Lecture 5 - Sound Lecture

After standing at the bus stop for 15 minutes I realized this week we did not have to attend today's lecture due to it being a sound lecture. So I kicked myself back home, downloaded the file and sat back to give the MP3 a listen.

The audio track was split into two interviews, one Carmel Rooney (tutor) interviewed Richard Fidler (well known ABC radio presenter) and the second to be interviewed was Steve Austin. The first interview caught my attention immediately after hearing who Richard Fidlers' name as my Dad is a huge fan of his work in the Doug Anthony All Stars (musical comedy trio). I found this particular interview particularly entertaining and amusing. Listening to his briefly explain how he got into radio and the elements of the radio medium was really interesting and really opened my eyes to how difficult it can be. The main part that stood out was how difficult radio conversation can be as they are often hour long and you have to be able to keep the audience interested. There is also a vast amount of preparation in setting up an interview and making the person being interviewed comfortable to be able to extract a good conversation from them. Listening to one of Richards' most memorable moments being with Adam Gilchrist inspiring in the way that Richard was able to share such a moment with this famous cricketer and his out of no where story of an outer body experience. This interview made me appreciate radio journalist and has encouraged me to start listening to good radio again.

Richard Fidler (right, holding guitar), performing with Tim Ferguson and Paul McDermott as the Doug Anthony All Stars.

The interview with Steve Austin. This last half of the recording seemed to draw out for me purely because I'm not very familiar with Steve Austin however I did find it almost (not quiet) as interesting as the previous interview. The main part of this conversation the stood out was when it was said that the most important part of a successful radio story or interview is being human. Because at the end of the day, like Steve says, we are emotional creatures and we respond emotionally and subconsciously. So when talking with another it is important to seek this from the other person in order to connect with them and the audience. This seems almost essential to any news story, being able to connect with another is crucial. Heading toward the end of the audio piece the most rewarding moments in journalism were discussed.  Austin spoke about when you are in an interview and your interviewee let their guard down and lose themselves in their personal story and in their emotions that that is one of the most rewarding parts in journalism is to be able to experience that moment. 

After listening to the audio lecture it has really opened my eyes and mind to seek other forms of journalism sources other than my norm of newspapers and online news. Radio journalism is actually really inspiring and can be very rewarding for the interviewer, interviewee and most importantly the audience.