1. This chapter discusses a number of technological advances that led to radio broadcasting as we know it today. Search the Web for radio history sites or go directly to a site such as the Radio History Project at www.radiohistory.org.* Find at least three early innovations that were not mentioned in this chapter. Defend or attack their importance to the development of radio.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
2. View track 3, Radio: Inside WKNE-FM. This track introduces you to the daily operations of a small-market radio station. List two advantages and two disadvantages to small-market radio. According to the video, what are the two main reasons people listen to the radio?
Industry
Web Excursion
3. What’s your favorite radio station? Who owns it? Is it part of a group, network, conglomerate, or NPR? Trace its ownership on the Web by searching under its call letters or going directly to www.cjr.org/tools/owners/.* Analyze any conflicts of interest that might exist, such as the station reporting on other properties that the parent corporation owns. Prepare a brief report on your findings.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
4. View track 3.3, Issues: Getting a Job. This track explains what it takes to work in radio broadcasting. If you were to pursue a career in radio broadcasting, would you rather work for a small- or large-market station? Explain why.
5. View track 13, Radio of the Future May Be On the Internet (from NBC News Archives). Internet radio Webcasters and members of the recording industry debate licensing and royalty fees for Internet radio. Do you believe Webcasters should pay as much as traditional radio stations do for the use of music? What are the advantages of Internet radio? Do independent artists suffer when larger, established artists demand fees and royalties? Is there a common solution?
Weekly Update Archives
6. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 7. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click Weekly Update Archives. On the next screen, under the topic of Radio, read 03-19-01, "Radio, Radio . . . The Indestructible Medium?" Do you believe radio will overcome the challenges of new technologies? If so, what tactics will it use?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
Controversies
Web Excursion
7. Are critics justified in their complaints about the homogeneity of radio programming? Go to one of the directories of radio stations on the Web, such as Web Radio at www.webradio.com* or Radio Tower at www.radiotower.com.* Access rock (or your chosen format) stations from at least three different sections of the U.S. and at least one from overseas. Defend or attack the charge that radio formats are homogenized.
Media World CD-ROM Excursion
8. View track 3.2, Issues: Competition and the Future. This track discusses the future of radio broadcasting. In the near future, if radio went strictly Internet-based, would you miss over-the-air radio? Explain how radio contributes to the way you receive music and information.
PowerWeb Articles
9. Go to the Student portion of the Online Learning Center and choose Chapter 7. In the left navigation bar under News, Articles & Links, click PowerWeb Articles. On the next screen, under the topic of Radio, read the article, "Pay for Play." Use information from this article to answer this question: Is record promotion damaging the quality of radio broadcasting?
In addition, scan the list for other articles of interest pertaining to this chapter.
