“Exploring the space between the ears”Radio/ Digital Stories/ Podcasts

Characteristics of Radio

Radio is a blind medium. Weakness – in one ear and out the other! No rewind. Works on the space between our ears: imagination. Radio is personal and intimate. Radio allows you to multi-task. You can listen to the

radio whilst doing other things. Radio can function without electricity grids. Radio is cost effective! The equipment is relatively

inexpensive and easy to use.

“Stories told in the dark”

Radio draws on our earliest forms of storytelling – stories told around a fire. Stories about a journey, a hunt, funny stories, sad stories.

An issue is not a story. A story is built on actions: someone doing something…

The limitation of radio is also its strength: there are no pictures.

What radio does best is stimulate the imagination.

The power of sound

The sound of life

Radio communicates directly through sound – the sound of life

the sound of the human voice

“A voice can sneak in, bypass the brain, and touch the heart.”

- Jay Allison, independent radio producer

Radio formats

News report Interviews Conversation / Debate / Discussion /Phone In Features & documentaries Audio postcard Radio Diary Commentary – a story with an opinion in 1 minute!

A selection of audio stories

King’s story (telling your own story)

Child Soldiers in DRC (report for news magazine program)

Another day at the biggest hospital in the world (documentary feature)

Children’s Hospital Radio (audio slideshow)

When to use radio…

Radio is accessible – portable & cheap

Radio speaks my language

Radio is immediate

Radio is intimate

Radio is a friend

News, information, adverts/public service announcements.

People from all walks of life, talking to me.

Questions, answers & arguments – LIVE.

A first person story. Radio dramas; health &

women’s programs.

Doing it yourself…

What is the story you want to tell?Who do you want to talk to? What radio

station/programmes do they listen to?What are the different ways (formats) to tell your

story?Build relationships with radio stations – facilitate

broadcast of your stories! Radio & the new media – podcasts, digital stories,

audio slideshows.

Show, don’t tell

“When you tell people something they forget it. When you show it to them, make them imagine it in their own minds, they remember it.”– Scott Carrier (radio producer)