

Vox Pop deadline

Friday 31 March, 6pm

Participation assessed

7.

3 April

(Friday 7th – Good Friday)

Audio Features 1 & The Voice

Editing/narration exercise or TBC

Listen to student interview examples

Transom: The Voice / Siobhan McHugh

https://transom.org/2011/the-power-of-voice/

Invisibilia: Leave a message

https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510307/invisibilia (go to SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

BONUS: Leave A Message) 11.35

How Podcasting is Changing the Audio Storytelling Genre / Siobhan McHugh

Prospects list for interview assessment

Form Pairs

Participation assessed

 

RECESS

8.

24 April

25 APRIL – ANZAC DAY

NO LECTURE

Audio Features 2

Editing/narration exercise or TBC

Out on the Wire / Ch 2 The Heat of their breath

Making Radio / Ch 17 Torque Radio by Tony Barrell

Interview deadline: Friday 28 April, 6pm

Participation assessed

9.

1 May

The jigsaw of narrative structure

Listening back to interviews – feedback

Revisionist History

http://revisionisthistory.com/episodes/30-analysis-parapraxis-elvis

Longform Podcast

https://longform.org/posts/longform-podcast-324-malcolm-gladwell Go to (click) 30:20 Revisionist History: Analysis, Parapraxis, Elvis (finish 40.55 or 47.28)

 

++ Reading on narrative

Prospects list for feature assessment

Participation assessed

10.

8 May

Writing for audio

Listen to student feature examples

 

Editing

Writing for Speech / Writing for Radio

 

Feature progress discussion

Participation assessed

11.

15 May

Sound design

Editing / Feature consults

Not dead yet: emerging trends in radio documentary forms in Australia and the US / Mia Lindgren, Siobhan McHugh

Feature rough edit – in class listening

Participation assessed

12.

22 May

Summing up, jobs, where to next?

 

Listen to near completion features

 

Participation assessed

Feature Deadline:

Friday 26 May, 6pm

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Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

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Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

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Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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Unit information based on version 2023.01R of the Handbook