PORTFOLIO WEIGHTED AT 100%

A) Portfolio for 10 minute group radio documentary – weighted at 80%
• Research folder (Group) e.g. interview requests, guest trawling via forums/media outlets, notes on pre-interviews, evidence of background reading like articles, statistics, fact-checking etc.
• Proposal (Individual) – your initial individual proposal to the group (whether it was accepted or not), suitable to submit to BBC Billings – 50 characters (headline), 150 characters (1 sentence) & 1500 characters (approx. 250-300 words / 1 page).
• Production notes (Group) – including group proposal suitable to submit to BBC Billings – 50 characters (headline), 150 characters (1 sentence) & 1500 characters (approx. 250-300 words / 1 page); script; consent, contributor & compliance forms.
• 10 minute documentary (Group).

B) 1,000 word evaluation – weighted at 20%

Learning Outcomes [1-6]

In a small team you will produce a short 10 minute 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.

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 minute radio feature documentary.

Media centre
Marantz recorders
Digital audio recording equipment
Radio studios
Adobe Audition
Archive sources where applicable to the project
Library resources
Blackboard virtual learning environment

Beaman, J. (2011) Interviewing for Radio, London: Routledge
Cemm, 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
Starkey, G. (2014) Radio in Context, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

A full reading list can be found 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]