Curriculum

The Broadcasting for Radio & Television program at VanArts is 10 months in duration, composed of 10 4-week Modules. Classes are Mon-Fri, 9am - 1pm and/or Noon to 4pm.

Within every module, there are a variety of lecture topics and workshops designed to broaden your understanding of broadcasting techniques and industry operations (subject to change):

Module 1

Creating Characters, Show Prep, Traffic Basics, Transitions, Lead Line Writing, Cruisers, Copy-writing, Sports Writing, Master Control, Programming, Vocal Dynamics, Ad-Libs

Module 2

Journalism Ethics, Crime Writing, Customer Service, Remotes, Personality Projection, Morning Shows, Radio History, Voice-Overs, Copywriting, Grammar, Radio Advertising, Imaging

Module 3

Broadcast Resources, Radio Talk Shows, Demo Tapes, Politics, Sports Writing, Small Market Success, Budgeting for Survival, On-Air Conduct, Commercial Copywriting, Happy Endings, Writing for CHR, CHR Workshop

Module 4

Listener Profiling, Contesting/Promotions, On-Air Calls, News Basics, News Beats, Sound in Commercials, Weather Writing, 20 Deadly Sins, Dealing with Listeners, Station Imaging, Code of Ethics, Hand-Offs

Module 5

News Delivery, Basic Production Skills, Your First News Job, The Music Director, Interviewing, Promos/PSA Writing, Remotes, The Sales Dept., Dialogue Spots, Ad-Libbing Workshop, Bit Workshop, Modern Rock CMT

Module 6

Copywriting Techniques, Spot Writing Challenge, Grow Your Career, Radio Promotions, Voice-Over Work, A Personality's Image, Journalism Legalities, Rewriting News, Government/Labour Terms, Sports Writing, 10 Radio Fallacies, News Lead Lines

Module 7

Spot News Workshop, Weather Writing, Word Power - Visualization, Dual Ad-Libs, Enhancing the Experience, Theatre Sports, How to Advance in Radio, Dual News, News/Sports Conferences, News/Sports Workshop, The World of Freelance, Broadcast Terminology

Module 8

Morning Shows, Critiquing a Morning Show, The Role of a PD, Business Reporting, Show Prep Tips, On-Air Workshop, Reporting Skills, BBM Research, On-Air Tips, Perception is Reality, Interviewing, Copy Workshop

Module 9

News Story Formats, Spot News & Sound, Promotions, Developing Your Demo, Voice Over/Acting, Morning Shows, More Show Prep Ideas, Terminology, Voice Tracking, Lifecycle of a Spot, Spot Writing Workshop, On-Air Conduct

Module 10

Demo Tape Examples, Sound in News, PD Success Tips, Voice-Over Workshop, Pitfalls of Life in Radio, Music Programming, Remote Workshop, CRTC Regulations, Contesting, Weekend Programming, Specialty Radio Shows, Play-by-Play Announcing

Broadcasting for Television Component

An optional, but recommended part of our Broadcasting program is the Television Component, an intensive series of classes where students are introduced to the world of on-camera performance for television and video.

Students will learn how to write for television, how to craft stories using both the visual and the spoken word, how to write for and read from a teleprompter, interviewing techniques, reporting, basic camera and editing skills, and show hosting.

Week 1 - Lecture 1 - Performance

What to wear on camera, posture, makeup, relaxation, eye-line, looking room and re-asks, on-camera performance, teleprompter introduction, scriptwriting, stand-ups

Week 1 - Lecture 2 - Getting Ready

Stand-Up workshop, teleprompter workshop: writing, scripts and on-camera

Week 2 - Lecture 3 - Interview Techniques

Interview Skills, interview & teleprompter workshop, stand-up workshop, streeters/voice-overs/live throws/live teases

Week 2 - Lecture 4 - What Makes It News

TV Definitions, 12 guidelines for better video, review newscasts, discuss anchor reads, TV assignment

Week 3 - Lecture 5 - Writing for TV

Reporter's day in a newsroom, reporting tips, teleprompter and stand-ups, voice-over workshop

Week 3 - Lecture 6 - Interview Process

Styles of interviews, teleprompter and stand-ups, interview workshop

Week 4 - Lecture 7 - Finalize Project

Interview, B-roll, write voice-over, shooting and editing, edit questions, teleprompter and stand-up

Week 4 - Prepare Script & Questions

Prepare script for daytime talk show, including interview research and questions, and host intros/extros/throws

Week 5 - Project Shooting

Reporter's day in a newsroom

Week 5 - Rehearse Daytime Talk Show

Rehearsal with Video & Film Students

Week 6 - Tape Daytime Talk Show

Co-host a daytime talk show

Week 6 - Test and Paper Edit Project

Write test, prepare paper edit for project, record voice-overs for project