LO3: Codes & Conventions of the Genre of Planned Show

The codes and conventions of a sports (particularly a football) show are to be very upbeat in the approach and the presenters should aim to communicate this and enforce the ideal partner/ideal self. The show must be energetic as many fans will still be buzzing from the atmosphere of the football matches they have attended. We should aim to keep this energy to give the show positive connotations to the listener.  In my lo 1 research, i noticed that a lot of radio shows have funny talking segments which are based on everyday life. Sports shows will also always play music to keep the sense of excitement their listeners have gained from watching the football going. I also noticed that they often have listener call in to give their opinions on recent football matches/rumours, this helps to get the audience involved in the show. I have also noticed that in the conventions of a talk/sports show there is a great deal of back and forth conversation between the presenters; this keeps the audience engaged and l allows for anecdotes and content to be communicated seamlessly.

LO3: Legal & Ethical Issues Associated with Planned Show

OFCOM Broadcasting Code Guidance

Section 1: Protecting under 18's and Offensive language on the Radio 

All content of the radio station should be suitable for under 18's. This means swearing, crude comments and other inappropriate content should be kept off the show. Adhering to this section is crucial as people under the age of eighteen may listen to our radio programme. The script has been checked to make sure that any comments that could be seen as inappropriate are not included in the final broadcast.

Section 5: Due Impartiality and Due Accuracy and Undue Prominence of Views and Opinions

It is of utmost importance that all information on our radio show is factually correct at the time of recording to avoid being prosecuted for slander. For our radio show, this includes news updates, transfer rumours, opinions and interviews. It is important that we adhere to this information as misinforming our listenership could result in a damaged reputation for any persons mentioned during a broadcast.

Section 8: Privacy 

During the broadcast of Onside FM, the presenters (myself and Josh) must ensure that they do not release any information that was given to them in confidence that would make a person feel uncomfortable. This applies to our player interviews more than any other part of our show. We must ensure that unless information comes directly from the player himself, we have permission to talk about certain comments on the advert. Failure to do so could result in a negative backlash and possibly legal issues.

LO2: Production Technologies

Whether its a public service broadcaster like the BBC or a commercial broadcaster like Kerrang FM or Hallam FM, all radio stations use similar, if not the same equipment. The quality of equipment might vary depending on the how successful the broadcaster is or who it is owned by as a radio station owned by a conglomerate is highly likely to have a good amount of funding. For example, a national and public funded broadcaster like the BBC will have state of the art equipment whereas a smaller, regional broadcaster like Sheffield Live will not.

Microphone

This is the most vital piece of equipment used for creating a radio programme as it allows the presenters to record what they are saying. A microphone processor will also be used to control the volume of the microphone. The processor is what connects the microphone to a computer, allowing it to be digitally manipulated into a digital file (.mp3, .WAV etc).

Mixing Desk

An audio desk is used in all radio productions that have some sort of a budget. It allows for the volume of different audio channels to be controlled quickly. An audio desk is very large and expensive and many of the functions that it was created to perform can be done on a computer for most radio shows. 

Computer

A computer is arguably one of the most important pieces of technology to have when creating a modern, cost-efficient radio programme. Technological convergence has allowed for many of the tasks that would usually be completed on a larger, more expensive piece to be performed by software such as Adobe Audition. 

Phone Talkback System

Some radio shows feature call-ins from their listeners; a phone talkback system allows for the call to be broadcast directly into the main microphone on the show so that listeners can hear what the caller is saying live. The devices often come with echo cancelling technology so the calls are easy to hear.

LO2: Distribution of Radio in the UK

In the 1920's, AM radio was the most common form of radio when it became widely available to everyday people. In the 1950's, FM radio became available to the public. This change was made as AM radio is more prone to interference, although FM radio can still be interrupted by physical factors (e.g. when a car radio stops working as it goes through a tunnel). FM radio also offered a higher definition sound. 

In modern times there are a number of ways people can access the radio, not just the previousley mentioned traditional analogue ways. The most common would be digital radio, which allows people to listen to the radio using the internet. This has lead to a reduction in people owning physical radios as the overwhelming majority of homes in the UK have access to the internet. Methods of accessing the radio digitally are very accessible thanks to technological convergence. Many companies, like the BBC for example, have smartphone applications that can be used to access the radio digitally; this has added a portability element to radio usage. Mobile applications like BBC Iplayer allow people to catch-up on things they have missed. This could be particularly useful for people who listen to radio soap operas like "The Archers" as it means people don't have to have a set time for when they listen to it, they can watch it at their convenience. 

As well as digital radio, some of the UK's most popular radio stations like BBC 1 and Capital FM have made their radio broadcasts avaliable over television. Technological convergence has also allowed for the size of many radio components to become smaller and easier to make cheaply. This means that many devices now can access radio stations such as cars, phones and headphones.  

In conclusion, the distribution has changed drastically over the last century. This has gone some way to stop the platform from becoming entirely obsolete; however, with the increasing popularity of streaming services like Spotify, it is only a matter of time until radio stops existing in its current form at least.