what are speech packages?
It is a pre recorded piece of media with the purpose to inform on a radio station.
In this essay i will go into great detail of the different varieties of speech packages that are optional for listeners within the United Kingdom. I will analyse and break down 5 varied speech packages broadcasted on different radio stations. The speech packages that i am going to talk about are: Radio 1's Newsbeat, Radio 5 Live, BBC Cumbria, Radio 2's Graham Norton Show, Radio 6. I will gather information from/about these speech packages and then go on to compare the main demographics.
In this essay i will go into great detail of the different varieties of speech packages that are optional for listeners within the United Kingdom. I will analyse and break down 5 varied speech packages broadcasted on different radio stations. The speech packages that i am going to talk about are: Radio 1's Newsbeat, Radio 5 Live, BBC Cumbria, Radio 2's Graham Norton Show, Radio 6. I will gather information from/about these speech packages and then go on to compare the main demographics.
The PURposes of speech packages
Speech packages are pre-recorded radio shows that are created for many different reasons and purposes, some are created for entertainment reasons, others are made to inform people and another type of speech package would be a thought provoking show, which really got you to think. Since it's election time yet again, there's a lot of this going on at the moment
The style of speech packages
Speech packages come in a vast range of individual styles that are often decided upon, based on the type of show that they will feature on, not only the show takes great impact on the speech package, but also the network/radio station. This is because all radio stations have a genre/style that they abide by for the sake of maintaining the same core demographic, the few times a speech package may be implemented or changed would be if the network was aiming to change their demographic or branch out from their current demographic and expand, attracting new viewers to then join/alter the demographic such as news based programs (SKY News) and factual based programs (Graham Norton Show). An example of this happening recently within the media sector would be Mumford and Sons coming back from their time off and changing their sound entirely. In 2012 they were one of the most popular bands on the planet bringing folk to the charts. After returning early in 2015 with their hit song: "Believe", they've now changed their sound entirely to a new electric sound that's less independent. This, whether it be intended or unintended has altered their demographic as a band. The majority of the extreme fans will still love everything they produce/write and stick to the band, however fans that "quite" liked the sound of the folk as it was something new to the charts, will be more than likely to lean away from Mumford and Sons unless they're into the new electrical sound as well. My point being that, they've changed their sound which ultimately has changed their demographic, not entirely, but it's changed, the only question is whether it's caused them to grow in terms of their popularity or decline in their popularity. |
The structures of speech packages
the contributors of speech packagesAs you could guess, the biggest radio stations consist of large amounts of behind the scenes work and involves many many people. However, it doesn't actually require the amount of staff that a company like the BBC employs. If we break it down, the amount of people needed to make a successful radio station will decrease. Now, obviously it can depend on the type of speech package and demographic that the station uses, appeals to and aims for. I'm going to relate to radio 5 live for examples. This radio station has too many people to list, so instead, i'm going to highlight the main 6
Ethics and regulations of a speech packageJust like with any media project within the media sector, ethics and regulations are one of the biggest parts of getting it right (in this case: radio station's show) and increasing the audience and building a demographic that you're aiming for. The best way to keep listeners happy is to make sure you're representing people in a way that's not going to offend the audience.
| program content and structure To elaborate on the photo to the left, i will now explain in detail some of the less obvious parts of a speech package to make it more clear
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CONCLUSION
The average age of audience members for BBC Radio Cumbria is between 55 and 64. Possible ways of decreasing this age would be to implement a new host. Alike to what Radio 1 did by employing Nick Grimshaw (to reach out to a wider, younger demographic with different sexual orientations), this would help to lower the demographic by attracting said audience members. By adding this type of host, it would ultimately change the language of the show slot. What i mean by this is not -changing from English to French- but by having a character with a vocabulary and dictionary of words that appeals to younger listeners, it will keep them more entertained and leave them more eager to tune in next time.
Not only this will help lower the age of the demographic but by adding Live Lounge like content to the structure of BBC Radio Cumbria, this would boost local popularity as the fact that an artist would be performing there would attract a lot of attention locally but also from the artists fans. By then putting this onto Youtube and then onto social media sites such as facebook and twitter, this will branch out massively over the younger people living in and around Cumbria. The length of the show would also be of vital importance as it must be quick paced, snappy and have well spaced gaps in between music being played and the talking/interviewing. This allows current listeners to stay entertained and have fun listening but browsers of radio stations should also get enough time to find the radio station to be able to give it a chance. The optimal time for the show to be broadcasted would be anytime after school and college hours as students will be at home revising or on the way home, which seems to be the most often times that teens/students listen to radio. Another good time for broadcasting this type of show would be in the morning commute to school or also any morning over the weekend.This is how i would alter Radio Cumbria's demographic.
Not only this will help lower the age of the demographic but by adding Live Lounge like content to the structure of BBC Radio Cumbria, this would boost local popularity as the fact that an artist would be performing there would attract a lot of attention locally but also from the artists fans. By then putting this onto Youtube and then onto social media sites such as facebook and twitter, this will branch out massively over the younger people living in and around Cumbria. The length of the show would also be of vital importance as it must be quick paced, snappy and have well spaced gaps in between music being played and the talking/interviewing. This allows current listeners to stay entertained and have fun listening but browsers of radio stations should also get enough time to find the radio station to be able to give it a chance. The optimal time for the show to be broadcasted would be anytime after school and college hours as students will be at home revising or on the way home, which seems to be the most often times that teens/students listen to radio. Another good time for broadcasting this type of show would be in the morning commute to school or also any morning over the weekend.This is how i would alter Radio Cumbria's demographic.