The following are some of the areas we will explore together:
• 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.

We will provide feedback on the student Podcasts, and we will discuss securing funding for radio and podcast work via national and international funding schemes. We will also explore finding a home for and generating an income from your audio work.

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.

You may be interest in progressing to our MA in Broadcast Production

The course runs for 9 weeks from the 22nd February to the 2nd May 2024.

Thursdays, online, 6pm – 9pm:
22nd and 29th February;
7th, 14th and 21st March;
11th, 18th and 25th April;
2nd May.

Saturdays, on campus, 10am – 4pm:
24th February;
9th and 23rd March;
20th and 27th April.

You will have to complete two assignments in the course: formative (mid-way) and summative (final) assessment. There are no final examinations.
Each assignment has three elements: Oral Pitch, Written Pitch and Audio Production.

Assignment 1: Location Package (40%)
Each student must pitch and produce a 3-5 minute radio package to a professional standard.
The package 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.

Assignment 2: Podcast (60%)
Each student must produce a 10-minute Podcast to a professional standard.
The programme 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 16 or 32 GB SD card for recording purposes.

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 and a reference.
• An online portfolio of your work (links to audio work done are acceptable)
OR
• A personal statement (tell us about your experience/background in any media, what you hope to learn and achieve on the course).

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.