16 September, 2008

Presenting On Radio

It is the lot of broadcasters, as most will admit, constantly to be seen as inferior to television presenters. Sadly they often secretly beleive it themselves and struggle desperately to get in front of a camera, regardless of their suitability. The two mediums, whilst requiring many of the same skills, also demand different abilities. Television is technically more complicated and, I beleive, more stressful and cumbersome; it is certainly not true that because you have mastered it you can slip easily in to radio. There is a closeners to the audience which the presenter, potentially, much loved but also extremely vulnerable. Radio is not just TV without the picture.

Creating A Sound And Style

Radio is a remarkably intimate medium. Every presenter says you should imaging you mum, partner or friend and talk only to them. If there is a golden rule, this is it. But you need to do more than this. A presenter either spontaneously, or else deliberately, will create a sound that will become a 'USP' (unique selling point)- something that marks you out from the rest. Since you can only be yourself this involves developing certain of your prefered characteristics. Maybe you are forth- right by nature or maybe gentle and coaxing with people; these traits will form a style that 'brands' you. At the same time, when you're starting out it's as well to be able to adapt your sound so that you maximize your job oppotunities and get heaps of experience.

07 September, 2008

Interactive Media

Interactive media refers to media that allows for active participation by the recipient, hence interactivity. Traditional information theory would describe interactive media as those media that establish two-way communication. In media theory, interactive media are discussed along their cultural implications. The field of Human Computer Interaction deals with aspects of interactivity and design in digital media. Other areas that deal with interactive media are new media art, interactive advertising and video game production.

While much traditional analog electronic media and print media qualifies as interactive media, the term is sometimes misunderstood as exclusive to digital media. The significant increase in possibilities for interactivity (especially over vast distances) brought by the internet boosted the availability of digital interactive media. Still, e.g. language in face-to-face communication would formally belong to the category of interactive media.

Interactive media are often designed by information designers. As all media they rely on communication. In the case of e.g. computer games this is visual, acoustic, and haptic communication between the user (player) and the game. In Mobile telephony, the communication happens between two people and is purely acoustic at the first glance. Yet, according to media theory the cultural implications of the medium have to be taken into account. Thus, aspects like constant availability, customization of the mobile phone and Short Message Service are also part of the interactive medium called Mobile telephony. Media restrain from being translated to technological entities.

Terminology

Any form of interface between the end user/audience and the medium may be considered interactive. Interactive media is not limited to electronic media or digital media. Board games, pop-up books, gamebooks, flip books and constellation wheels are all examples of printed interactive media. Books with a simple table of contents or index may be considered interactive due to the non-linear control mechanism in the medium, but are usually considered non-interactive since the majority of the user experience is non-interactive sequential reading.

Examples of interactive media

• World Wide Web
• Computer games
• Online games
• Video games
• Interactive television
• Interactive radio
• Mobile telephony
• E-Mail
• E-Commerce
• Short Message Service
• electronic literature
• Some developments in pervasive computing
• Shadow Monsters