By Pedro Sabino
Working on broadcast media since 1986 has been a learning experience day after day. This has been a thrilling journey that has taken me from a local station to working at a nationwide TV news network, breaking news on satellite radio, and freelancing for the worldwide news network CNN en Espanol Radio. In this article, I will explain basic principles that have helped me through this journey and could make a difference in your broadcast communication career.
I will describe each basic step of the communication process and how you can capitalize on each one of them to gain the respect and approval of your listeners while making a place for yourself on the spectrum. This guide will walk you through the process of achieving effective communication.
The Communication Process
Communicating effectively on the airwaves is a complex process, but we should start with the five basic components: The message, the transmitter, the channel, the receiver, and the destination. An effective communication achieves the intended goal, which could generate a positive or negative reaction, depending on the diversity of viewpoints of your listeners. The message, however, was received effectively. This is a matter for wider discussion. The other basic components of the communication process are the sources of the message and potential noises.
Let us talk about a radio announcer or DJ, who is also known as a radio personality. If you break the term down you have the radio, which means in a simple definition, the communication system that uses the Hertz waves to broadcast a message; and personality, which in basic terms is the sum of all the characteristics of an individual. When people talk on the radio they are broadcasting their personalities. Regardless of what type of personality you have, you can get to communicate effectively on the radio with the proper training. One basic requirement for this is to choose a program genre that fits your type and, again, receive the proper training.
The Message
One of the most important components of the process is the message. If the message is impacting, your work will be easier because the audience will center the attention on the content, not on the messenger. In consequence, if you want to have an impacting communication, broadcast impacting messages. In order to have an impacting message, its connection to the audience is capital; consequently, when you decide to communicate a message, make sure that it affects your listeners or present it in a way that they see how the message affects them. Do not waste your audience time speaking irrelevantly or you will be left alone "on the air". How? The fact that the radio is on does not mean that the person is listening to it.
The Sources
If you want to have a powerful message to transmit, make sure you get powerful sources; these are people who have authority in the topic from both sides of the story. Obviously, you have your opinion and principles to stand by and you do not have to be impartial, but being objective is a must if you want to make a bigger impact on your listeners and gain their respect. You can be on one side, but still, be objective telling the story the way it happened and allowing dissenting voices in your show. Being an opinion show, you are entitled to have yours too. This does not mean you are supporting their arguments, you are just being fair by letting them express their points, which will give you more authority to contest them. Keep in mind that showing respect for the dissenting opinions shows good character and helps you gain the favor of your listeners.
The Channel
Your channels are your voice and the radio system; therefore, you must know how to use them properly. You need to get training so you can use your vocal resources fluently and be savvy in the operation of the studio equipment; this way you will not get distracted by technical glitches and can focus on the main issues. Your audience can barely hear you; therefore, add color to your delivery broadcasting your body language through inflections of your voice, fluency in your words, and applying voice acting techniques to make your message come across precisely.
The Destination of your Message
A fundamental element for communicating effectively is to define your target audience; then, make sure that you get to know them well. You should know their tastes and preferences, the idioms they use, their cultural background, and ideological approaches to life. Other inputs you should get from your audience are their problems, their dreams, and obstacles to accomplish them. By knowing all these facts you will come across more effectively to them since you will create empathy with your listeners.
You as a Transmitter
By the transmitter we do not refer to the electronic equipment that broadcasts the waves to thousands of radio receivers; we are talking about you as a radio announcer or voiceover. Besides all those elements we mentioned above, the communicator needs to take into consideration the boundaries of language; what language is acceptable and what is considered offensive. You do not want to have your audience turned against you. Though sometimes a little bit of that can spice up the taste of your program, offending your audience might have a cost that is too high: You can lose their respect and consequently lower your ratings.
Broadcast your message genuinely. Do not try to be somebody else; be yourself, but do it in your most interesting style. To be a good communicator you must be self-confident, demonstrate excellent handling of the topic in discussion, and be honest when questions arise that you do not have the answers at the moment. Recognize the listener for raising a good question and promise them to research and provide the answer later. Allowing participation of the public to express their evaluation of your program will give you authority because people tend to recognize the accomplishments of your show when you give them this opportunity. You might as well get some harsh criticism; therefore, you should be ready for this and be gracious.
Avoid Noises
In the communication process, noises can affect the way the message reaches the destination or intended audience. I am not talking about the static sounds that sometimes make it difficult for the listener to understand the message transmitted. Some of the noises I am referring to include differences in core beliefs and cultural background between the speaker and the intended audience. You must get familiar with the core principles of your audience so you can be on the same page.
Other noises could be language barriers. A communicator with a strong language accent should use this as an asset and not as a liability, meaning that you should not try to fake an accent unless you can do it perfectly and without effort. You might have better results if you can speak properly and confidently with your own accent but do it graciously to gain the approval of your audience. In your path to becoming a better communicator, practice is crucial and for that purpose, you will need your home recording studio. There are many affordable equipment and tools that will help you achieve this. Here is a good way to start. Click the link below to start your own home recording studio, which will allow you to record commercials, practice on-air delivery, record internet podcasts, and make your own music beats and sound effects. Copyright @ Pedro Sabino 2009.
Working on broadcast media since 1986 has been a learning experience day after day. This has been a thrilling journey that has taken me from a local station to working at a nationwide TV news network, breaking news on satellite radio, and freelancing for the worldwide news network CNN en Espanol Radio. In this article, I will explain basic principles that have helped me through this journey and could make a difference in your broadcast communication career.
I will describe each basic step of the communication process and how you can capitalize on each one of them to gain the respect and approval of your listeners while making a place for yourself on the spectrum. This guide will walk you through the process of achieving effective communication.
The Communication Process
Communicating effectively on the airwaves is a complex process, but we should start with the five basic components: The message, the transmitter, the channel, the receiver, and the destination. An effective communication achieves the intended goal, which could generate a positive or negative reaction, depending on the diversity of viewpoints of your listeners. The message, however, was received effectively. This is a matter for wider discussion. The other basic components of the communication process are the sources of the message and potential noises.
Let us talk about a radio announcer or DJ, who is also known as a radio personality. If you break the term down you have the radio, which means in a simple definition, the communication system that uses the Hertz waves to broadcast a message; and personality, which in basic terms is the sum of all the characteristics of an individual. When people talk on the radio they are broadcasting their personalities. Regardless of what type of personality you have, you can get to communicate effectively on the radio with the proper training. One basic requirement for this is to choose a program genre that fits your type and, again, receive the proper training.
The Message
One of the most important components of the process is the message. If the message is impacting, your work will be easier because the audience will center the attention on the content, not on the messenger. In consequence, if you want to have an impacting communication, broadcast impacting messages. In order to have an impacting message, its connection to the audience is capital; consequently, when you decide to communicate a message, make sure that it affects your listeners or present it in a way that they see how the message affects them. Do not waste your audience time speaking irrelevantly or you will be left alone "on the air". How? The fact that the radio is on does not mean that the person is listening to it.
The Sources
If you want to have a powerful message to transmit, make sure you get powerful sources; these are people who have authority in the topic from both sides of the story. Obviously, you have your opinion and principles to stand by and you do not have to be impartial, but being objective is a must if you want to make a bigger impact on your listeners and gain their respect. You can be on one side, but still, be objective telling the story the way it happened and allowing dissenting voices in your show. Being an opinion show, you are entitled to have yours too. This does not mean you are supporting their arguments, you are just being fair by letting them express their points, which will give you more authority to contest them. Keep in mind that showing respect for the dissenting opinions shows good character and helps you gain the favor of your listeners.
The Channel
Your channels are your voice and the radio system; therefore, you must know how to use them properly. You need to get training so you can use your vocal resources fluently and be savvy in the operation of the studio equipment; this way you will not get distracted by technical glitches and can focus on the main issues. Your audience can barely hear you; therefore, add color to your delivery broadcasting your body language through inflections of your voice, fluency in your words, and applying voice acting techniques to make your message come across precisely.
The Destination of your Message
A fundamental element for communicating effectively is to define your target audience; then, make sure that you get to know them well. You should know their tastes and preferences, the idioms they use, their cultural background, and ideological approaches to life. Other inputs you should get from your audience are their problems, their dreams, and obstacles to accomplish them. By knowing all these facts you will come across more effectively to them since you will create empathy with your listeners.
You as a Transmitter
By the transmitter we do not refer to the electronic equipment that broadcasts the waves to thousands of radio receivers; we are talking about you as a radio announcer or voiceover. Besides all those elements we mentioned above, the communicator needs to take into consideration the boundaries of language; what language is acceptable and what is considered offensive. You do not want to have your audience turned against you. Though sometimes a little bit of that can spice up the taste of your program, offending your audience might have a cost that is too high: You can lose their respect and consequently lower your ratings.
Broadcast your message genuinely. Do not try to be somebody else; be yourself, but do it in your most interesting style. To be a good communicator you must be self-confident, demonstrate excellent handling of the topic in discussion, and be honest when questions arise that you do not have the answers at the moment. Recognize the listener for raising a good question and promise them to research and provide the answer later. Allowing participation of the public to express their evaluation of your program will give you authority because people tend to recognize the accomplishments of your show when you give them this opportunity. You might as well get some harsh criticism; therefore, you should be ready for this and be gracious.
Avoid Noises
In the communication process, noises can affect the way the message reaches the destination or intended audience. I am not talking about the static sounds that sometimes make it difficult for the listener to understand the message transmitted. Some of the noises I am referring to include differences in core beliefs and cultural background between the speaker and the intended audience. You must get familiar with the core principles of your audience so you can be on the same page.
Other noises could be language barriers. A communicator with a strong language accent should use this as an asset and not as a liability, meaning that you should not try to fake an accent unless you can do it perfectly and without effort. You might have better results if you can speak properly and confidently with your own accent but do it graciously to gain the approval of your audience. In your path to becoming a better communicator, practice is crucial and for that purpose, you will need your home recording studio. There are many affordable equipment and tools that will help you achieve this. Here is a good way to start. Click the link below to start your own home recording studio, which will allow you to record commercials, practice on-air delivery, record internet podcasts, and make your own music beats and sound effects. Copyright @ Pedro Sabino 2009.
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