Sound lecture: Richard Fidler interview

"Just because you're in your sixties and older, doesn't mean you don't want to listen to this really current stuff."

 - This quote from yesterday's sound lecture struck me as particularly relevant; yes, we must always keep our target audience in mind, however it is interesting to note that many of the social groups we ignore are the ones who are really tuning in, those who have time to be listening to the radio, those who have had the life experience behind them to really understand the implications of current affairs, etc.

News can really bridge generational gaps, considering that world information impacts upon the lives of all citizens, no matter their age, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.

That isn't to say that we should start marketing rock concerts to the elderly, merely that news, particularly radio and newspapers, need to maintain inclusivity in order to remain relevant and relatable.

The first half of the sound lecture comprised of an interview with Richard Fidler, of 'Conversations'. The focus of his interview was on telling stories for the radio, his personal pathway into radio, interview techniques, etc, and ending with some small pieces of advice for aspiring presenters and journalism students. Some of these tidbits included gaining world experience, and making sure not to exist only on the internet, since the best source is always a primary source.

Fidler states that whilst television is a high impact medium of communication, radio is far more intimate and "the voice almost seems to come from inside your head" - presenters need to facilitate the inclusivity of the audience with the guests, stories, etc. 

Something I found particularly interesting was his note on how easy it is for an interview to accidentally become a private conversation that loses interest for listeners, and how radio presenters and interviewers must always be mindful of this when speaking to people they have particular rapport with - the purpose of radio is to connect with and inform the audience, not to get caught up in one's personal feelings on the matter.