Radio: An Illustrated Guide

I'm not completely sure what we are supposed to blog about with this reading. Our reflections? I have a few.

I thoroughly enjoyed how this reading what structured as a graphic novel. I was actually chatting with my boyfriend this weekend about what the djs on NPR look like. We looked up Robert Siegel and Michele Norris, but never thought to look up Ira Glass. Daniel can't stand Ira Glass, he says his cadence rubs him the wrong way. I can see what he means as he doesn't really have a consistent rhythm like other radio personalties, but I still like This American Life enough to not think about it too much.

To be honest, this reading was on of the most informative and helpful readings I've been assigned in my college life. I've recently discovered - because this is my first audio production class - that I am actually much more interested in radio and sound than film and television. I feel like I "get it" much more and take greater pleasure in recording and editing audio, listening to audio more than watching, reading about, recording and editing film. I dont really know why, but then again, do I need to explain why I like what I like?

This reading was helpful in that it was interesting to read how programs like This American Life are structured, what kind of recording devices and mics they usually use, how they prerecord things and do others live. I appreciated the tidbit on how to make your own sound programs in your laptop and home with free editing software (and they provided links- how awesome is that!?), and what makes a story interesting and successful.

The most helpful thing, though, was the section where Ira Glass, Julie Snyder and Alix Siegel each explain the circumstances under which they acquired their jobs at NPR. Last week I had an anxiety attack (which I'm very prone to, unfortunately) after looking for internships and paying jobs in San Antonio - where I might move after graduation in May. My highest hope was to get an internship with KSTX, which is the NPR station in SA. I looked - nothing. They need accountants and writers. I was crippled with the anxiety that I'll never find a job where I'm happy with what I'm doing. Readug about the expectations one should have if you want to get into public radio: working for free and moving up slowly, helped ease my frustration. I know it's not impossible now. I would be happy being a gofer or doing menial things if it meant I could potentially get a job doing, well, anything for my favorite radio station. Really, this reading helped me in many ways that other reading for school have never.

Well, this turned out to be uber long. But those are my reactions! I will be saving this reading so reference after this class and after school.