CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIO Topic 2or 3

CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIO
(i) Radio makes pictures: the example of the running commentary

on radio of the Repubic Day Parade in Delhi? As we heard the commentary,
we could visualize or ‘see’ in your mind what was being described. we
could actively ‘see’ pictures in your mind of the parade even as you listened
to the sounds of bands playing patriotic tunes or the sounds of marching and
commands. We use your power of imagination as we follow the running
commentary.
(ii) The speed of radio : Radio is the fastest medium. It is instant. As things
happen in a studio or outside, messages can be sent or broadcast. These
messages can be picked up by anyone who has a radio set or receiver which
is tuned into a radio station. If we have a television set and cable or satellite
connection you may be using a remote to get your favourite channel. These
days if we have a satellite connection, we can also receive radio signals of
various AIR stations. Otherwise your normal radio set gives the meter or
frequency on which various radio stations operate. We are tuned into that
station and listen to news that happened a few minutes earlier. On the other
hand, a newspaper gives we the previous days’ news. Of course television
can also cover events instantly. But television is a more complex medium
where we need light and cameras for any coverage.
(iii) Simplicity of radio: Compared to all other media, radio is simple to use.
radio needs very simple technology and equipment.
(iv) Radio is inexpensive: As it is simple, it is also a cheaper medium. The cost

of production is low and a small radio can be bought for as low a price as say
fifty rupees.
(v) Radio does not need electric power supply: we can listen to radio using
dry battery cells even if we do not have electric power supply or a generator.
So in a country like ours, where electricity has not reached everywhere,
radio is a great blessing.
(vi) A radio receiver is portable: we can move our radio set at home from
the living room to the kitchen or as we go out some where? we can’t do that
very easily with television. This facility of moving an object which is called
‘portability’ gives radio an advantage. These days if we have a car and a
radio in it, we can listen to it as we drive or travel.
(vii) One does not have to be literate to listen to radio : Unless we are
literate, we can’t read a newspaper or read captions or text on television.
But for listening to radio, we need not be literate at all. we can listen to
programmes or news in any language on the radio.
LIMITATIONS OF RADIO
(I). one chance medium : When we read a newspaper, we can keep it with us and
read it again. we have a printed word there and unless the paper
is destroyed it will remain with us. when we read a news item,
we do not understand the meaning of certain words. We can refer to a
dictionary or ask someone who knows to find out the meaning.
Now in radio we are listening to a news bulletin in English
and we hear words that we don’t understand. Can we refer to a dictionary
or ask someone else for the meaning? If we stop to do that, we will miss the
rest of the news. we have to understand what is being said on radio as we
listen. we have only one chance to listen. What is said on radio does not
exist any longer; unless we record it. The words have momentary life. After
it is spoken, it disappears unlike a newspaper or a printed book. So that is
one of the greatest limitations or weaknesses of radio . It’s momentary nature
or to put it differently – radio is a one chance medium. A listener has just
one chance to receive the message and understand it.
b. Radio has no visual images: Let us consider a news item on radio and the
same item on television. For example, the news about the devastating cyclone
Nargis that hit Myanmar in May 2008. Radio news talked about the intensity
of the cyclone, the number of deaths, details about property destroyed etc.
However in the case of television, it showed the actual cyclone hitting the
country, visuals of properties destroyed, rescue operations and many more
details which could be seen. Now compare the two. A natural disaster like a
cyclone when seen on television is more effective than what you hear on
radio. It is said that “a picture is worth a thousand words”. It is also said that
‘‘seeing is believing’’. So when we see something, it is more believable than
what we hear. So having no visuals is a major limitation of radio.
c. Messages on radio are easily forgotten: The problem of not having visuals
leads to another limitation of radio. What is seen is often remembered and
may remain with us. For example if we have seen the fine visuals of the Taj
Mahal in Agra, it will remain in our memory. But what we hear is normally
forgotten fast. we may remember what we have heard in a class
room if we found it interesting. But can we recall all the head lines of a news
bulletin we heard on radio? Normally, we don’t. So this is another limitation
of radio. Messages heard on radio are easily forgotten.
d. Poor performance on the part of announcers : Presenters or participants

in a radio programme can be boring or uninteresting that it can result in
listeners switching off their radio sets. So listeners’ interest depends up on
how information or messages are presented.
e. Radio broadcasts are of no use to people who have no sense of hearing

especially those with hearing disabilities.
Some of the Advantages of Radio are:

1. Radio is one of the media which covers huge population.
2. Radio can be enjoyed at home, in office, while driving car and can be enjoyed any where.
3. Radio channels varies from region to region, hence you can listen radio in your regional language.
4. Like other entertainment media, Radio is also favourite of large number of population.
5. You can advertise your product on radio and the rate of advertisement is usually lower than other medium of communication.
6. Important information or news can be easily spread on radio.
7. For local market radio is one of the powerful medium of communication.
Some of the Disadvantages of Radio are:

1. Only an audio medium for communication.
2. During bad weather you cannot listen radio properly. Often unclear and is affected by weather.
3. You need to adjust frequency properly.
4. Less and limited radio channels are available compared to other communication medium.

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CHARACTERISTICS OF RADIO

(i) Radio makes pictures: the example of the running commentary

(iv) Radio is inexpensive: As it is simple, it is also a cheaper medium. The cost

d. Poor performance on the part of announcers : Presenters or participants

e. Radio broadcasts are of no use to people who have no sense of hearing

Some of the Advantages of Radio are:

Some of the Disadvantages of Radio are:

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