| The programme link and its proper execution is | | | | two. |
| the essence of what presenters do. The link is | | | | Whats in the news? |
| the culmination of ideas, topics, thoughts and | | | | What's coming up? |
| preparation of every radio presenter and proper | | | | What did the kids say? |
| execution is a source of great pride and | | | | Whats happening in business? |
| satisfaction. Radio presenters love it when it | | | | What's making you optimistic? |
| works and can go into deep despair if it goes | | | | What did you see on TV? |
| wrong so here are some ideas, thoughts and | | | | Whats happening this weekend? |
| suggestions that will help make that show go just | | | | What's happening locally? |
| a little bit better. | | | | What your partner is saying? |
| Before I get into the detail of all of this I want | | | | What did the latest poll say? |
| you to be aware that many presenters forget | | | | What's making people edgy? |
| two very important things. | | | | What is a silly habit? |
| Firstly, if you want to be a great radio presenter | | | | What can I make fun of? |
| do not make the mistake of focussing constantly | | | | What's the big sports story? |
| on how you sound. Focus instead on how you are | | | | What are men worried about? |
| perceived by your listener. It is the listener opinion | | | | Whats the hot movie? |
| that counts most. To form an opinion in your | | | | What's the weather doing? |
| listeners mind you need to be able to affect your | | | | What are people talking about today? |
| listener by creating an emotion or a desire, | | | | What seems really odd to you? |
| painting a picture, evoking a mood or a memory | | | | What scares you? |
| or simply generating a smile on the listeners face. | | | | What's the government doing to you? |
| If this all sounds very difficult because you do not | | | | What are the new trends? |
| have any direct contact with your listener then | | | | What your kids did last night? |
| you might want to think again. People listen to | | | | What did you see in a magazine? |
| radio for a variety of reasons. The fact is they | | | | What is driving you crazy? |
| listen to you in places where they would not allow | | | | How is your town changing? |
| another to enter. In the car on the way to work, | | | | What are women worried about? |
| in the kitchen, in the garden shed, in the bedroom | | | | Stage 2 |
| and even in the bathroom. You, on the radio, can | | | | What about it? |
| get so close to your listener that you are in a | | | | Make a list of everything you know about the |
| prime position to affect them in ways others | | | | item. Remember that every fact may give you a |
| cannot. You can do this by creating great links. | | | | different way to approach it so don't leave |
| Secondly, you need to have a very clear view of | | | | anything out. |
| what your boss wants to hear. Not only that but | | | | What is or is not happening? |
| you must be very clear that you understand his | | | | What is quirky about it? |
| interpretation of the format implemented. This is | | | | What is unexpected about it? |
| vital because his judgement of what you do is | | | | Where is the conflict? |
| generally subjective and his interpretation of what | | | | How did it happen? |
| is a great link may not be the same as your | | | | What is definite about it? |
| interpretation of what is a great link. If he is a | | | | Who will be happy about it? |
| good controller he will be able to give you an | | | | List every detail about it? |
| easily understandable interpretation of how he | | | | Where did it or will it happen? |
| wants his station to sound and your part in that | | | | How does it affect the listener? |
| process. If he does not, it is your job to get on | | | | List every person involved. |
| his case and get him to define exactly what he | | | | Who will be upset about it? |
| wants you to achieve. Not doing so will lead to | | | | What is unique about it? |
| arguments and bad feeling. I have always found it | | | | What is unclear about it? |
| to be useful practice to create a file for the | | | | How do you feel about it? |
| programme that contains a detailed programme | | | | What is bizarre about it? |
| clock for each hour and a detailed written outline | | | | What is funny about it? |
| and mechanic for features and how they are | | | | What is sad about it? |
| executed on air. This file is regularly updated with | | | | Before taking the next step, look at the list of |
| details of features and elements that are | | | | facts and mark the ones that are most |
| common to all shows as well as features specific | | | | interesting, revealing, strange, usable and so on. In |
| to your show. Once you have created this file | | | | other words, pick the facts that hold the most |
| you and your programme controller can agree | | | | promise |
| everything in it and generally make your life on air | | | | Stage 3 |
| easier by having a written reference point you | | | | What could you do with it? |
| can both work from. | | | | Pick a point of view, one or more of the points |
| Not every link you do must be the best link you | | | | of view below will help you come up with a list of |
| have ever done. There are different types of link; | | | | things you could do with the facts above. |
| each has a purpose that can provide the listener | | | | Make it funny. |
| with a good listening experience. The listener has | | | | Compare it. |
| two reasons to listen. They want to be | | | | Discuss it. |
| entertained, informed or a combination of both. | | | | Locate it. |
| So the essence of all your links must succeed in | | | | Glamorise it. |
| achieving these basic goals. | | | | Legalise it. |
| When constructing a link the first thing you must | | | | Admit it. |
| do it make certain you have a beginning, middle | | | | Push it. |
| and an end. This is proven to be the best way to | | | | Make it absurd. |
| get listeners to follow and understand what you | | | | Make it hot. |
| are saying in the first place. The beginning is a | | | | Make it colourful. |
| statement of what you are talking about and | | | | Make it interesting. |
| provides a point of reference for the listener. The | | | | Attack it. |
| middle provides the detail of what you want to | | | | Exaggerate it. |
| say and the end provides a smooth transition into | | | | Dramatise it. |
| the next segment of programming. One thought | | | | Make it intriguing. |
| per link is also a wise move. Trying to deal with | | | | Defend it. |
| two or more subjects in one link is detrimental to | | | | Explain it. |
| how you sound. It is surprising how many | | | | Ridicule it. |
| presenters do this. It is also a common reason | | | | Move it. |
| why presenters fluff the link in the first place. | | | | Summarise it. |
| Of course there are certain things you have to | | | | Investigate it. |
| do. Things like identifying the station name and/or | | | | Make it simple. |
| frequency. There is probably a strap line that you | | | | Make it deep. |
| might need to use as well. How many times do | | | | Belittle it. |
| you hear presenters getting it wrong? These | | | | Translate it. |
| statements are often designed to position the | | | | Make it dirty. |
| station in the listeners mind and getting it wrong is | | | | Make it easy. |
| detrimental to what the station wants to achieve | | | | Make it silly. |
| long term. These are important too because | | | | Neutralise it. |
| listeners are joining and leaving you throughout | | | | Stage 4 |
| the show and you need to make them aware of | | | | How you might approach it? |
| what station they are listening to. This is | | | | Each word or phrase below represents a different |
| important. If you work out the average time a | | | | approach you might take on air. Use these words |
| person spends listening to your station you will | | | | help you make a list of ways you might present |
| find that it shorter than you might think. At busy | | | | your material. You can add your own |
| times of day you will find that the average | | | | too.newscast, weather report, eyewitness |
| listening time is about twenty minutes or so. | | | | report,editorial, commercial, song, listener phone |
| During the day it may be longer and evenings and | | | | call, contest, airline pa announcement, wedding |
| weekends could be a combination of both. The | | | | announcement, phone call from the boss, mother |
| experts today say that you need to be | | | | and child talking, sport commentary, indignation, |
| innovative, creative and compelling to break | | | | getting hired, lecture from teacher, dinner party, |
| through to the listener. However, these experts | | | | interrogation, obituary, gossiping over fence, |
| don't seem to be able to tell you how to be | | | | sermon, intercom, police two way radio, opera, |
| innovative, creative and compelling. My view is | | | | sarcastic remark, directory assistance, |
| simple; people do two things when a radio is on | | | | unexpected phone call, taxi dispatcher, crossword |
| near them. They hear it or they listen to it. | | | | puzzle, Job interview, email message, bedtime |
| So how can you be creative broadcaster? Well | | | | story, movie review, commentary, newspaper |
| you could just be a fantastic writer, superbly | | | | article, game show, job evaluation, classified ad, |
| intelligent, have words of wisdom at the tip of | | | | answer phone, tabloid headline, courtroom, top 5 |
| your tongue all the time, possess a fully rounded | | | | list, car sales pitch, getting fired, toastmaster, blind |
| character, hold Obama like leadership qualities, | | | | date, opera, contract negotiations, confessional, |
| have a photographic memory and an encyclopedic | | | | ordering from menu, surprise party, calling a |
| knowledge of music... but you don't and neither do | | | | plumber, wrong number, wanted ad, eulogy, celeb |
| I so a little help is needed. | | | | interview, asking directions, baby's first words, |
| Here is a four stage guide to focus the mind | | | | schoolyard fight, marriage proposal, traffic report, |
| when preparing your show. This guide is aimed at | | | | news conference, ruling by a judge, wife nagging, |
| different ways you could approach a link | | | | obituary. |
| differently. You probably won't use this all the | | | | Finally, preparing your links are as much a part of |
| time but it is a superb tool when you get stuck | | | | being a radio presenter as being on air. In fact I |
| and need some inspiration. | | | | would go further by saying that they are the |
| Stage 1 | | | | essence of what you do. If you work to build |
| What's going on? | | | | both of these skills first you will increase the |
| Use the questions below to help you make a long | | | | likelihood of developing a good career in radio. |
| list of items of interest, then choose the items | | | | Who knows you might even get paid... now |
| with the most potential and then move to stage | | | | wouldn't that be a bonus! |