Producing speech packages.

Speech package means a factual pre-recorded component of a radio programme. It's purpose is to provide listeners with information about a certain topic. A speech package include interview material, links, Vox Pops, Sound effects, music bed, and music clips. Before making a speech package, we should ensure an comfortable/correct distance, use a pop shield and make sure the angle from the mouth to the microphone. Move head towards or away from microphone can get louder or quieter sound. 


How to make a speech package:

The first decisions of a speech package should be plan a rough outline of the report. We need to know how long it is supposed to be and what points we want to make. This will help us to decide what interviews and sound effects we need to record.

Consider the following areas in our planning:

Research: We need some facts about the story we are covering. Moreover, we need to know who we interviewee is and why we are talking to them.

Sounds: Sound effects are very important on radio because, unlike TV, we don't have pictures to help us. Even before we go to our location think about what kind of sounds we might hear that would make our package sound interesting. When we get there listen carefully. Then record the sounds - in a school these might include the school bell, pupils in the playground, classroom noises, keyboards, pupils changing classes, sports classes - football, etc .

Wild track: Wherever we are recording make sure we record the sounds around us without anybody (including yourself) speaking. This will help us to put all the bits of our package together.

Interviews: Make sure we listen to the answers to our questions carefully and if we're not satisfied with the answer, make sure we follow it up with extra questions. Record our interviewees' names and how to pronounce them. Our interview masterclass video has everything we need to know to get our interviews right.

Now mix it all together.

Step 1: Write our "cue" - the introduction spoken by our presenter - first. Cues act as a 'headline' to our piece and are vital to grabbing the attention and interest of the listener.

Step 2: Beginning the package. It's often nice to start it with some sound effects to make the listener feel as if they are there or so they can picture where we are.

Step 3: Developing the story. Wc could bring in either:

• Our voice from the studio

• Our voice from location

• one of our interviewees - probably just 20 or 30 seconds of the interview ( to choose the best bit).

Step 4:  Then continue mixing these elements, in any combination you think works, into a package that makes sense, is fair and accurate and is interesting to listen to.