What Is Making A Good Radio or TV Program
Since 2012 I’m making radio for the local radio station. I love to make a radio program from the moment I sat behind the microphone. There was an ad in the local newspaper, to be an assistant of the presenter Politics. After a few months, I took it all over. Since then, I love it a lot more. I also do another program with colleagues.
I’m doing this in my free time. As a volunteer.
I love to make radio programs. Having the ability to dig into topics you love and how to explain them to your audience or interviewing people about it and getting to know it a bit more, is an amazing experience. Especially when you feel your audience understood because you explained it well.
Nobody sees you when you’re talking into the microphone explaining the topics to your audience, they know your name — of course, they don’t know your face. At least, our listeners don’t. That’s what I like sometimes, haha. You’re a bit behind the scene. I kinda like that.
Since then I have some experience in how to make a radio program. I’m not saying I am going to be a good one, I still need to learn things, but the experience I have counts too.
Television
Sometimes I do TV too, but that is not that often. Here you’re visible. But I love that too sometimes. I don’t this much, because most of the time we don’t make TV. Or sometimes compilations of events where we don’t need presenters.
I remember sitting on the ottoman in front of our black and white television. Watching the news or any else, I don’t really remember anymore. I believe the colored TV didn’t work anymore and we had to switch back to black and white TV for a while. With five girls and two parents, we were sitting in front of that tiny TV. It was hilarious to see. The sun was shining outside. Apparently we wanted to see that program badly.
I also listen to other stations and programs as well as watching TV, besides making my own. As I am watching differently at how these programs — radio and TV — are made since I am making my own programs, I kind of think got my own taste of how programs should be made.
I believe it is just a matter of taste how these programs should be made. Not only for presenters and makers of the programs but also for the audience who are watching and listening. This last reason is one thing producers should have in mind when making programs.
Different styles
There are different styles of making radio and TV and the amount of (quality) programs.
I’m asking and wondering what is it that a program is damn good? What are the producers do to make a program good? That is what personal taste comes across the corner. That is different for each of us. And I’m aware of that. I just want to tell you what a good program is for me.
To me, a good TV program is when I got the feeling that I have learned something. I need to get new information about topics. At the same time, when a program is serious, then it has to be like that, but I also want to be entertained in a serious way with the information I need and I want.
When I watch an entertainment program, I really want to be entertained, but I don’t like it when there are harassment and bullying in the program. I see that a lot lately, even when there is spoken about. It still happens. Then I won’t watch the show anymore.
What I also like are detectives or police series. I want that there should be some reality in the characters and story of the episode. It must mirror real life. Otherwise, it will be a no-go for me.
Listening to the radio
Listening to the radio has a different style to present, but also a different style to listen to than when there is a presenter you can watch.
When I listen to classical music on the radio, I want the presenter to know what he or she is talking about, about the facts of composers and musicians. Also, the presenter must know the facts about the pieces that are played.
On the radio, I listen to the news as well. When I listen, the presenter must present the news neutral, but with a compassionate voice.
You have to present the radio and TV with a lot of empathy.
Agnes Laurens is a writer. She writes for the local newspaper. Agnes lives in Bunnik, The Netherlands, with her husband and three daughters. Writing is — aside from playing the violin — one of her passions since childhood. She is on Twitter and Instagram.
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