COURSE OUTLINE
PRODUCING FOR TALK RADIO/TV
WEEK # 1 – Thursday April 8th, 2010
INTRODUCTION TO TALK RADIO
Orientation – Welcome, Introductions, Where’s the Washroom?
Lecture: Introduction to Talk Radio
A Short History of Talk Radio –Caveman to Fessenden
The Rise of Political Talk
The Repeal of the Fairness Doctrine
The Rise of Rush
Shock Talk
Canadian Talk Radio
Q and A
Pop Quiz
Lab: Generating Talk Radio Topics
Students will select at least a half dozen topics from various daily newspapers they believe are worthy of discussion on a talk radio show and pitch them during a ‘story meeting.’
Assignment #1 – Talk Show Monitoring Report (Due Thursday April 15th)Students will choose and monitor any North American talk radio show for (terrestrial, satellite, online) one hour and write a report which will be discussed in class the following week. Monitoring Report Outline will be provided.
WEEK #2 - Thursday April 15th, 2010
PRODUCING TALK RADIO
LECTURE: SO, YOU WANNA BE A PRODUCER?
The Structure of a Talk Radio Station
Responsibilities of the Talk Radio Producer
The Topic – The Spin – The Hook
Types of Topics
Show Prep
The Story Meeting – “The Pitch”
Interviews
Research/Opinion
The Chase
Call Screening
Q and A
Pop Quiz
Lab: Pt. 1 TALK SHOW MONITORING REPORTS PRESENTATION
Lab: Pt 2 PRODUCERS STORY MEETING
Students will select two or three stories from the newspaper and pitch them to the host. Building on last week’s lab and this week’s lecture, they will demonstrate an ability to properly summarize and spin the topic and identify the hook to the phones.
Assignment #2 Talk Show Prep (Due Thursday April 22nd). Students will generate four talk show topics for a two hour talk show. Each topic suggestion will include three possible spins, one guest suggestion for each topic and BG notes to assist the host in formulating their opinion.
WEEK #3 – Thursday April 22nd, 2010
PRODUCING TALK RADIO (continued)
Lecture: THE CHASE
To Book or Not to Book? That is The Question
What Makes for a Great Guest
How to Find Anyone, Anywhere
Phone Technique/Etiquette
How to Convince the Reluctant Guest to talk on the radio
The Pre-Interview
Building a Data Base
Creating a Stable of Regular Contributors
Q and A
Pop Quiz
Guest Speaker: Jim Richards, Talk Radio Host on NewsTalk 1010 (Astral Media)
The Host/Producer Relationship
What a Host Wants and Needs from his Producer
Lab: Chase Producing
Students will take turns practicing a chase producing scenario by making initial contact with a ‘guest’ (the instructor) utilizing telephone techniques they’ve learned. They must try and convince the reluctant guest to speak on the radio. They must then conduct a pre-interview with that guest and prep them for air.
Assignment #3: Chase Producing (Due Thursday April 29th) Students will be given a list of topics and must find appropriate guests for each including all relevant and available bio and contact information.
WEEK #4 – Thursday April 29th, 2010
AUDIO EDITING
Lecture: AN INTRODUCTION TO ADOBE AUDITION
Students will be given a crash course on the basic capabilities of this popular audio editing platform which will allow them to produce radio promos, features, and record and edit interviews. They will learn how to import audio files, cut, copy and paste, utilize basic effects, use multi tracks, add music beds and sfx. Save a session. Mix down to an mp3 file.
Lab (*2 Hours): AUDIO EDITING
Students will be given an audio file containing a five minute radio interview. They will be required to edit the interview down to one minute.
In the second lab assignment, students will receive an audio file containing a 20 minute interview. They will be required to identify, cut and create three compelling 10 to 20 second sound bites. (These will be saved and used in a future assignment)
WEEK #5 – Thursday May 6th, 2010
RULES AND REGS/AUDIO EDITING (continued)
Lecture: YOU CAN’T SAY THAT ON RADIO!
An overview of The CRTC and The CBSC
Their Rules and Regulations
Community Standards
Human Rights
Offensive Language
What is Hate Speech?
Pop Quiz
Guest Speaker: DEREK WELSMAN (PRODUCER, IMAGING)
ASTRAL MEDIA
Lab: Producing a Promo
Students will edit and package a radio promo. This will involve editing a voice track from the host, and mixing it with a produced liner and music bed.
Assignment #4: PITCH TOPIC/GUEST FOR ACTUAL RADIO SHOW. (Due Thursday May 13th) Students will prepare a detailed proposal for a radio segment which could air on The Conspiracy Show with Richard Syrett on AM 740. The proposal will include a one line description of the subject matter, some background notes on the subject, a proposed guest, (author, expert, filmmaker, etc) to be interviewed for the segment, and the guest’s bio and contact information. The student will also secure a review copy of the guest’s book or dvd if applicable. The instructor will work with each student on their proposal until each proposal is ready to go to air. Each student will then proceed to the next stage, and actually book and schedule the guest. Each student will then be credited on air as a producer once their segment is broadcast.
WEEK #6 – Thursday May 13th, 2010
Story Meeting: Students will present and defend their proposals for The Conspiracy Show (Assignment # 4) in front of fellow students. FINAL PREP AND SCHEDULING FOR CONSPIRACY SHOW DUE 7PM THURSDAY MAY 27TH
POP QUIZ
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS: AN INTRODUCTION TO THE TALK SHOW HOST
Guest Speaker: Spider Jones, Talk Show Host . NewsTalk 1010 (Astral Media), community activist, performer The Performance: Developing an effective, likeable, on-air persona.
LAB: PRODUCING A RADIO FEATURE
Students will write and record a voice track (script provided) for a 3 to 4 minute radio feature. They will then edit their voice track together with three audio interview clips, add music, sfx and a produced intro and extro.
Assignment #5 (Due Thursday May 20th)
Students will write a 90 second commentary/opinion piece on a specific current event which will they will in turn voice in the Mac Lab on May 20th.
WEEK #7 – Thursday May 20th, 2010
DIGITAL ONLINE TALK RADIO
GUEST SPEAKER: Hugh Reilly, Host of Liquid Lunch, ThatChannel Internet TV Station and ThatRadio.com Internet Radio
LECTURE: INTERVIEWING TECHNIQUES
Pop Quiz
Lab: Students will Record/Produce and edit their radio commentaries (Assignment # 5)
ASSIGNMENT # 6 DUE THURSDAY JUNE 3rd
Student Talk Shows. Students will pick an issue currently in the news that they feel passionate about, formulate an opinion, research the issue sufficiently so that they can back up their opinion and be prepared to deliver a five minute monologue on the issue in front of the class and in front of a mic. They will be prepared to record their Talk Show during the first hour of class to be held on Thursday June 3rd They will perform as an actual talk show host conducting a show and will be expected to utilize proper mic technique, on-air etiquette and formatics. This will include introducing the show, frequent mention of the station call-letters and call-in numbers, time checks, and throwing to traffic or commercial breaks. In this scenario, the instructor will assume the role of callers to the talk show questioning, debating or agreeing with the talk show host.
WEEK #8 – Thursday May 27th, 2010
STORY MEETING: EACH STUDENT WILL PRESENT THEIR FINAL LINE-UP FOR AN UPCOMING EPISODE OF THE CONSPIRACY SHOW. (ASSIGNMENT # 4) EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE GUEST(S) CONFIRMED AND LOCKED IN. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE ALL APPROPRIATE RESEARCH, BIOS, CONTACT INFO, FINALIZED TO BE PRESENTED TO THE HOST.
POP QUIZ
The Essentials of Effective Writing.
GUEST SPEAKER: Ron Craig is Director of the Toronto Film and Media College. He holds several post graduate degrees including one from M.I.T. Ron is an experienced Special Effects Supervisor with over 25 years experience. He has worked on over 50 feature films, 10 television series and numerous commercials. Ron has worked on projects with major studios such as Paramount, HBO, CBS, NBC, and Warner Brothers.
Lab: Writing Clinic
* Students will be given a bio and news story relating to their interview subject for next week’s lab.
WEEK # 9 - THURSDAY JUNE 3rd
STUDENT TALK SHOWS (ASSIGNMENT # 6)
Students will present and record their talk show monologues and take ‘calls’ from the instructor.
Hosting a TV Talk Show – The Art of the Interview
Guest Speaker – Michael Coren, author, broadcaster, newspaper columnist, host of The Michael Coren Show on CTS.
LAB – PRACTICE INTERVIEW SCENARIO
Students will engage in a one-on-one interview scenario with the instructor, who will assume the identity of a different newsmaker for each student. The interview will be recorded and reviewed.
Assignment #7 The Interview (Due Thursday June 10th)
Each student will select an interview subject who will be available to come to college to be interviewed on mic. The interview subject may be a newsmaker, a celebrity, someone with an interesting job or simply an interesting story to tell. Or, they may choose someone who will simply ‘play the part’ of a celebrity or newsmaker. The student will be expected to prepare a list of interesting questions designed to elicit compelling responses from the interview subject. The interview is expected to last 15 minutes. It will be recorded and later edited and packaged during Lab time.
WEEK# 10 THURSDAY JUNE 10th
INTRODUCTION TO A NEWS RADIO
GUEST SPEAKER: Mario Carlucci, head of Toronto News, CBC RADIO.
POP QUIZ
LAB (2 Hours)
INTERVIEW ASSIGNMENT #7
Students will record their interviews and will then edit and package the interview. Interviews will be played back and reviewed in front of the class.
WEEK # 11 THURSDAY JUNE 17th
POP QUIZ
HOW TO BREAK INTO THE BIZ:
Strategies for finding work in Talk Radio. How to succeed once you land your first gig
Guest Speaker: Steve Kowch, former Program Director at CJAD Montreal and NewsTalk 1010. Author of Making it Big in The Media
LAB: TBA
WEEK # 12 THURSDAY JUNE 24th
POP QUIZ
ON-CAMERA TECHNIQUE
GUEST SPEAKER: G. Philip Jackson, Award-winning, Television and Film director and producer.
ASSIGNMENT # 8
Please note the last week of class students will be appearing on camera and completing their Television Demos. Please bring at least one change of clothes suitable for on-camera (specific instructions of what and what not to wear will be provided) Come prepared to deliver one on-camera opinion piece, one on-camera interview, and one promo for a ‘ficticious’ upcoming episode of your TV talk show.
WEEK # 13 THURSDAY JULY 1st, (CANADA DAY)
TELEVISION DEMOS
For more information, please contact Richard Syrett.