TV Futures

Lloyd Ashton

Author: Lloyd Ashton

Published 16th March 2016

by Lloyd Ashton Issue 110 - February 2016

#TVFutures

University radio is a great starting platform- hearing something being broadcast that started out as a few ideas in a notebook is quite incredible. My name is Lloyd Ashton and I'm currently a third year Television and Broadcasting student at the University of Portsmouth. Over the past three years, I have been introduced to many modes of broadcasting, yet it's radio that has left an everlasting impression.

Simultaneously embodying the roles of a researcher, producer and presenter whilst live on air leads to an acquisition of skills matched in my opinion, by no other learning experience. Part of the uniqueness of broadcasting on University radio is that every experience you're having, you are creating for yourself; you are the driving force of your own production. Not only does this make for a more personal and meaningful show, it's also down to you, your voice and your ability to react to the demands of the broadcast. Between standing on street corners, clutching a Zoom Audio Recorder, hoping that the wind and rain haven't disrupted those precious vox pops, to broadcasting live in the studio, you are at the centre of the broadcast.

My acquisition of radio production skills at University has been entwined with my experiences whilst working for Global Radio. The opportunity to observe industry practitioners and sit-in on shows has allowed me to combine the acquisition of skills with the acquisition of industry practice.

So far my broadcasting endeavours have been created (in the pre-production phase) with the use of the Zoom Audio Recorder and Adobe Audition. The Zoom Audio Recorder has proven to be an invaluable piece of kit; it really adds a different dimension to the production when you have an audio armoury of real people, with real opinions, connecting with the show and subsequently the audience.

It sounds crazy but one learning curve has been knowing my audio recorder, in the beginning I would turn up to interviews, press the button (the one with the red dot!) and that was it, time and time again I would be in the editing suite enjoying the range of responses and witty answers the public gave, only for the whole effort to be discounted due to clipping or the inevitable car that seemingly has booked a live-DJ set, blaring past. However, with practice and over time, I learned. Before an interview I now test the recorder, check my levels during the recording and I use the playback feature immediately after, in order to implement a pre-rec workflow.

All of a sudden even the mobile dance floor couldn't taint my vox pops, once the audio file was ingested into Adobe Audition that is. I remember being in the Heart FM studio observing the presenters and being totally in awe at the speed in which they could pre-produce show content using Adobe Audition. They could take a phone call and within what seemed like milliseconds that phone call was edited, polished and played out over the airwaves. I learnt so much from my experiences in the studio and from thereon in I've continually used Adobe Audition to create my own jingles, show ident's, edit my vox pops and to construct my radio portfolio. Using any equipment or software that is also being used by industry professionals and radio institutions can only prove to be advantageous to an aspiring broadcast professional.

Whilst studying Television and Broadcasting at the University of Portsmouth, I quickly realised that over the three years there was a great opportunity to not only develop my skills as a presenter- but to become a multi-media presenter, across both Television and radio platforms. The course has been perfect for realising this vision; my first time going live was for the faculty's CCI TV channel and then, more recently broadcasting live in collaboration with a local radio station, Express FM. I hope that by possessing broadcasting versatility I can increase my chances of broadcasting in a professional setting after graduating and that the skills acquired at this level will enhance the impact I can make within the industry. My aspirations for the future are to begin my professional broadcasting career at Global Radio and ultimately to one day go live for the BBC.

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