The ABU Rights4Children co-production campaign proved an ideal focus for a three-day intensive in-country training course for staff at Radio Vanuatu.

Concentrating on such key radio skills as writing, presentation and production and using the campaign as a working example, Australian-based trainer Martin Corben led local broadcasters through a mix of classroom and practical exercises. They planned, scripted, audio-edited and mixed audio material to produce layered and engaging on-air promotions for broadcast in English and Bislama.

The training was broken down in the major themes of distilling and defining the key messages of a creative or even commercial brief, generating and distilling the creative ideas and then writing the accompanying scripts for the storylines and information that needed to be included. The next key steps were concentrated in selecting voice talent and directing them during studio production before, finally, editing.

“How many production teams want to run straight to the studio without taking time to plan and write first?” Martin asked. “Having a clear process helps produce well-considered and constructed audio more likely to result in listeners heeding whatever the ‘call to action’ might be.”

“The outcomes included understanding and developing a clear, defined and more efficient workflow that allocates crucial space and time for creative development, refinement and also efficient use of the studios – which we all know can be in high demand!” he said.

“A lot of knowledge and skills were transferred in just three days and the results were clearly audible in final audio packages which are scheduled to go to air in September this year.”

DATES
2-4 July 2019

VENUE 
Vanuatu