COMMUNICATION 262
SPRING 2015
ADVANCED RADIO APPLICATIONS
INSTRUCTOR: Deb Lesser
OFFICE: 011 Fell Hall
OFFICE PHONE: 438-7409
E-MAIL: dllesse@ilstu.edu
OFFICE HOURS: R 1-3 PM and by appointment
TEXTBOOKS
West, B. & Conlan, J. (1999). Radio Advertising 101.5. Houston, TX: Alpha.
Keith, Michael C. (2007). The Radio Station (8th Edition). Burlington, MA: Focal
Press.
*Additional readings will be assigned.
MATERIALS NEEDED
1 pair of headphones
10 CD-Rs with cases
CD marker
drawstring bag
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The purpose of this class is to further develop your radio knowledge. Building on the
skills and knowledge acquired from the basic radio course, we will further explore
copywriting and production. We will also cover station imaging and promotion, radio and
the web, and on-air personalities.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon successful completion of this course, you will have learned:
1. To understand the operation of multi-track digital recording programs through
completion of assigned reading and lab classes.
2. To operate radio production equipment and demonstrate that knowledge by completing
recorded assignments.
3. The appropriate copywriting styles for radio commercials, station imaging and
promotions for different radio formats and to demonstrate that knowledge by writing
radio copy, promotional spots, and imaging.
4. Through class discussion and assigned readings, the current state of the radio industry
and the organizational structure and operations of radio stations today.
5. Through class discussion and readings, the methods used to create successful radio
promotions and to demonstrate that knowledge by designing a radio station promotion.
6. Through class discussion and individual research and work, the history of on-air
announcing and styles across formats and ways to improve your own announcing.
7. Through research and class discussion, the current state of radio on the internet.
EVALUATION
This class is based on a thousand-point scale as follows:
Music Editing
100
Commercial Series
200
Web Assessment
100
Radio Promotion
100
Group Presentation
200
Midterm
100
Final
100
Participation
100
Total
1000
**Late assignments will be penalized 10% per day. All assignments must be completed
in order to receive a passing grade in this course. Assignments more than one week late
will not be accepted.
NOTES
As in the basic radio course, listening to the radio as much as possible will truly help your
performance in this class. Pay special attention to things you normally don’t listen to, like
commercials, deejays, promotions, contests, public service announcements, news, talk
shows, etc. Active listening and discussion are integral elements of this class and will
certainly make it more enjoyable. One of the privileges of this class is that you are
allowed to use very delicate (not to mention expensive) equipment. Please develop a
healthy respect for the equipment. Broken equipment costs time and money, so please be
careful. Always consult the teaching assistant on duty before trying anything suspicious
with the equipment. There is no eating or drinking in the control rooms.
A note about cell phones—Please keep your phones off and in your book bag during
class. Please give your classmates and me the benefit of your undivided attention. You
are much more fascinating when focused We’ll take a phone break!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WEEK
DATES
LECTURE
LAB
1
1/12-16
Intro to Class
Intro to Lab
2
1/19-23
MLK Day
Practice
3
1/26-30
RS Chap. 1, 2, 9
Intro Music Editing
4
2/2-6
RA Part I&II (1-10)
Studio Work
5
2/9-13
RA Part III & IV (11 – 18) #1 Due/Intro #2
6
2/16-20
RA Part V & VI (19 – 24) Studio Work
7
2/23-27
Midterm
Studio Work
8
3/2-6
RS Chap. 3
#2 Comm Due/Voicework/
Air Personalities
9
3/9-13
Spring Break!!
10
3/16-20
RS Chapter 7/P
Promotion Project
11
3/23-27
Promotions
Promotion Project
12
3/30-4/3
RS Chapter 4
Air Personalities
13
4/6-10
COM Week
Studio Work
14
4/13-17
Station Imaging
Station Imaging
15
4/20-24
Web Radio
Studio Work
16
4/27-5/1
Presentations
In Lab
Final
Final Exam
SPECIAL NEEDS: Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a
documented disability should contact Disability Concerns at 350 Fell Hall, 438-5853
(voice), 438-8620 (TDD).