Radio Production 1 3 Credits CNA 0162-01 Wayne State College Fall 2003
TTH 11:30am-12:45am HU 408
Instructor: Bryan Gahagan Office: HU409A
Office Hours: MW 3-4p,/TTH 2-4pm and by appointment Phone Number: 375-7421
Web Page: http://radioprod.n3.net E-Mail: brgahag1@wsc.edu

Text: Audio in Media 6th Edition, Alten

Purpose and Background: This course is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of audio production, focusing mostly on radio. The course will focus on digital production with some analog elements. This will be accomplished mainly through various student productions. The text portion of the class will focus on understanding various audio techniques, the nature of sound, announcing, scripting, and issues in the audio industry. This course also works in conjunction with other audio production classes, courses in advertising copy writing, marketing, writing for mass media, and news writing. This course also prepares students for working at the campus radio station, KWSC-FM and is a requirement before taking CNA 220, Radio Workshop.

Assignments: Students will be graded on a point system, with exams and assignments worth a certain number of points. The points are divided into four categories:

Small (S)-- This is for in-class assignments, quizzes, scripts and some production.
Medium (M)-- This is for some productions, scripts and one studio exam.
Large (L)-- This is for written exams, some productions and one studio exam.
Extra Large (XL)--This is for the final studio assignment.

Small assignments are worth 30 points. Medium assignments are worth 60 points. Large Assignments are worth 100 points. And Extra Large assignments are worth 150 points.

Studio Productions: Most of the assignments will be studio productions. Students are required to produce commercials or other recorded materials with minimum requirements for each project . These projects will be left in the student's folder in the G drive for grading by class time of the due date.

Field Productions: Students will be required to participate in two field recordings. These recordings are done one at a time as a class project to demonstrate recording and miking techniques discussed in class.

Exams: There are two types of exams--studio skills test and written tests. In the studio skills test, students will be asked to demonstrate various steps involved in a studio production and will be graded on the successful completion of those steps. There will be two written exams covering the text and class lectures. There may also be quizzes over the written material.

There also will be extra credit opportunities. See the web site, http://radioprod.n3.net, for assignment details and other materials related to class work.

Attendance and Late Assignments: Students are allowed 2 unexcused absences. 30 points are deducted from the final grade for each subsequent unexcused absence. Also, the student forfeits all points possible from the missed class.

Recorded assignments are due one hour before class time of the due date. Recorded assignments not in the students folder one hour before class time lose one-half of the assignment's value for each class late. Written assignments are due at class time of due date.

Other Notes:

Wayne State College provides an array of services to assist students, including the U.S. Conn Library and computer labs. The Learning Center, located in the Student Center, provides peer tutoring for most general education classes; the Counseling Center, also located in the Student Center, provides assistance in career planning, goal setting, personality assessment, stress management, and individual and group counseling. For further information phone extension 7213.
In order to assist each individual to perform to his/her potential, it is necessary for me to be made aware of any conditions which may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements/practices.