Feature
World Radio Day Vox Pop 2023
To mark the occasion in 2023 and shine a light on what goes on behind the airwaves, Telum asked various radio professionals across APAC to share what makes a good radio package?
Kate Gregan, World News Editor for Today FM (New Zealand)
Radio packages are a fantastic way of telling a story. A great package will transform a listener through sounds and words. It should feature wild track, sound effects, interviews and a well-crafted script.
Unlike TV, you don’t have pictures to help you. Therefore, if a reporter is on location, they should record the sounds around them without anyone speaking. This will help transport the audience and bring a story to life.
When a reporter conducts their interviews, listen carefully and use the best grabs that won’t just work well by themselves, but could make an even bigger impact with the addition of atmos and sound effects.
I would also recommend editing as soon as you have everything you need - you’ll save yourself a world of pain!
Tom Martin, Executive Producer for The Christian O’Connell Show, Gold 104.3 Melbourne (Australia)
At the heart of great radio is great story-telling. It’s an exercise in connection between performer and listener. When we’re looking for things / stories / segments to pitch the show, we’re exclusively interested in the “story”, and how it can extend an existing element of the show. The things I would consider when pitching any show:
The publicist who listens to a couple of breaks from a days-old podcast and connects our topics to their brand, always has their email taken more seriously than the person who’s just sent a bulk email out with the first name changed.
Timing is everything. A follow-up call or email at 3pm when a Breakfast producer's first-alarm goes off at 4am is sometimes a pretty tough sell. Aim for between 8am and 11am to have things actually seen.
Hani Fadzil, Content Manager at ERA (Malaysia)
Creativity, sound, delivery and realness. I believe it is important for listeners to feel close and to have a sense of belonging with radio as though whatever is on is specifically for them. The creativity in delivering a certain message, the human touch (not sounding too formatted but instead speaking directly to the listeners), the well-curated music and the overall sound of the station each play a key role in achieving a good radio package.
Mel Homer, Host of Sunday Cafe on Today FM (New Zealand)
I think what makes a good radio show is communication - authenticity is so important, and listeners can hear if you’re faking it! Be real, share a bit of yourself and love what you’re doing. It comes across.
Melanie Oliveiro, Senior Presenter / Producer for CNA938 (Singapore)
What makes a good radio programme or news story is simply this: it has to be something that busy, easily-distracted listeners will understand all at once - be it breaking stories, general news or showbiz tidbits. These have to be easy-to-digest pieces that inform, educate and entertain.
Do cut out those bombastic words too. Speak plainly with the basic facts at hand. And if you’re able to add sound effects, sound bites or music to really drive that message home, then you have their attention.
Lucy Lokan, Executive Producer for FIVEaa Breakfast (Australia)
Radio is a way to connect one person (or a few people) with the masses. It’s not to dictate, nor show bias, but instead to inform and entertain.
A great radio package, whether it be for FM or Talkback, is concise yet descriptive. It is delivered with the use of both audio aid and exceptional scripting, with the outcome that the listener has gained knowledge and understanding of the issue or topic. Stripped away, a great radio package evokes some type of emotional response from the listener.
Timothy Hammond, Producer for Will & Woody on KIIS (Australia)
The best audio package is always the one you manage to get to air. While the discussion will inevitably lead to audio production tricks, song hooks and wiz-bang sound effects, these are all to support a clear and considered narrative that runs throughout. Have a clear beginning, middle and end with succinct linking lines between each bit. Structure is key.
Packages are a careful balance between the good bits (gags, tears or a rare moment of clarity from a host and or guest), and the context which makes the good bits actually make sense or mean anything.
Using music or beds that support the drama, or drive the moment that feels like it is scored following the story? Good! Talking over an unchanging music bed without any kind of call and response with the voice track or recording? That’s bad.
Judicious use of editing - if the bit isn’t progressing the story or paying it off, get rid of it! If it takes a long time to get to it, it better be bloody funny! You’ll be surprised how much a story can be cut down to the bare bones.
I’ll demonstrate with the following text: What makes a good audio package is one that holds attention and entertains. You’ll know it when you hear it.
Soraya Sunitra Kee Xiang Yin, Content Manager at LITE (Malaysia)
For longer-form content, we look at several key factors to determine what makes a great radio segment - we call it our "F.I.T. rule". "F" stands for "Fun", "I" stands for "Interesting", and "T" stands for "Thought-provoking". The best stories will be able to tick these boxes, providing listeners with an experience that not only entertains them but also makes them think and feel.
When it comes to simpler radio talksets, we try to headline each one with a snappy hook. Audio clips, caller engagement and music beds (background music) can help enliven the talkset as well.
Keyan Kramer, Producer for 1170 SEN (Australia)
In sport, we look at things a bit differently. We like to integrate as much audio as we can and have a bit of fun. An opinion-based opener kickstarts proceedings and then we’ll do some segments which include performance of the week, where we were right and wrong as well.
More stories
Telum Media
Database
Journalists
Melanie Oliveiro
Senior Presenter / Producer
Soraya Sunitra Kee Xiang Yin
Content Manager
Tom Martin
Intan Farhani Mohd Fadzil
Content Manager
Kate Gregan
Melanie Homer
Sub-Editor / Newsreader
Keyan Kramer
Producer
Lucinda Lokan
Executive Producer
Timothy Hammond
Producer
Media
Telum Media
1 contact, 122 media requests
CNA938
12 contacts, 21 media requests
ERA
8 contacts
LITE
2 contacts, 9 media requests
ARN KIIS Network - Will & Woody
8 contacts
FIVEaa
1 contact
GOLD104.3
3 contacts
1170 SEN
4 contacts
Today FM - CEASED MARCH 2023
, 1 media request
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