Question

1.  Picture yourself living in the 1930s and 1940s when much of your family entertainment was gathering around the radio in the evening.  What do you think your reaction would have been after hearing each of the following:

(1) the Hindenburg disaster,

(2) War of the Worlds and

(3) FDR's Pearl Harbor speech?

2.  After viewing the video about WKAR Radio, what surprised you as to how a radio station is run?  

3.  If you were to be offered a position at a radio station, what kind of radio station would you like it to be, and what position would you like to be offered?

Answer 1

WKAR is a National Public Radio member station in East Lansing, Michigan, United States; broadcasting at 870 kHz. It is owned by Michigan State University, and carries news and talk shows from NPR. The station has also been licensed to operate a FM Translator at 105.1 MHz (W286DC)

The TV Merit awards are:

• Marketing Materials & Promos - Family Fun Day with Julia
• Sports- Outdoor or Recreation - Sparty Time!
• Special Interest - Curious Crew
• News or Public Affairs Special - Off The Record

Surprisinf facts about Radio

Beginning with basics, radio broadcasting performs as a single transmission that is carried through radio waves with the intention of reaching an audience. This wireless transmission is actually electromagnetic energy (radio waves) that is transferable through space, allowing information (sound) to travel while it is modulated. These radio waves then come into contact with an electrical conductor that causes certain fields to emit an alternating current where the waves can be transformed into the original form. In order for this process to take place, there must first be a radio transmitter that can manipulate sound (with the possibility of taking on multiple forms of modulation). An interesting component to radio is that there are different signal waves that can be transmitted; this is where AM and FM radio is derived. AM radio (or Amplitude modulations) differs from FM radio (or Frequency modulation) because it varies the strength of the signal in conjunction with the size of information that is being transmitted. This was the original form of radio. FM radio varies the frequency of the signal, meaning that the immediate frequency from the carrier will always be proportionate to the immediate strength of the input signal. Interesting, no?!

Program Director

The program director sets the radio station's menu, determining what music, programs and on-air talent the station broadcasts. At music stations, the director screens recordings submitted by musicians seeking airtime and exposure for their songs. Stations rely on program directors to evaluate the ratings and popularity of their shows and personalities. The director's promotion of the station includes concert-ticket giveaways and live remote broadcasts from community events.