Module Descriptors
ELEMENTS OF BROADCASTING: AN INTRODUCTION TO TV & RADIO
FTVR40355
Key Facts
School of Digital, Technologies and Arts
Level 4
15 credits
Contact
Leader: Stephen Griffiths
Hours of Study
Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities: 24
Independent Study Hours: 126
Total Learning Hours: 150
Assessment
  • COURSEWORK -ESSAY weighted at 100%
Module Details
Module Texts
Barnard, S. (1999). Studying Radio, London: Arnold.
Casey, B. et al (eds). (2008) Television Studies: The Key Concepts, London: Routledge.
Bignell, J. (2008) An Introduction To Television Studies, London: Routledge.
Burton, G. (2000) Talking Television: An Introduction to the Study of Television, London: Arnold.
Chignell, H. (2009) Key Concepts in Radio Studies, London: SAGE.
Crisell, A. (1994) Understanding Radio, London: Routledge.
Crisell, A. (2002) An Introductory History of British Broadcasting, London: Routledge.
Ellis, J. (2000). Seeing Things: Television in the Age of Uncertainty, London: I.B. Tauris.
Ellis, J. (2007). TV FAQ, London: I.B. Tauris.
Lury, K. (2005). Interpreting Television, London: Hodder Arnold.
Selby, K & Cowdrey, R. (1995) How to Study Television, Basingstoke: Macmillan.
Shingler, M & Wieringa, C. (1998) On Air, London: Arnold.
Starkey, G. (2004) Radio in Context, London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Stewart, P. (2010) Essential Radio Skills, London: Methuen Drama
Wickham, P. (2007) Understanding Television Texts, London: BFI.
Module Resources
Blackboard, Library and online resources, TV/DVD/Video/Audio playback facilities.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.
Module Learning Strategies
There will be a series of weekly lectures and follow-up workshops to explore the introduced theoretical concepts of how television and radio communicate with their audiences. The emphasis will be around the deconstruction of a range of broadcast examples and the reading of some introductory texts on media communication. This module offers a foundation for the critical examination of radio/TV and considers their practical application which links in with production based skills. The workshops will offer a series of non-assessed pieces of work which form the basis for the final essay and the module's key concepts.

Module Indicative Content
This module explores the ongoing development of television and radio and how these broadcast media continue to communicate with audiences within a climate of shifting viewing/listening practices. It offers an introduction to the origins, institutions and creative practices in broadcasting. The key areas for consideration include what we mean in the 21st Century by 'television' and 'radio' and what codes, conventions, practices and skills are used in the creation of radio and television programmes to maximise audience interest. You will be introduced to the key television and radio theoretical concepts that are used to explain the ways in which these media communicate and how their practical construction contributes to this. You will also gain experience in the formal analysis of television and radio programmes and an appreciation of the distinctive properties of these media. The module considers what is meant by television and radio studies; how television/radio evolved and the creation of the programme; the visual nature and the invisible nature of television and radio; television and radio presentation; television/radio interviews; representation of realism(s) on TV/radio; technologies of viewing/listening.

Module Additional Assessment Details
Coursework: Essay (2500 Words).

Learning Outcomes 1-4