The Radio Station: Broadcast, Satellite and Internet

The Radio Station is considered the standard work on radio media. It remains a concise and candid guide to the internal workings of radio stations and the radio industry in all of its various forms. Not only will you begin understand how each job at a radio station is best performed, you will learn how it meshes with those of the rest of the radio station staff. If you are uncertain of your career goals, this book provides a solid foundation in who does what, when, and why. The Radio Station details all departments within a radio station--be it a terrestrial, satellite, or Internet operation-from the inside-out, covering technology to operations, and sales to syndication. It also offers an overview of how government regulations affect radio stations today and how radio stations have adapted to new communications technologies. Drawing on the insights and observations of those who make their daily living by working in the industry, this edition continues its tradition of presenting the real-world perspective of where radio comes from, and where it is heading. The Eighth Edition of this classic text includes expanded sections on digital, satellite, and Internet radio; integration of new technologies; new and evolving formats; the uses and applications of podcasts and blogs; mobile multimedia devices; programming for the new radio formats; new contributions by key industry executives; digital studios; station clustering and consolidation; industry economics and statistics; and updated rules and regulations. The new companion website features the interviews and essays with industry professionals, an image bank, additional suggested reading, and a listing of helpful links to industry websites. This edition is loaded with new illustrations, feature boxes and quotes from industry pros, bringing it all together for the reader. Please visit the companion website (http://www.taylorandfrancis.com/cw/keith-9780240811864/) and click on the Resources tab at the top for helpful links and extra content.

Table of Contents:
Foreword by Lee Abrams Preface What's new to this edition Tip Sheet CHAPTER 1 State of the Fifth Estate In the Air-Everywhere A Household Utility A Toll on Radio Birth of the Networks Conflict in the Air Radio Prospers during the Depression Radio During World War II Television Appears A New Direction Radio Rocks and Roars FM's Ascent AM Stereo Noncommercial/Public Radio Proliferation and Frag-Out Profits in the Air Economics and Survival Consolidations, Downsizings, and Clusters Buying and Selling Digital and HD Radio Revolution Satellite and Cable Radio Internet Radio Mobile Music Services LPFM (Low Power FM) Radio and Government Regulations Jobs and Equality in Radio CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 2 Station Management Nature of the Business The Manager as Chief Collaborator What Makes a Manager? The Manager's Duties and Responsibilities Organizational Structure Managing the Cluster Human Resources Who Do Managers Hire? The Manager and the Profit Motive The Manager and the Community The Manager and the Government The Public File The Manager and Unions The Manager and Industry Associations Buying or Building a Radio Station CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX: Code of Federal Regulations SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 3 Programming Program Formats The Programmer The Program Director's Duties and Responsibilities Programming a Cluster Operation Satellite Radio Programming Department Elements of Programming Station Websites, Podcasts, and Blogs The Program Director and the Audience The Program Director and the Music The Program Director and the FCC The Program Director and Upper Management CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX: A Station Owner Airchecks his Programming SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 4 Sales Commercialization: A Retrospective Selling Airtime Becoming an Account Executive The Sales Manager Radio Sales Tools Points of the Pitch Levels of Sales Spec Spots Objectives of the Buy Prospecting and List Building Planning the Sales Day Selling with and without Numbers Advertising Agencies Rep Companies Website and Podcast Selling Nontraditional Revenue Trade-Outs CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX: A Station Owner Conveys his Sales Philosophy to His Manager SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 5 News News from the Start News and Today's Radio The Newsroom The All-News Station The Electronic Newsroom The News Director What Makes a Newsperson? Preparing the News Story Organizing the Newscast Wire and Internet Services Radio Network News Radio Sportscasts Radio News and the FCC News Ethics Traffic Reports News in Music Radio CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 6 Research Who Is Listening? The Ratings and Survey Services Qualitative and Quantitative Data Portable People Meter (PPM) In-House Research Techniques Research Deficits How Agencies Buy Radio Careers In Research The Future of Research in Radio CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX 6A: Glossary of Terms APPENDIX 6B: Direct Marketing Results Rely on Research Data to Present its Marketing Goals. Courtesy DMR SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 7 Promotion Past and Purpose Promotions Practical and Bizarre The Promotion Director's/Manager's Job Whom Promotion Directors Hire Types of Promotion Sales Promotion Research and Planning Budgeting Promotions Promotions and the FCC Broadcast Promotion and Marketing Executives CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 8 Traffic and Billing The Air Supply The Traffic Manager The Traffic Manager's Credentials Directing Traffic Traffic in Clusters Billing The FCC and Traffic CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 9 Production A Spot Retrospective Formatted Spots The Production Room The Studios Digital Editing Copywriting Announcing Tips Voice-Tracking The Sound Library CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 10 Engineering Pioneer Engineers Radio Technology AM/FM Satellite and Internet Radio Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) Smart Receivers Becoming an Engineer The Engineer's Duties Station Log Emergency Alert System Automation Posting Licenses and Permits CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX: Federal Communications Commssion's Fact Sheet SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Chapter 11 Consultants and Syndicators Radio Aid Consultant Services Consultant Qualifications Consultants: Pros and Cons Program Suppliers Syndicator Services Hardware Requirements and Quality CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS APPENDIX: Station Critique SUGGESTED FURTHER READING Afterword Jay Williams, Jr. The Future of Radio Glossary Index

About the Author :
Michael C. Keith, Ph.D., ranks among the most prolific authors on the subject of broadcast media, in particular radio. He is a member of the Communication Department at Boston College and is author of over twenty books, including Voices in the Purple Haze, Signals in the Air, Talking Radio, Radio Cultures, and Sounds in the Dark. With Robert Hilliard he has co-authored The Broadcast Century and Beyond, Waves of Rancor, Dirty Discourse, Global Broadcasting Systems, and The Hidden Screen. With Christopher Sterling he co-authored Sounds of Change: FM Broadcasting in America. In addition, he is the author of numerous journal articles and has served in a number of editorial positions. He is the past Chair of Education for the Museum of Broadcast Communications, the inaugural chair of the Broadcast Education Association's Radio Division, and a former broadcaster. He is the recipient of several honors, including the Distinguished Scholar Award given by the Broadcast Education Association in 2008, and the Stanton Fellow Award given by the International Radio Television Society. He is the author of a critically acclaimed memoir, The Next Better Place: A Father and Son on the Road (Algonquin Press), in 2003. Visit the author's website: www.michaelckeith.com.

Review :
"As for myself, and I believe the vast majority of my peers, this text is considered 'the' text about radio station operations and the radio industry. Michael's reputation as a scholar and author in this area is absolutely number one and the quality of each edition has only improved the status of the text...If you want a text that provides a solid grounding in the operation of a radio station and the radio industry in general, this is the text to use." --David Reese, author of The Audio Announcing Worktext