PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF BROADCASTING

Definition of Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the process of sending out and receiving messages through the air by a scientific
method called electromagnetic waves. According to Owuamalam (2007), these messages are
transformed into electronic signals in the studio. It mixes the signal with the carrier waves,
generated in the transmitter and the studio.
The blending enables the electromagnetic waves to be moved at great speed through the antenna
and shot into the air. The air carries the waves as a medium and the signals are received by the
sets in our homes and offices.
The broadcast programme generally falls into three forms, namely:
i. Entertainment
ii. Informative
iii. Educative
The essence of the broadcast programme production, as Sofola (1997) cited in Owuamalam
(2007), is to stimulate societal growth, renewal and regeneration of vital issues to the
improvement of man for a wholesome life and a better community.

Characteristics of Broadcasting
Broadcasting recreates the activities of people and their environment through its programmes
(Owuamalam, 2007). News tends to relay activities and events of people. It is the recording and
passing the information which has already taken place. The information to be reported must pass
through the editor. The editor might correct grammar, take out certain things that he or she thinks
are not relevant. This can be for either the radio or television.

Life Span
What makes news is currency. If what happens now is delayed and reported a few days after it
has happened, then it becomes stale. It is no longer news. In order to capture the attention of
audience members, news is written in short sentences, precise, to the point, with most important
ones coming first in the news.

As such materials to be used in news production or any kind of production must be carefully
selected, creatively ordered and structurally organised to meet the needs of the audience
members for whom the programme is meant.
Personnel Involved
Radio and television broadcasting involves a number of people. These include the technical
crew, the producer, the director, the editor, the lighting crew, the actors and actresses or the
artists. All these people put together form what is called the production team. The production
team can be made up of both skilled and unskilled artisans and talents.
When the audience members view or listen to programmes, they are bound to react to such
programmes in a specific manner. The reaction may be positive or negative depending on the
contents of the programme. Certain programmes set an agenda for the public to discuss.
Programming
Broadcast programming is the practice of organizing and or ordering of broadcast media
programs (Internet, television, radio, etc.) in a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or season-long
schedule.
There are basically three reasons for programming:
i. To build an audience for a specific show
ii. To retain the audience
iii. To compete with other broadcasters’ programmes.
In broadcasting, a programme is seen as a broadcast material created to meet certain specific
needs or attain some set objectives and transmitted to some pre-determined target audience
(Eastman & Ferguson, 2006)
Duyile (2005) classified programmes under two (2) general headings which includes;
i. Spoken words broadcasting: They are; talks, discussions, educational broadcasting,
programmes for special audiences (women, children, rural listeners), drama,
documentary, magazines, news and current affairs programmes and religious
broadcasting.
ii. Music includes programmes of cassette recording, live musical performance of all kinds
and variety of entertainment.

He further went to break down the different types of Broadcast Programmes which fits into the
above classifications:
a. Talk Programmes: this is termed straightforward talk, the interview and discussion. A talk
programme ranges from a one minute contribution, to a magazine programme, to one hour
interview programme which are audience participatory in nature. The purpose of the talk
programme may be to inform, to educate or simply to entertain. The best talk programme is
a chat built on one subject.
b. Educational Programme: of all the uses to which television and radio have been put,
educational programmes have commanded more enthusiasm. No other means of
transmitting knowledge broadly whether by text, the classroom lecture or discussion or
magazine articles would seem nearly effective as television and radio, which allow a single
teacher to address thousands of people. For educational programme, several unique
characteristics make television and radio especially useful. Among these are easy
communication, sense of reality, technical assets available through the media, timeliness
and special motivation. However, a number of shortcomings have been identified in
educational programmes. They include general lack of such ingredients as reciprocal
relationship, flexibility, regularity and system as well as limitation in the physical senses.
c. Entertainment Programmes: Not all broadcast programming is serious or of vital social
concern. A great number of hours are set aside simply for entertainment and these are the
hours, which build the popularity of broadcast media and win as well as hold the audience.
Light entertainment is a rather loose term used by many stations to cover a wide field of
programming, book and short story reading, serialized drama, particularly light and
humorous drama; variety of programmes featuring light musical entertainment, comics,
community singing, some types of listeners feedback programmes, quiz and panel games.
The success of these programmes is largely dependent upon the amount of talent available.
d. Children Programme: No area of television programming is more susceptible to public
criticism than that of children programmes.
e. News Programmes: News programmes are essential part of programming for any radio or
television station. The broadcast of news is an activity, in which practically every
broadcasting organization engages. News operations range from large scale undertakings
involving news editors, film crews and special reporters.
Because of the great audience for news and the public faith in the reliability of broadcast
news, it is essential that news broadcasters have a full sense of responsibility and are
intellectually equipped professionals. News is very important to everybody because it keeps
people informed as to what is happening in their community and other communities.
News satisfies people’s curiosity and concern and it provides basic facts, which enable
people to make up their minds and so join the general discussion that leads to community
discussion.
Factors to consider when programming for TV and Radio
i. There should be a clear and precise statement as to what the programme is all about. Its
importance to the targeted audience. Also it should indicate what the programme wants to
achieve.
ii. The programme should indicate the time it is going to take to complete it, that is if it is
going to be a 30-minute programme or a one-hour programme.
iii. The major objectives of the programme should vividly describe so as to aid
understanding by both actors and the stations audience.
iv. There should be a plan that outlines the sequence of the activities. The plan should
indicate the number of persons involved in the production and how long it would take
them to accomplish the task of production set before them.
v. The programme should go in line with the normal expectations of the audience. The
programme producer ought to have had knowledge of the audience and the type of
programme would be believable and acceptable by them.
vi. The audience should be able to learn something or gain something whenever they listen
or to watch the programme they should want more. A programme which is capable of
holding the attention of the audience members can be said to have achieved its objectives.
vii. The programmes should be aired at such a time that is convenient for the audience.
viii. Members of the audience should be able to appreciate the programme. The producer
should be able to carry the audience along by producing an interesting programme. By
capturing the interest of the audience, the programme would have succeeded in sustaining
their active participation.
ix. The programme should stand out clear from others on the same station. It should appeal
to the audience and be appreciated by a good number of the audience members.

Production Considerations
Every production in the broadcast medium is designed to satisfy three major interests:
i. Station’s purpose and objectives
ii. Programme objectives
iii. Audience interest
Producers have to follow the stations directive on programme production which would be
acceptable to the audience. Broadcast stations are praised because programmes are
produced according to the station’s prescription and such programmes do meet audience
aspirations.
The studio lighting should be adequate to separate objects from their shadows cast in the
background. The space for performance should be adequate to allow performers free
movement without obstruction.
The nature of the programme should determine the location of production, whether
production should take place in the studio or outside the studio.
Wherever production takes place, the programme should be made to be believable.
Things should appear as natural as possible. Programmes produced by a station should be
targeted towards an audience and must meet the yearnings and aspirations of such
audience.