Evaluation-Palm FM

Show: Saturday Sport

Presenter: Graham Russell
Date: 23rd Jan 2010

Duration: 5 hours (1pm-6pm)

Arrived: 12pm- This was because once the radio show is being aired the main front doors of Palm fm are locked and so I was asked to arrive at 12pm to allow for time to be used for preparation. When I arrived, I was greeted by the main presenter of Saturday Sport, who introduced me to one other work experience applicant. I was then told that the main professional that produces and recorded and exports the interviews for presentation on air, did not turn up that morning and so I was told that I would be doing his jobs for the duration to help out. At first I was a little shocked when I was told this, as I expected that I would be shadowing a professional, at least to start with anyway. So I was feeling a little nervous and concerned as to what he was asking me to do

The presenter gave a quick run through of how the equipment works and what I was required to do during the program was being aired to the public. This included using part of a recording format in the studio. When a loud tone was heard, it meant that a live reporter was coming through to the radio station to share news, of which would be aired. Thus I had to record all the different reporters that would be coming through on the radio signal, reporting from all the football and rugby matches. After I recorded them via the wav file editor, the clip then had to be cut and edited. For this I had to cut out and remove via the wav editor, any noise's that were not needed. For example, the loud tone that lasts 60 seconds is not needed, only the report from the match is important. After this was edited, I then had to save it to the sport file, under the file name of which the match was, plus a letter linking to the report. For example if the new report was to report of a goal, I needed to insert (G) in front of the main text. This would then save into main computer in the front room of the radio studio. I then had to quickly run into the main desk and using the computer via P-squared mynd v3 program, I had to import the report of which I had just recorded into the main casket on the computer screen program, this then sent the clip to the presenter, ready for him to play it live on air. During this process, I learnt that you had to be quick from getting to one room and the next, as sometimes, when importing was needed, more reporters in the recording room were coming through

During this process I also had to make note of any goals or fouls during the matches, via the internet, and once a goal or foul took place I had to make a note of the important information and then, when the "on air" light was off, I had to run into the main studio and pass the message onto the presenter so he could talk about the matches in more depth, before new reports came through.  

Overall I really enjoyed my time at the radio station, I have also been asked to come back next week and help out on a regular basis. I also have exchanged contact details with the producers and the other work experience people. From this I believe this placement went very well.  

  

Did I meet my aims and objectives?

My main aims and objectives for this work-learning placement were to, be as professional as I was able, work to deadlines, listen and learn from other professionals and then implement what they do in their work. I also wanted to learn more about how to produce a radio station and I found it highly interesting to learn about what equipment is used and how it is used. 


Overall I believe that I did achive all my aims and objectives. The only down side I had was that I never got to see how the official producers of the radio show “Saturday sport”. This was mainly due to the fact the the producer who was meant to train us up, didn’t turn up that morning for work. So I had to literally produce, record, save and import the live reports of the matches, so that the presenter would have material ready for his live show. Without my input there would have been no live reports from any of the live matches. I was slightly shocked about the fact I was able to complete such tasks and found my confidence levels rise after this project took place. The presenter also asked me to come back again to help out.  

  

Secured Work Placements.

1) Local Radio

Details: Palm 105.5 FM


Contact: Graham Russell, Marble Court, Lymington Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ1 4FB

Outline: Behind the scenes, looking upon the production process of how the radio show; "Saturday Sport" is are prepared before being aired live.To gain knowledge working within the producing field with professionals and devloping new skills.

Intentions: My intentions are that on Saturday the 16th of January, I have been invited to help produce and work with professionals on the radio station; Palm FM. The program I will be helping to produce and gaining some hands on experience is known as the "Saturday Sport" show. I will be helping out and learning new skills from 2pm until 6pm at the radio station itself.

Skills to develop: The skill in which I am to develop with be to learn more about how producing a radio show in two different forms. The first form is the producing that happens in preparation for the radio show to comment. The second, will allow me to gain new skills while radio shows are on air live, and to help out in any way that I am able, to the best of my ability I wish to develop my skill of organization further, working in a radio station environment, will help me to achieve this, as time allocation and time management is highly important.

Aims: I aim work to deadlines, and to use my time effectively. I also wish to gain more confidence working with professionals. I aim to work hard and listen well to other professionals that will surround me, from this I will be able to learn new skills, knowledge and thus enhance my skills further. I also aim to be punctual, be arriving on time and being flexible to the company’s needs.

Roles and Responsibilities: My main role for this work placement will be to help produce the "Saturday Sport Show", in preparation for the show to go live on air, in any way that I can. From this comes many responsibilities, one of which will include; I will have to take note of all health and safety procedures. I will need to be responsible for my own safety and if I notice any problems linking to this area, I will alert the relevant person.I also understand whislt working with the professionals of this radio show, I will also gain new roles and responsibilities in new tasks of which I help them to produce "The Saturday Sport Show"

Learning Outcomes This will allow me to enhance my own personal career, by allowing me to gain knowledge within working in radio stations and of how radio programs are created and produced. This will also allow me to learn more about planning and how to plan projects in my future career. It will also give me the experience in working with professionals and hopefully help me to gain more confidence within this field of work. This will also allow me to discover new skills of which I may carry on with me throughout my career in the music buisness.

How will I evaluate: I shall evaluate this particular work placement experience, via this blog, I will focus on what I achieved, what I learnt and gained from this experience. I will also ensure I take some photographic evidence, to upload and support my evaluation blog. I will also focus upon my success whilst work on the project and also any problems I may face, included solutions and how I dealt with the different situations of which I will be placed. I will also look upon my own feelings and emoutions.How I can improve in the future will also be of interest within this section.

Contingency Plan: Should this particular work placement fail, I will then write an evaluation, discussing why and how the placement failed. This will include my advantage of my skills and also my disadvantage of skills of which helped in my downfall.