Vibe Productions: Radio News production

LO1: Codes and Conventions

Sky News has commissioned vibe productions to produce an informational document aspiring
journalists in the UK. We have been tasked with compiling a style and editorial guide for new
journalists. The guide must provide suitable examples for new journalists to thoroughly understand the
radio sector.
The delivery of this document can be in one of two ways.
1. A word document containing examples and illustrations with links to radio news
2. A video guide containing visual / sound examples from radio news
3. A radio news / documentary show with guests explaining what the below involves with use
of clear examples from radio news.
It will be delivered in two parts
Part 1
The Style Guide
You must research, describe and analyse the following;
Forms:

Bulletin
Headline
News programme
Copy only with audio clips
Voicers
Wraps
Live cross
Two way (live and as live)

Styles:

Related to audience
Public service
Commercial
Community
Small-scale
Local
Regional
National
Internet
Satellite and cable

Guidance
Explain what each form is
(reference where the
information came from)
And give an example

Dont just describe what they

are- In order to gain a high
grade make sure you:

Detail what it is (with

references)
Give an example (with
links)
Draw from the example
Discuss how you would
know it was national just
be listening to it
And then compare to other
styles

For each section you could also quote others for example Nicky Campbell, host of Five Live stated
on the BBC website that community radio is .
This would take you to a distinction grade
Please REFERENCE every piece of research you find.

Part 2
You must research, describe and analyse the following;
Legal and regulatory
constraints:

Handling of stories involving

minors
Contempt of court
Libel and defamation
Coverage of elections
Official Secrets Act
Ofcom
BBC editorial guidelines

Ethics

Serious and sensational stories;

Invasion of privacy
Public interest

News values

Story priority (national and

local, domestic and foreign)
Immediacy
Follow-up angles
Availability of audio
Newsroom policy
Human interest
Public interest agenda

This section could be a

debate on your news
programme or you could film a
focus group debate and upload
it to your written report. There
are many cases of misconduct
and ethical issues on radio and
TV and especially involving the
BBC and other news groups.
Story Priority is very important
why is Prince Charles walking
around Brixton more important
than an earthquake in a third
world country where thousands
of people have lost their
homes? Why do stories get
bumped up?
This is a very personal issue but
you need to obtain both sides of
the story.

Assessment Criteria:

Critically discuss different news formats, reporting styles and target audiences and refer to
fully-justified and elucidated examples.

The construction of news broadcasts will be discussed in depth, in terms of the presenters,
their language, accent and tone of voice, as well as the types of stories covered.

Points made will be fully justified by referring to actual examples from the content, and
learners will draw out of those examples precisely what is that exemplifies the points they
illustrate.

The mode of address of each broadcast will be discussed with reference to its target
audiences, primary, secondary and tertiary.

Discuss the constraints on radio news production with clear references to both internal and
external constraints.

Points made will be justified with supporting arguments and elucidated examples.

External constraints will be discussed, not only in terms of their effect on news production but
also on their efficacy.

News values will be discussed as an internal constraint on the selection and construction of
radio news.

Discuss the role of radio news in setting the agenda, in terms of the perceived importance of
some events over others, for its audiences.

Due Date:
Friday 24th April
This provides evidence for: P1, P2, M1, M2, D1, D2