Radio Course and Curriculum Overview

BMG's radio course and comprehensive curriculum provides you with a thorough and well-rounded broadcasting education.

In addition to meeting with your mentor in the radio station 1-3 times weekly, every BMG apprentice also hosts their own online radio program. This enables you to develop a more practical broadcasting foundation by applying what you've learned into action.

BMG's radio course curriculum serves as a supplement to your mentor's instruction, which helps to deepen your understanding about how to broadcast, and all it entails. 

Here's an overview of your radio course and curriculum:

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
• Makeup
• 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 a 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