Genre

GENRE:

Factual programmes represent one of the largest sectors of radio production providing an extensive range of opportunities and professional roles within the industry. Within factual programmes, there are different genres for each radio shows or production. Radio programmes have different type of shows which are featured on dissimilar other stations. These genres include; Documentary, Magazine, Discussions, Educational and Special interest. These programmes are available to listen to through podcasting online. Some of these genres have the tendency to merge together and create one show, for example; ‘Women’s Hour’ is a well know show that fits in the category of a discussion programme as well as Magazine show, due to the vast range of subject covered on the show. Other examples could be “Hillsborough’s Untold Stories” which talks about the after effects of the day Hillsborough breakthrough happened leaving thousands of people who witness the event scarred for life, not only physically but also mentally. This programme is classified as a documentary genre, but also branches over to a discussion genre as the guest on the panel have a full on debate on the trauma that day caused on people, featuring 2 Liverpool fans who were there and suffer from affects effect, as well as an expert who has dealt with many affected victims of the event.

Documentary- Radio documentary is a factual, informative audio program that is broadcast over the air by radio stations or streamed on the internet. Radio documentaries can include recorded interviews, debates, and statistics to be shared with listeners. Both historical events and current issues can be discussed. As with radio dramas, radio documentaries rely on audio techniques to engage the audience, allowing listeners to visualize what is being described. Tone of voice, use of background music, and choice of sound effects are all very important in developing a quality radio documentary. It is non-fictional in subject matter, consisting principally of more straightforward, journalistic-type reporting, but at much greater length than found in an ordinary news report. A radio could last up to 90 minutes which is rather longer than most radio programmes.  For example Radio5 Live has a documentary based on the Hillsborough’s Untold Stories, the stories runs over an examination of how survivors and witnesses were affected by the Hillsborough disaster. The documentary is a historical issue which has led to some after affects even after many years since the incident.  The programme features interviews with two Liverpool fans who happened to at the game when the incident took place, also an expert who deals with victims of the accident, the programme turns into a debate on how these victims can overcome these metal health issues they have over the remembrance of what they witnessed the day of the match. This programme can automatically be identified as a documentary programme as it highlights all the conventions used for such a genre.

Educational- The majority of documentaries can be seen as educational as it provides listeners with knowledgeable information on the certain being spoken on. An educational radio documentary is something which listeners are able to obtain knowledge from and educate them about a subject, as the subject is explained in more depth consisting the convention of; presenter led, Music and wild track. Educational subjects can differ, depending on who the target audience is for that specific radio station. This could perceived by the use of language the presenter uses to address the audience, whenever it is formal or informal. For example; BBC Radio has a programme called ‘The Infinite Monkey cage” the show purpose is to educate the audience more on science. The show has an interesting way to grabs a listeners attention by education people on science a humorous way, which could be seen as a form of entertainment and maintain the listeners attention as the presenter (Brian Vox) does not have a bore tone to his voice which could put off the audience to listen to. 

Wildlife- Wildlife are the sort of programme which often focuses on the natural world, most profoundly animals in their natural habitat or undomesticated fauna and flora generally. For example; there is a programme on BBC4 called “Saving species” the host of the show examines the world of nature and the challenges of wildlife conservation. One series of the show covers London zoo, how animals in the London zoo are coping with the weather changing to icing cold over the last few weeks. From this series I can identify that this is wildlife genre as the programme main topics are on animals and nature, concerning their health and habitat.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01pfwhs

Special Interest- Special interest programmes are mainly targeted for small ‘niche audience’ as the programmes are not usually mainstream, with particular less mainstream topics. Through the programme the present will go in more depth on subject and explore the subject in different areas by discussing each aspects. These sorts of shows commonly are presenter led, with rarely any music, although they feature some archive as well as soundbites throughout the show to maintain the listener’s attention and keep the entertained as well as interested. With the facility of making podcast and the increase of online radio stations, special interest programmes are expanding and allowing people to find audio shows on most topics. These programmes may consist celebrity guest which only their fan base may take interest on listening to the programme instead of everyone else, for example; Simon mayo and mark Kermode’s’ Film Review on radio 5 live. Throughout the show the two men discuss all different things concern films. Thiers use of soundbites of some film trailers and recent films, creating a vivid image in the listener’s head of the films discussed just before each film is about to be spoken about. The programme also features interview, fitting the criteria of a special interest programme.

Magazine- Magazine shows covers a mixture of different items, topics, contributes and formats. Similar to regular published magazines. These sort of programmes usually consists longer or shorter pieces, including speech packages, interviews with guests, phone INS with audience wanting to have an input about a certain topic. Magazine shows mainly focuses on one subject or could sometime cover even more than one, but this can differ depending on the duration of the show, whenever they have enough air time. The programmes follow the format of interviews, reports and debates on different subjects which may concern their target audience. For example a programmed name “The Surgery” is well known for their one topic based spoke throughout their duration on air. The show is presenter led by the host, with a language used which their target audience can easily understand, the presenter could be talking about the Healthy eating and that’s what the topic is going to remain during the entire programme, it will contain people calling in giving their opinion or life experience based on the subject, music is also played a few times during the show, entertaining the audience more and making the subject less intense or too serious. On the other hand; a programme named “Women Hour” will feature a variety of topics throughout the show, instead of focusing one, leading the show from one element to the next. The presenter discussion various topic with guest in the studio and sometimes will feature vox pops to hear the general public opinions.

Discussion- Discussion programmes primarily focuses on one topic. The programmes usually feature guests and experts debating on the subject with different views coming from both sides. The topic commonly introduced by a presenter, explaining the subject matter to the guests. Packages are also featured from the general public perception on the topic, which is then discussed on the panel with guests and experts on the show. For example; the programme ‘Women’s Hour’ is an example of ‘discussion’ as well as magazine format. In one of episodes of programme there was discussion on the video ‘blurred lines’ by artist Robin Thicke. The programmes talks about the controversial issue on the video, it features vox pop from the general public explaining their views on what they think about the video and an experts also talks about her different view on how she also views the video. The subject is thoroughly discussed on the positive and negative issue of the video, with the support of the expert and the general public opinion.

Investigation- Investigative programmes heavily relied upon how much research and investigation a journalist has put on one story or subject of interest. There are many topic that investigative programmes cover such as; crimes, political corruptions, fraud, and untold stories from around the world. These sort of subjects could take years to uncover and prepare for a radio package/show.  These sort of programmes are mainly backed up with many primary as well as secondary research and resources in order to create a factual programme. An example BBC Radio4 offers a huge range of investigative programmes, one of which is called “My teacher is an App”, this programme investigates the phenomenal changes in education being brought about by technology. The presenter investigates how education will be in the future. There is a comparison between school learning back in the olden days when a teacher stand in front of the class explaining the subject, to how now children are able to have access to the internet and learn all type of things without the teacher even being any help. This piece of programme can be considered as investigative as the presenter goes on an investigation on how school are now teaching student, by going to the united states comparing their learning compare to the UK, and interviewing experts such as the person who first began uploading teaching videos on the internet, giving access to students to learn on different subject without having to be in a the classroom. The presenter goes into different schools in the US and investigates their school curriculum which consist of an app that student use in order to have a better learning as it easier for them to understand different subject more than having teachers teach them. The presenter questions whenever this app should also be used in the UK, whenever it is the best way to get students to learn more without being bored by learning online.

Archive- An archive radio programme is known to have archive audio playing during the entire the show. The BBC obtains the most extensive archive of radio audio, interviews and reports from the past. Archive is applied in a large number of programmes, mostly on BBC radio. An example of a presenter led show which consist archive is BBC4 Desert Island Discs. The programme uses music from archive to attach some colour while celebrity guest’s talk about their childhood and on the reason why they have chosen a particular selected to play for the audience. The music played could old and something recent song of the chart, depending on the guests. This assists the listeners into have a clearer image in their head to what the guests childhood was like and other different spoken on the subject.