What the GOP Can Learn from Its Own Mistakes

By Lori Spencer

Yahoo! News

Ron Paul is now the new Republican presidential frontrunner.

 

With the Iowa caucus now less than two weeks away, the formerly wide field of Republican presidential candidates is narrowing further. Early frontrunners, such as Rep. Michele Bachmann, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and businessman Herman Cain, have all taken a nosedive in recent public opinion polls. As is usually the case with politicians, the candidates’ own boneheaded blunders caused their fall from grace.

What lessons can the GOP learn from these “don’t-ever-do-that-again” mistakes?

 

 

Story continues at:
http://news.yahoo.com/gop-learn-own-mistakes-003700574.html

How to Break Into the Radio Industry

By Lori Spencer

Radio has always been a competitive and challenging industry to break into, even more so in the age of media consolidation. Jobs that pay well are few and far between, often requiring relocation to a city far from home. Computer automation of radio stations means less airtime available for live personalities. The frequent turnover of station management and format changes presents little job security; typically an entire staff is let go when a radio station changes hands. Despite these drawbacks, if you still want to become a radio programmer, there are some time-tested methods for getting your foot in the door.

Although a college degree is not necessarily required to become a radio programmer…

Read more at http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-radio-programmer.htm

Get Paid to Be a Broadcaster

Make no mistake about it — the broadcast industry has changed significantly in the past two decades. Media ownership is now consolidated into fewer hands, major media outlets are suffering budgetary woes, automating programming, and cutting jobs. The Internet has revolutionized broadcasting as we know it, offering news and entertainment options galore with the click of a mouse. The programming consumers once paid for is now readily available for free online. As a result, many professional broadcasters now find themselves working for much smaller salaries, if they can find work at all.

While the broadcaster is in no immediate danger of becoming an endangered species….

Read more: How Do I Get Paid From Broadcasting? | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_8415598_do-paid-broadcasting.html#ixzz1N1B6A1KJ

Careers in Audio Engineering

By Lori Spencer

If you love music, are fascinated by technology and are lucky enough to have very precise hearing, you may have what it takes to become an audio engineer. Producing or engineering an album for one of the world’s top artists is certainly a desirable goal for many, but competition for jobs in the recording industry is fierce. If you want to rise to the top of the heap, you’ll need more than just training or technical expertise. Being a successful audio engineer also requires determination, persistence, patience, industry connections, people skills, and of course, talent.

Continued at
http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-an-audio-engineer.htm

See also related story “How Do I Become a Broadcast Engineer” by Lori Spencer for radio, tv and film career-specific advice:

http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-become-a-broadcast-engineer.htm

Choosing the Best Professional Microphone

By Lori Spencer

Choosing the best professional microphone is a matter of both personal preference and matching the mic’s characteristics to the type of sound you want to capture. Certain types of microphones are better suited for recording vocals than instruments, for example. Others are more appropriate for live sound than studio recording. Regardless of the frequency response or cartridge type you choose, selecting the right microphone ultimately means finding whichever is the best microphone for you.

Continued at http://www.wisegeek.com/how-do-i-choose-the-best-professional-microphone.htm

Getting Your Music to a DJ

By Lori Spencer

 

For musicians, bands and songwriters, radio airplay is a must. Whether terrestrial or on the web, radio can introduce thousands of potential new fans to your original music and help fill seats at your gigs. Unsigned artists often have a difficult time getting airplay on commercial radio stations, which are tightly formatted and generally only play releases from major label acts. Most indie and local music is relegated to non-commercial stations, Internet radio, and “Local Licks” shows on commercial stations.

One way to increase airplay is to cultivate relationships with D.J.’s. If a highly-rated disc jockey likes your music, you’re likely to get more on-air plugs, interviews, and invitations to play at radio station events. All of this adds up to a bigger fan base, concert ticket and record sales…

 

Continued at http://www.ehow.com/how_8212927_music-dj.html

How to Start a Talk Radio Broadcast on the Internet

How to Start a Talk Radio Broadcast on the Internet | eHow.com.

By Lori Spencer

How to Sponsor a Show on Public Radio International (PRI)

By Lori Spencer

 

As commercial radio stations continue to lose listeners to satellite and Internet radio, public radio’s listener base remains strong. Traditionally public radio listeners are very loyal to their local public radio stations; they donate during annual fund drives and patronize the station’s sponsors. They also tend to be college educated and rather affluent. If your business is looking to target the 35-64 age demographic and households making $75K+, public radio is an excellent place to spend your advertising dollar.

Public Radio International (PRI) — not to be confused with National Public Radio, or NPR — is a network that provides programming to local public radio stations. Here’s how to reach PRI’s global network of affiliates through underwriting.

Continues at http://www.ehow.com/how_7476709_advertise-public-radio-international-pri.html

Starting an Internet Talk Radio Show in Ireland

By Lori Spencer

 

These days, you don’t need a degree in broadcasting or a trained radio voice to get “on the air.” You don’t even have to limit your horizons to one local market in Ireland; with the unlimited scope and increasing portability of Internet radio, you can now reach a potential listener base of millions worldwide.

Most of the top Internet radio networks are U.S.-based and do not accept programming from outside the United States. As of October 2010 only two of the big Internet radio networks, World Syndicated Radio and BlogTalkRadio, featured international shows.

In this tutorial you will see how to use the free BlogTalkRadio service. However, you’ll find that the basics of running an Internet radio show are similar across all web-casting platforms.

Read more: How to Start an Internet Radio Talk Show in Ireland | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_7477340_start-radio-talk-show-ireland.html#ixzz1g8nS1bb7

Engineering for Radio Broadcasting

By Lori Spencer

 

Engineering for radio broadcasting encompasses a wide range of specialized training; electrical engineering, audio and RF engineering, computer engineering and information technology knowledge are helpful–if not always required–to pursue a career in this field.

Every radio station has a broadcast engineer to set up and repair all studio equipment, broadcast automation systems, computer servers, and to maintain the transmitter tower. As the broadcast industry continues to consolidate, one engineer may work for an entire group of stations owned by the same parent company, either as a full-time salaried staffer or independent contractor.

Read more: How to Engineer for Radio Broadcasting | eHow.com
http://www.ehow.com/how_7266636_engineer-radio-broadcasting.html#ixzz1gDbkN6ML