Evaluation- Media Product represents particular social groups

One part of my research and planning was to think carefully about representation while listening to existing radio shows. A lot of my listening focused on the representation of voices in the news, show presenters and as well in adverts, and thinking about how these representations would appeal to the audience.

Analysis of Representation

When scripting my preliminary task, I did not think mainly on the type of actors who were suitable, however, when creating my radio, I had to choose the people carefully on whom they will be acting as. After completing a number of listening tasks where I listened to news presenters, show presenters, voxpops and adverts, I had to make sure that they had the right kind of voice for the representation that I wanted. When my actors were recording I had to be careful on what they say and the tone of voice being used. I tried to use a variety of people who were available and willing to be part of my radio. Below are the links to my posts on choosing actors.

Choosing voices for my radio

For one of my news stories I had a football manager commentating on how the match was successful. I asked the actor to put on a Scottish accent  as I thought that this would sound more convincing to a football manager. The actor playing the manager was the same actor who was the radio presenter (Jon), so I needed to disguise his voice as he spoke as the radio presenter in a deep voice, and I did not want to make it the same voice while the news was playing. I turned down the treble and bass to represent the effect of him speaking through a microphone.



I also asked Aaron, who played two parts (the radio presenter and correspondent for my football news ), to put on different voices for each role. He did an exciting voice for the radio presenter and I asked him to speak like a old  reporter for the football news story outside broadcast.



I wanted to represent the fact that my audience is for both genders so I included both a male and female voice for one of my advertisements. The female voice sounds younger and the male younger as well, to reflect the age range of my radio station because young people normally drink and drive.

    Script for car accident advert

Due to my radio station being targeted at younger people of both genders, I decided a female should do my station and news jingle. I chose this because the female voice sounds younger and would make my radio station be gender equality.



The clip below is of Rahul as the voiceover in my restaurant advert - I wanted the voiceover to sound deep but also caring, as the intention of the advert is to encourage listeners to be relaxed and hear what the restaurant has to offer. The first time Rahul recorded it, it was far too deep and fast paced, with many words which the audience would not recognise due to pronunciation, so I asked Rahul to re-record and this time it was successful.

Script for Restaurant advert