I’m currently taking part in an interesting program. It is a mentoring program for Audio Visual Talents in North Rhine-Westphalia. Basically, the state government of NRW realized that people seem to prefer to get their audio visual education in NRW (Cologne, Düsseldorf, Bonn) but move to Hamburg or Berlin afterwards to have their careers there. The program brings some young, smart people and some well known, experienced folks together in order to help the newcomers to get into the media industry without moving.
I generally like the way how different media and different professions were brought together. There were a some TV-guys, some film-guys and some radio-guys. There were even … like 1.5 games-guys.
I noticed that a lot of the radio-guys talked about how the times are tough and they are doing Podcasts now. This made me think. When I was a Kid I remember that my grandma listened to radio. I mean she really LISTENED to radio. She knew when a certain program was going to be aired, she sat in a chair in front of the radio and just sat there and listened for an hour or so. And it wasn’t music, it was people talking. I found that odd. My parents pretty much ignored radio.
So for me, radio is QUITE a dead medium. The only context where I do sometimes listen to radio is in the car but that’s only because it is a convenient way of getting music. If there was no such thing as radio, I would just throw in a CD or something. In fact, I sometimes do because I can’t stand radio commercials.
So I’m a bit concerned if the experience of the radio-mentors will be of any help for me. I’m still glad I can participate in the program and I’m open to anything. And at least I can relate to their work because I do enjoy Podcasts frequently. But I wouldn’t call them radio. It is on-demand, thematically more focused but formally more relaxed. I consider them as a cross-over between radio, telephone conversations and audiobooks.
Here is a thought that I had for some time: when I will have kids, they think about Television the same way I think about Radio. After all, even I don’t really watch TV all that much so why would they? Sure, they will watch movies and maybe some series but actually FOLLOWING the TV program and tuning in live? I doubt it.
I don’t know of this program is something for you, but listen to the elderly speech of the radio-people! Even if you consider it dead, it is a really fascinating medium with an interesting story. Inspiration sometimes hit hard. For over a year or so I am really in love with Videotext! Not that much with the contents, but the medium itself: aesthetic, how-it-works, even the colors… simply beautiful!