See What You Hear (BTS of a Live Radio Show)
What do you think of when you hear the word radio? You may think of listening to music or a morning show in your car while on your way to campus. You may also think of when you're listening to music at your local grocery store while shopping. But have you ever thought of what that actually looks like opposed to listening? Many of you may have answered no to this question. Those who have never seen a radio station are always surprised when they see one. This collection of photos gives you a small inside look on what is happening during a radio show while you are listening to it in your car or in your dorm room. These photos feature Christopher Mitchell, who is a senior at Barry University majoring in Communication Studies. Mitchell has his own radio show at Barry’s radio station, WBUJ 99.5 The Mix. Here is a small look at how you can see what you hear.
Barry senior, Christopher Mitchell, testing the microphone prior to starting his show. The show, "What's the Issue?", airs live at 4 PM on Wednesdays on 99.5 The Mix.
Ashley Mobley
Before every show, Mitchell goes over his notes to make sure every point he wants to discuss during his show is there with any notes that need to be said on air. Preparation is an important factor in hosting a radio show. Without preparation, there is no show. A host should never go on air without any topics to discuss or the show will not get the exposure and ratings it should. Listeners will be inclined to change the station or turn off the radio altogether.
Ashley Mobley
When the "On Air" sign is illuminated, it signifies that a show is in progress. This is a message to those around to keep their volume at a low level and to not interrupt whoever is in the process of live broadcasting. It is also referred to as the "red light" because the color red is associated with the term "stop".
Ashley Mobley
Mitchell using the sound panel (also called the audio console) to make sure everything will run smoothly for his show. The panel is the heart of any radio studio. It is used to control what the listeners hear in their cars or at home.
Ashley Mobley