We will examine the broadcast landscape in Ireland, and explore ways to create ground-breaking radio and podcasts that resonate. We will listen to, and create multiple examples of audio content in a variety of styles for both live and online contexts. You will also be able to analyse radio journalism as a discipline, and evaluate contemporary audiences and how to reach them.

• The Role of Radio and Podcast in Society: A Shared Experience in an increasingly atomised world.
• Styles and Forms – past, present and future (Golden age, Pirate, Commercial, Community, Public Service, Podcast).
• Idea Generation: How to generate original ideas and treatments that resonate.
• Building a Running Order.
• Sourcing and securing contributors.
• Planning and structuring programmes.
• Using sound effectively in radio and podcast features.
• Creating memorable, creative ads and promos.
• Live radio and Podcast production roles and values.
• Ethical Journalism, diversity, access and representation.
• Outside broadcasts and overseas productions.
• Costing, budgeting and project management.
• Finding a home for your audio work: Successful pitching to broadcasters and Funding bodies.
• Technical aspects of radio production, including recording, editing, mastering, mic technique, studio operations.

This course will suit those of you interested in:
· Developing an understanding of the podcast and radio industries
· Exploring the art of podcast and radio production to industry standard
· Mastering the processes involved in podcast and radio production, from idea generation through production to broadcast.
· Mastering the technical skills required to create broadcast-quality audio features.
· Mastering the use of professional recording and editing equipment, in state-of-the-art recording studios
· Generating broadcast-quality audio content suitable for a variety of platforms
· Incorporating podcast and sound production skills into their current work
· Upskilling towards a future career in podcasting and radio production
· Those with a general interest in storytelling through sound, audio portraiture, oral heritage collection, audio-drama and the creative potential of the medium of audio production.

The course will enable you to incorporate your skills into your production practices and in your future professional roles.

Professional pathways exist in the audio-visual, web and screen industries. Graduates go on to radio, online content providers, the broadcast media, advertisement agencies, production facilities, company in house production facilities, state and civil society bodies and indeed any group involved in the creation and distribution of audio content.

Thursdays | 6pm – 9pm | Online:

• 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th January 2026
• 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th February
• 5th, 12th March

Saturdays | 10am – 4pm | On Campus:

• 10th, 17th, 24th January
• 7th, 21st, 28th February
• 7th March

The course is divided into two sections: Short Feature Production and Live Radio Production.

Assignment 1

Students will pitch, produce and deliver a short radio insert of 3-5 minutes duration on the subject of their choice. This is an individual assignment.

This assignment tests the learners’ ability to conceive of, plan, structure, produce and deliver broadcast quality short-feature content for radio. The learners will demonstrate skills such as storyboarding, narrative structuring, sourcing of contributors, interview skills, editing, use of sound and SFX and best practice in terms of ethics.

Assignment 2

Each student must produce a 10-minute Podcast to a professional standard. The podcast will contain the relevant content as outlined in the project brief. Appropriate use of technical equipment and production practices will be assessed as part of this project. Final delivery will include the relevant production deliverables as outlined in the brief.

You will need to have your own headphones, and a USB memory stick.

Details on what headphones to purchase will be shared with the students at the start of the course.

This course is suitable for students who have an undergraduate qualification of 2nd Class Honours or higher at Honours Degree level. Experience of the media industries is an additional advantage.

Applicants without a Level 8 qualification may be considered provided they can demonstrate Honours Degree equivalence which can be verified through the RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) process.

As part of your application you will be required to submit:

• A CV
• A personal statement (tell us about your experience/background in any media, what you hope to learn and achieve on the course).

If you have a portfolio of audio/radio/podcast work, please include links to it on the personal statement.

IADT may ask for the contact details of a referee in some instances.

Applications are open for 2025/2026. Please apply HERE

IADT operates on a rolling admissions basis. This means that applications are reviewed as and when they are received.

Should you apply for a course that is already at capacity, our admissions team will have established a waiting list to accommodate such situations. In the event that a spot becomes available due to enrolment changes, we will work diligently to offer that spot to waitlisted applicants.

Fees for this course in 2025/2026 are €1,100.

Should any fee subsidies be available for this course, information will be posted here around mid-November.

CFA Scholarships:

A CFA Scholarship encourages the participation and success of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering a free place in one of our CFA courses and programmes.

Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE

Fill in the CFA@IADT Scholarship application form HERE

Francesca Lalor, award-winning radio producer, broadcast industry trainer and media lecturer, has a background of 20 years’ experience in radio production, both live and feature, for local, national and international broadcasters. Francesca has overseen the commissioning, funding, production and broadcast of upwards of 250 feature-length documentaries, radio dramas and podcasts on Irish radio in the past decade.

Shea Fitzgerald started his career as an assistant in a commercial production studio in Dublin in 1982, developing his recording, editing, sound design and production skills by creating radio and TV (audio component) commercials. He also has well documented form in the areas of music production and music composition for TV and film in a career that spans more than 35 years. He holds an MA in Broadcast Production.