Semester 1 – In a small team you will produce a short 10’ radio feature documentary. Each week will focus on a stage in the production process; generating ideas, research, planning, interview techniques, organisation, compliance, consent and post-production. Sessions will combine listening, theory and practice.

Semester 2 – You will look at the commissioning process and work to a professional commissioning brief to produce a group radio documentary targeted to a specific radio station/network. Individually, you will write a programme proposal detailing all the requirements to put the programme in to production and reasoning of suitability for the intended target audience. You will write a critical evaluation on your final 30’ radio documentary.

IIn the first half of the module a series of illustrated lectures and workshops will introduce the theory and practice of documentary making. Working in small groups (numbers by negotiation and as appropriate to this preproduction phase) you will negotiate a practicable brief for a specific documentary project and then write a programme proposal which details all the requirements needed to put the programme into production. You will then produce a 10’ radio feature documentary.

In semester 2 you will produce a 30’ documentary in small groups or pairs. You will mainly learn through the experience of producing your programme, via group tutorials with the project supervisor. Throughout the project you are encouraged to keep an individual production diary in which you systematically record your production meetings and your individual learning. This process of reflection on the production process informs the project evaluation with which you conclude the module. Key Information Set Data: 16% scheduled activities 84% independent guided study

Beaman, J. (2011) Interviewing for Radio, London: Routledge
Emm, A (2002) Researching for Television & Radio, London: Routledge
Fleming, C (2010) The Radio Handbook (3rd ed.), London: Routledge
Hausman, C. et al (2010) Modern Radio Production: production, programming and performance, Boston: Wadsworth

A full reading list can be found in the module handbook.

Media Centre
Radio studios
Marantz recorders
Editing software
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available (where relevant) to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook

1. DEMONSTRATE THE ABILITY TO RESOLVE THE COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT ARISE THROUGHOUT THE PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION PROCESSES - WITH THE GUIDANCE OF YOUR SUPERVISOR WHERE NECESSARY. ANTICIPATE AND MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE COMPROMISES THAT BECOME INEVITABLE IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE PROGRAMME TO A DEADLINE.
[Problem Solving]

2. CRITICALLY REFLECT ON THE PRODUCTION AND POST-PRODUCTION PROCESSES ON A RADIO PROJECT AND ON YOUR OWN ROLE IN THEM. EVALUATE THE EFFECT OF KEY PRACTICAL DECISIONS THAT ARE EVIDENT IN THE FINISHED PROGRAMME.
[Reflection]

3. RECOGNISE THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES IN YOUR CREATIVE TEAM AND THE PART YOU PLAY WITHIN IT. ADAPT YOUR BEHAVIOUR TO SUIT YOUR PRODUCTION ROLE SO THAT YOU ENHANCE THE PRODUCTIVENESS OF THE GROUP.
[Collaborative Working]

4. DEMONSTRATE INTERMEDIATE COMPETENCY IN THE HANDLING OF RADIO EQUIPMENT, SAFELY, RESPONSIBLY AND TO CREATIVE EFFECT. DEMONSTRATE AWARENESS OF THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES IN THE RADIO INDUSTRY.
[Practical and Professional]

5. EVALUATE YOUR OWN EXISTING AWARENESS OF DOCUMENTARY FORMS IN YOUR CHOSEN MEDIUM IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY FUTURE LEARNING NEEDED TO DEVELOP A COHERENT, PROFESSIONAL PITCH.
[Learning]

6. CARRY OUT TARGETED RESEARCH FOR A DOCUMENTARY PROJECT WITHIN A LIMITED TIME FRAME AND CRITICALLY APPRAISE ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES FOR FULFILLING A PARTICULAR BRIEF.
[Enquiry]

Radio Documentary 40%
Group Radio Production 60%

This is an exciting opportunity to work in a small team to produce a 10 minute radio feature documentary exploring a topic or story of your choice and focusing on production processes, generating ideas, research, planning, interview techniques and post-production. You will also look at the commissioning processes and work to a professional brief to produce a group radio documentary targeted to a specific radio station/network/podcast platform. Individually, you will write a documentary proposal detailing all the requirements to 'green light' the production and reasoning its suitability for an intended target audience.