This post was originally published in February of 2016 on another platform:
At the NAB conference last year I picked up a book by this title. It was written by Andrew Dubber. It's interesting where he took this work. I had assumed he'd focus in on new technology and how it's changing what we do. He eventually gets there in later chapters. What he did instead at the beginning was to question what radio even is. On page 10 he says, "As part of a changing media environment, radio becomes a moving target." He continues, "Something is happening to radio - indeed something has happened to radio - and in order for us to understand what has changed about it and what that means, we need to stop and attempt to gain some clarity about what 'radio' was in the first place."
Dubber eventually describes a context to define and understand what is meant by the word radio. He proposes a list of 10 categories through which radio is defined. Here is the list:
Device
This is the tool used to listen to radio. It could be the traditional device in your car dashboard, on the kitchen table or the home stereo system. He also includes less traditional devices such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets.
Transmission
Here he includes electromagnetic radio waves that are modulated, wired internet connections, cell phone data streams and satellites. I would add audio channels on TV cable and satellite systems.
Text
By this Dubber means the programs offered through the medium.
Subtext
Here Dubber is speaking of the intentions behind the programming. What are the underlying purposes for making radio content? The motivation shapes the outcome.
Audience
This refers to the people who consume the content no matter how it gets to them.
Station
Dubber uses this term more broadly than the traditional idea of a business entity that broadcasts a radio signal over the air in a geographic location. He also includes any organization that produces texts (content).
Political Economy
Here he wants us to consider political and economic forces that shape the content shared and the funding mechanisms. Dubber also includes the ideas surrounding performance of some social or civic function.
Production Technologies
Tools used to create radio texts (content). Think hardware and software.
Professional Practice
In this area Dubber refers to techniques and work flows for using the technology to create and distribute the content.
Promotional Culture
This one relates to several of the others, but with the intention to have a specific effect on the consumer behavior of audiences.
Whew! So... How do YOU define RADIO? Let's see what you think. Of course that assumes anyone is actually reading this and has/shares an opinion that I'm OK leaving posted here. ;-)
At the NAB conference last year I picked up a book by this title. It was written by Andrew Dubber. It's interesting where he took this work. I had assumed he'd focus in on new technology and how it's changing what we do. He eventually gets there in later chapters. What he did instead at the beginning was to question what radio even is. On page 10 he says, "As part of a changing media environment, radio becomes a moving target." He continues, "Something is happening to radio - indeed something has happened to radio - and in order for us to understand what has changed about it and what that means, we need to stop and attempt to gain some clarity about what 'radio' was in the first place."
Dubber eventually describes a context to define and understand what is meant by the word radio. He proposes a list of 10 categories through which radio is defined. Here is the list:
Device
This is the tool used to listen to radio. It could be the traditional device in your car dashboard, on the kitchen table or the home stereo system. He also includes less traditional devices such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets.
Transmission
Here he includes electromagnetic radio waves that are modulated, wired internet connections, cell phone data streams and satellites. I would add audio channels on TV cable and satellite systems.
Text
By this Dubber means the programs offered through the medium.
Subtext
Here Dubber is speaking of the intentions behind the programming. What are the underlying purposes for making radio content? The motivation shapes the outcome.
Audience
This refers to the people who consume the content no matter how it gets to them.
Station
Dubber uses this term more broadly than the traditional idea of a business entity that broadcasts a radio signal over the air in a geographic location. He also includes any organization that produces texts (content).
Political Economy
Here he wants us to consider political and economic forces that shape the content shared and the funding mechanisms. Dubber also includes the ideas surrounding performance of some social or civic function.
Production Technologies
Tools used to create radio texts (content). Think hardware and software.
Professional Practice
In this area Dubber refers to techniques and work flows for using the technology to create and distribute the content.
Promotional Culture
This one relates to several of the others, but with the intention to have a specific effect on the consumer behavior of audiences.
Whew! So... How do YOU define RADIO? Let's see what you think. Of course that assumes anyone is actually reading this and has/shares an opinion that I'm OK leaving posted here. ;-)
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