Media Production (Radio) BA Hons

Programme title:	BA Hons Media Production (Radio)
Apply:	via UCAS
Code:	P312
Start (ft):	September
Mode:	full-time
Duration:	3 years full-time
Location:	Luton campus, Park Square
Faculty:	Faculty of Creative Arts, Technologies & Science
Department:	Bedfordshire Institute of Media and the Creative & Performing Arts: Division of Media Arts & Production

Summary

Media Production (Radio) draws on the strengths of the well-established and very successful course in media production. It adds to the existing provision by providing an opportunity to focus on radio production. Many of the graduates from Media Production have now progressed to successful careers in the UK and international media.

The emphasis on this course is on the production process. Radio production is a social activity and is influenced by many cultural factors, economic and political factors. You will study these factors, together with the history of the media, so that you can make a range of effective, powerful radio programmes and other media products that communicate with their target audience.

The course covers theoretical and practical concepts, and you will learn to combine these elements in radio programmes, as well as essays, presentations, dramas and documentaries.

Why choose this course?

- Excellent production facilities, including broadcast-standard radio and television studios
- A community radio station based in the University
- Well-established and top-rated department
- Regular opportunities to attend media- related events and conferences, featuring international practitioners and theorists, held in the University
- Close proximity to the London-based media industries
- Relevant, research-informed theory combined with current industry practice
- Practical, vocationally relevant curriculum
- Lively, enthusiastic community of staff and students

Student Comments

Q: What is your particular area of interest?
A: Radio, radio and radio. When I began my Media Production course, I rather fancied becoming a film director. But then I did my first unit in radio and became almost instantly hooked on the idea of becoming a radio broadcaster
Q: Why did you choose Beds?
A: The Media Production facilities looked rather great - especially as I wasn't sure what I was going to specialise in. These days, I spend most of my available time in the radio studio studio - my second home.
Q: What would you say is the best thing about your course?
A: Every day brings something new and different. There's certainly no excuse for getting bored in Media Production.
Q: What does it feel like when you get behind the microphone?
A: Fantastic. I gives me a real adrenaline rush - a surge of energy that lasts as long as I am on air. Using the equipment is now second nature to me, and I'm really looking forward to attacking the airwaves when I graduate later in the year.

Jack Cornell, BA Media Production

Career Opportunities

Career paths open to you include any industry that requires excellent communication and team-working skills. Media Production graduates often go on to work in radio and television production, digital media production, journalism, teaching, advertising and Media/PR.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

Practical workshops, seminars, lectures, tutorials.

Assessment

Assessments focus on individual and team work, the development of your production skills, the development of your professional skills, the development of your own research skills, your ability to evaluate qualitative and quantitative information from the industry and from academic sources, and your ability to consider and apply relevant theoretical positions from media and cultural theory.

Assessment types include:

- essays
- log books,
- group work
- in-class tests (practical and written)
- programme making, presentations, story boarding
- artifact production, presentations and portfolio
- written reports, proposals, copy writing
- group production work (writing/designing)
- exams

Dissertation/project and research

In year 3 you will have the opportunity of working on a Special Project - this is a substantial piece of practical or written work of your own creation.

Further details about the programme

Areas of study include:

Reading Hollywood (Level 1):

This year long unit examines popular films and narrative. Specifically the unit looks at fiction films and narrative form, and examines students' assumptions about the construction and content of fiction films and popular television programmes. Students will explore the role of stars in the film industry and examine how they are used in relation to narrative, film style and genre. They will discuss how genre and star roles have been used to convey discourses about masculine and feminine identity.

Video Skills and Production (Level 1):

The year long Video Skills and Production (MSP) unit concentrates on single camera work making recordings on location for subsequent editing. It provides a thorough introduction to: basic video production skills, the conventions film continuity and creative approaches to narrative fiction. The module includes practical teaching about lens characteristics, digital video and sound recording using small and standard size cameras, digital editing using Final Cut Pro. Throughout the year, students are encouraged to try out different production roles while working in small production teams.

Media Theory and Research (Level 1):

This year long unit will develop your skills for media research within a cultural-historical context: the knowledge and understanding of the history of their subject, and the means to research and elaborate that history for academic and professional purposes.

Radio Skills (Level 1)

This year long unit allows you to develop the basic skills required by radio production that will help you produce radio productions throughout the rest of your course. You will learn some of the underlying principles of radio together with some basic digital production techniques that will enable you to produce high-quality work.

At Level 2:

Documentary Practices (Level 2):

This year long unit builds on the level one moving image units. The emphasis on single camera location work for subsequent editing continues and you will work in small production teams to complete two assignments during the year. In addition you will write an essay. The unit content changes from fiction to factual production and concentrates especially on documentaries. During the year students learn about the similarities and differences between narrative in documentary and fiction, they also study documentary production processes, conventions and styles through studies of montage, interviewing and a critical history of the genre. The unit is related to the theoretical and critical studies of realism in world cinema.

Other Cinemas (Level 2):

This year long unit looks at examples of European, World and experimental / avant garde film as well as at how non-mainstream / non Hollywood film has been approached and studied. Building on concepts covered in lecvel one, such as mise-en-scene, genre, and narrative, we will discuss the notions of auteur, art cinema and national identity in film, as well as oppositional practices and artists’ film video. This unit also examines the differences between European cinema and Hollywood cinema as well as their mutual influences. It also introduces students to issues around distribution, exhibition and audience of non-mainstream films

Working in the Media (Level 2)

This year long unit will help you learn about working in the media industries. Through studying this unit you will acquire many of the skills necessary to function as a professional within the media. You will also consider some of the common business processes and revenue models so that you understand how you can play a role in the industry as employee, contractor or freelancer. You will develop your appreciation of the values and principles that will underpin your ethical practice.

Radio (Level 2)

This year-long unit allows you to develop your core production skills in the area of radio production. You will investigate the radio industry through listening to a range of radio stations. You will also develop your radio production skills through location and studio recording and digital post-production editing. You will learn to use your voice to present to microphone.

At Level 3:

Contemporary Practices and Debates (Level 3)

This unit develops, to an advanced level, your contextual knowledge and ideas acquired and explored in earlier units at levels one and two, specifically:- Media Theory & Research, Reading Hollywood, Other Cinemas, Digital Culture and Documentary Practices, in the context of the latest cultural, political, theoretical, aesthetic, technological and industrial developments.

Sound and Image (Level 3)

This unit explores the relationship between still images and sound. This will be valuable for anyone working with still or moving images. It will help you concentrate on the basic elements of communicating with images. You will study the history and practice of story telling with still images from cave paintings to the internet. The unit will also enable you to enhance their theoretical and practical skills through the production of a short creative practical piece exploring the potential of stills to portraying narrative and movement in conjunction with a sound track. You will also produce a short contextual study.

Future Media

In this unit, you will investigate the opportunities afforded by emerging new media. You will explore a wide variety of contemporary new media technologies and forms. Working as part of a small production team, you will undertake a challenging new media project.

Radio 24/7

In this unit, working as part of a production team you will make a series of radio programmes in specified genres.
This unit is firmly rooted in ‘broadcasting’ and you will need to listen widely to all sorts of radio and know what is currently being broadcast.

Your studies will be compete by a Special Project unit (Level 3, Term 2&3):

You will propose a project topic that requires you to work to a high standard in at least one of the areas of media arts. This unit allows students to demonstrate their skills, ideas and learning in an extended piece of work that is self initiated. The term 'project' is used to denote that the work may be practical (production based), performance or theoretical (dissertation based).

Entry requirements

Standard entry requirements apply for this course.

For further information ring our admissions office on 01582 489286.

Or you can go to the Ask Beds icon on the website and ask through there and admission staff will answer any other questions you may have.

Go to UCAS tariff table for information on the number of points of different qualifications.
www.ucas.ac.uk/students

Find out more

Please contact Dr Gavin Stewart, Course Leader Media Production BA (Hons)

E: gavin.stewart@beds.ac.uk

Related Links

• Research Institute for Media Art and Design

Related courses

• Media Production BA Hons
• Media Production (New Media) BA Hons
• Media Production (Script Writing) BA Hons
• Television Production BA Hons

Further Study Opportunities

• Media Arts (Mass Communications) MA

General Enquiries

• www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply for information about standard entry requirements, application routes, open days, fees and funding.
• T: +44 (0)1582 489286 UK/EU Admissions
• T: +44 (0)1582 489326 International Admissions
• Order a prospectus form. Enquire about courses and order a printed undergraduate or postgraduate prospectus.
• T: +44 (0)1234 400 400 University switchboard