BMG Curriculum and Course Overview

In addition to meeting with your mentor 1-3 times weekly, every BMG student hosts their own online radio program. This requires you to develop a solid broadcasting foundation, which your course work is intended to provide.

Think of your BMG broadcaster training like a college course with a lab. The following curriculum covers your book knowledge about broadcasting. Your in-station time with your mentor is like the lab. Hosting your own radio program is applying what you’ve learned in a realistic manner, with your mentors’ guidance and assistance.

Here is an overview of your course work.

Section 1: Introduction to Professional Announcing

  • Introduction
  • Announcer, Talent or Personality?
  • Announcing: A Historical Perspective
  • Announcing: An Employment Perspective
  • Announcing Specialization
  • Is a College Degree Necessary for a Broadcast Announcer?
  • Key Physical Requirements for Broadcasters
  • Key Emotional Requirements for Broadcasters
  • Is Practical Experience Necessary for a Broadcast Announcer?
  • Announcer Responsibilities
  • Role Model Announcers
  • Conclusions

Section 2: The Audio Studio Environment

  • Introduction
  • Radio Studio
  • Microphones
  • Working with a Microphone
  • Mic Fright and Why Broadcast Performers Get it
  • The Audio Console
  • Music Playback Sources
  • Recording Equipment
  • Digital Audio Equipment
  • Conclusions

Section 3: The Studio Environment: Studio and Cable

  • Introduction
  • The Television Studio
  • The Television Production Crew
  • Television Terminology
  • Camera Panic
  • Working With a Camera
  • Communicating in the Studio: Cue Cards, Hand Signals, Prompters
  • Make-ups
  • Conclusions

Section 4: Vocal Development

  • Introduction
  • How Sound is Produced
  • Diaphragmatic Breathing Technique
  • Proper Breathing Posture
  • Avoiding Thoracic Breathing
  • Key Elements of Vocal Development
  • Volume
  • Pitch
  • Rate
  • Tone
  • Articulation of Sounds
  • Pronunciation
  • Substandard Pronunciation
  • Common Vocal Problems
  • Maintaining and Healthy Voice
  • Conclusions

Section 5 Performance Development

  • Introduction
  • Developing a Broadcasting Style
  • Vocal Elements
  • Copy Marking
  • Word Usage
  • Language Changes
  • Avoiding Amateurish Announcing and Inept Delivery
  • Audience Rapport
  • Conclusions

Section 6: Commercial Announcing

  • Introduction
  • Sources of Broadcast Commercials
  • Commercial Forms: Radio
  • Commercial Forms: Television and Cable
  • Considering the Basic Structure of the Commercial
  • Other Factors to Consider when Analyzing a Commercial
  • Importance of Timing
  • Energy: Hard Sell versus Soft Sell
  • Gestures and Facial Expressions
  • Ad-Lib Commercials
  • Acting
  • Commercial Voice-Over
  • Public Service and Promotional Announcements
  • Conclusions

Section 7: Interviewing

  • Introduction
  • Types of Interviews
  • Basic Structure of the Broadcast Interview
  • The Interview Setting
  • Research and Preparation
  • Preparing Interesting Guests and Topics
  • Developing Interviewing Skills
  • Dressing for an Interview
  • Keeping Control
  • Keeping a Neutral View
  • Talk Radio
  • Talk Television
  • Special Interviewing Situations: Politicians and Athletes
  • Conclusions

Section 8: News Announcing

  • Introduction
  • Determining News Value
  • Newscaster Criteria
  • News Sources
  • Writing Broadcasting News
  • The Radio Newscast
  • The Radio News Anchor
  • The Radio News Reporter
  • The Television News Team and Newscast
  • The Television News Anchor
  • The Television News Reporter
  • Ad-Lib Situations Within the Broadcast News
  • News Announcing and the Internet
  • Conclusions

Section 9: Music Announcing

  • Introduction
  • The Duties of the Radio Announcer
  • Developing the Ability to Ad-Lib
  • How to be an Effective Music Announcer
  • Radio Format Programs
  • Adult Contemporary
  • Contemporary Hit Radio
  • Smooth Jazz
  • Country
  • Rock
  • News/Talk Radio
  • Urban Contemporary
  • Oldies
  • Modern Rock
  • Classical Music Announcing
  • Announcing According to Day port
  • Announcing for Satellite Radio
  • The Music Video Jockey
  • The Music Disc Jockey
  • Conclusions

Section 10: Sports Announcing

  • Introduction
  • Sports Announcing
  • Sports Reporting
  • What a Sports Reporter Covers
  • The Sports Anchor
  • Play-by-Play and Sports Analysis
  • Sports Talk Host
  • Conclusions

Section 11: Specialty Announcing

  • Introduction
  • Weather Reporting
  • The Chroma-Key System for Reporting
  • Financial Reporting
  • What a Financial Reporter Covers
  • Feature Specialists
  • Host Selling
  • The Voice-Over and Narration
  • Developing Voice-Over Skills
  • Voice Characterizations
  • Conclusions

Section 12 Beginning Your Announcing Career

  • Introduction
  • Writing Your Resume
  • Electronic Resumes
  • Adding a Cover Letter
  • Making Your Audition Tape
  • Developing a Contact List
  • Interviewing for a Job
  • Responding to a Job Offer
  • Unions, Agents, and Contracts
  • Losing That First Job: A Fact of Broadcast Performance Life
  • Conclusions


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