Students

MMCC3037 – Radio and Podcast: The 'On Air' Career

2024 – 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 only. (Note: I can't access messages on my desk phone.)
10HA 193E
Please email for an appointment.
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit is suited to students who already have some experience producing spoken word and/or music audio. It explores diverse radio, audio and podcast forms and production as they are emerging in the contemporary online and broadcast context. Students work across a range of professional roles contributing their skills and output to either a series of programs composed of a variety of radio forms (features, comedy, talk-back, reportage, discussion, live music, performance), or towards a 'live' special event program for 2SER community radio station. Specialist studio/audio production is taught using 'Protools' and appropriate other softwares. Students also advance their skills in voice production and microphone techniques (also applicable to film, news broadcast, podcast, and other audio-visual forms).

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:

  • ULO1: apply radio and audio content production to diverse media applications.
  • ULO2: evaluate and apply a range of operational, technical and media industry skills related in particular to audio/radio production, program making and broadcasting.
  • ULO3: communicate, collaborate and plan to produce a range of creative and journalistic outputs.
  • ULO4: analyse and evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on radio/audio industry or broadcast media content.

General Assessment Information

Late Submissions

Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark) will be applied each day an 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 written reports and recordings only. Late submission of time sensitive tasks (such as tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, scheduled practical assessments/labs will be addressed by the unit convenor in a Special consideration application.

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Audio Portfolio 50% No 31/05/24
Radio Show/s and Production Diary 50% No 31/05/24

Audio Portfolio

Assessment Type 1: Portfolio
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: 31/05/24
Weighting: 50%

 

Pre-produce audio content for the live or ‘as live’ radio show/s you will create for the following assessment. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply radio and audio content production to diverse media applications.
  • evaluate and apply a range of operational, technical and media industry skills related in particular to audio/radio production, program making and broadcasting.
  • communicate, collaborate and plan to produce a range of creative and journalistic outputs.
  • analyse and evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on radio/audio industry or broadcast media content.

Radio Show/s and Production Diary

Assessment Type 1: Performance
Indicative Time on Task 2: 33 hours
Due: 31/05/24
Weighting: 50%

 

Produce radio show/s for radio station 2SER. Documentation supporting your contribution to the broadcasts will be required in the form of a Production Diary. Refer to iLearn for further information.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • apply radio and audio content production to diverse media applications.
  • evaluate and apply a range of operational, technical and media industry skills related in particular to audio/radio production, program making and broadcasting.
  • communicate, collaborate and plan to produce a range of creative and journalistic outputs.
  • analyse and evaluate creative and professional media practice, with an emphasis on radio/audio industry or broadcast media 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

Unless otherwise advised, this Unit is structured using lectures as well as face-to-face tutorial /radio lab /studio workshops and discussion sessions. Please see iLearn for a detailed week-by-week unit guide.

Please note: lectures begin in week 1 and tutorials begin in week 2.

 

REQUIRED READING

A selection of readings are allocated to each week for the first half of the semester and detailed in the Unit Schedule (see iLearn). Readings are accessed via Leganto http://libguides.mq.ed u.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.

 

REQUIRED EQUIPMENT

• One set of good quality closed or semi-closed headphones (compulsory for each student for hygiene and safety reasons).

• Cloud storage is available but it is still useful to have a memory device to store and transport audio data between home and university.

 

TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION

The DAW (digital audio workstation or audio editor) we use for this Unit is Adobe Audition. You will be given access information when the Unit begins. Please use the Udemy Business online training videos for Adobe Audition and other audio related tools and skills. Access this via the Library’s Multi-Search function. https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/

Adobe Audition CC: The Beginner's Guide to Adobe Audition

https://mq.udemy.com/course/adobe-audition/

You may need to log in via this link first: https://multisearch.mq.edu.au/permalink/61MACQUARIE_INST/1c87tk9/alma99245374432302171

 

RECOMMENDED READING

Abel, Jessica. Out on the wire: the storytelling secrets of the new masters of radio. Crown, New York, 2015.

Ahern, Steve. Making Radio. Allen and Unwin: (check for the most recent edition)

Alten, Stanley. Audio in Media. Belmont CA: Most recent edition is best. (The bible of audio production for those really serious about sound.)

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

Beaman, Jim. Interviewing for Radio. Routledge: London & NY: 2011

Biewen, John and Dilworth, A (eds). Reality radio: telling true stories in sound 2nd ed, University of North Carolina Press: Durham, 2017

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

Chignell, Hugh. Key Concepts in Radio Studies. Sage: London, 2009

Chignell, Hugh. Public Issue Radio: Talks, News and Current Affairs in the Twentieth Century (2nd ed): Palgrave Macmillan: 2011

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

Crisell, Andrew. Ed. Radio (3 Vols). London 2009 Crook, Tim. The Sound Handbook. Routledge: London, 2012

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

Emm, Adèle. Researching for the media: television, radio and journalism. Routledge: London, 2014.

Fleming, Carole. The Radio Handbook. Routledge: London: 2002

Frangi, Anthony. Radio toolbox: everything you need to get started in broadcasting. Palgrave Macmillan: South Yarra, 2012

Geller, Valerie. Beyond Powerful radio: a communicator's guide to the Internet age. Routledge: Belmont CA: 2006

Griffen-Foley, Bridget. Changing Stations: The story of Australian Commercial Radio. Sydney: UNSW Press, 2009

Keeble, Richard. Ethics for Journalists 2nd ed. Routledge: London & New York, 2009 https://library.uniteddiversity.coop/Media_and_Free_Culture/Ethics_for_journalists-Richard_Keeble.pdf

Kern, Jonathon. Sound Reporting: the NPR Guide to audio journalism and production. University of Chicago Press: Chicago, 2008

Kramer, Mark & Wendy Call (Eds). Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers' Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University. Plume: NY, 2007

Lingren, Mia, and Philips,Gail. Australian Broadcast Journalism. 3rd Ed. Oxford University Press: South Melbourne, 2013

Loviglio, Jason & Hilmes, Michele (Eds) Radio's New Wave: Global Sound in the Digital Age. Routledge: New York, 2013

McHugh, Siobhán, The Power of Podcasting: Telling stories through sound. NewSouth Publishing: Sydney, 2022

McLeish, Robert. Radio Production, 6th Edition, Focal Press: Oxford, 2016

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

Bonini, Tiziano; Monclus, Belen. Eds. Radio audiences and participation in the age of network society. Routledge: New York, 2015

Turner, Graeme. 'Politics, Radio and Journalism in Australia', in Journalism, Vol 10, no 4, August 2009

 

Journals of relevance (in library/electronic available access via multisearch):

Journal of Radio and Audio Media, (USA)

Australian Journalism Review (articles on all kinds of journalism)

Radiodoc Review online journal reviewing documentary radio/audio (international) https://ro.uo w.edu.au/rdr/

 

Online audio sites of interest

Arte-Radio (in French: radio arm of European cultural channel) https://www.arteradio.com

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

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

ABCEditorial Policies https://edpols.abc.net.au

ABC Double J https://www.abc.net.au/doublej/

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

ABC Radio Eye (Archived features and documentaries) https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/pro grams/archived/radioeye/

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

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

ABC Earshot (features and documentaries shows from 2015-) https://www.abc.net.au/radionatio nal/programs/earshot/

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

ABC Local RadioSydney https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/

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

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

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

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

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia https://www.cbaa.org.au

Community Media Association https://www.commedia.org.uk

All The Best (storytelling features on fbi made by volunteers and students) http://allthebestradio.com

fbi (community radio station Sydney) https://fbiradio.com

2GB (AM talkback news station Sydney) https://www.2gb.com

Kitchen Sisters (Davia Nelson & Nikki Silva, award winning producers based in USA) http://www.kitchensisters.org/

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

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

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

Radio Lab (innovative US ideas radio show and podcast) https://www.wnycstudios.org/shows/radiolab

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/

Radiotopia (USA site for cutting edge and creative audio storytelling) https://www.radiotopia.fm

Resonance FM https://www.resonancefm.com

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

2SER https://2ser.com

Serial (breakthrough podcast with season 1 based on re-examination of murder case) https://serialpodcast.org

Sirius satellite radio https://www.siriusxm.com

Story Corps (USA oral history and radio documentary project) https://storycorps.org

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

SYN (community station, based in Melbourne, under 25s) http://syn.org.au

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

Third Coast Radio Festival https://www.thirdcoastfestival.org

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

**Transom (a showcase & workshop for new public radio – VERY useful to students) https://transom.org

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

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

Hearing Voices USA ‘best of Public radio’ Hearing Voices https://hearingvoices.com and https://exchange.prx.org/series/732-hearing-voices

The Wire http://thewire.org.au

WNYC (New York public radio station with live performance space) https://www.wnyc.org

World Service (BBC) https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldserviceradio

Unit Schedule

A detailed unit schedule is available via iLearn. This is a guide only and subject to change.

1. Unit intro

 

2. Podcasting vs radio

2SER

 

3. GUEST LECTURE: A/Prof Siobhan McHugh – Telling Stories Through Sound

 

4. Narrative Form – So what? Saying something

Doing more than assembling links and inserting narration.

Case Study: Love is a Battlefield

 

5. Live radio: presentation skills

pre-production, live production, rundowns, scripts, studio etiquette…

 

6. Using music

 

7. EASTER MONDAY HOLIDAY – NO LIVE LECTURE

 

8. Critically evaluating radio and Critical listening

  
 

RECESS

9. Radio backstories: behind the scenes

  
 

10. Ideas Stories

  
 

11. Works of fiction: Radio drama and audio books

Sound design

 
 

12. Listening to Peijk

  
 

13. Where to next? Both for you and the industry.

  
 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

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

Results

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Unit information based on version 2024.02 of the Handbook