2021 Spring Training
Whether you're new to public radio programming or a seasoned professional, everyone can benefit from a diagnostic of your basic broadcast execution. If you are ready to take your station sound to the next level, 2021 Spring Training will help put you on the right track. These webinars are free and open to all, regardless of PRPD membership and provide an excellent training opportunity for established and aspiring staff. All webinars will be recorded and archived for later viewing.
2021 Spring Training sessions are produced by PRPD President Abby Goldstein and Christina Shockley, Chief Announcer/Host at Michigan Radio and station consultant.
SESSION 1: Understanding Your Inventory - Wed, April 14 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET - Airtime is a valuable commodity and it needs to be managed appropriately. There should be a smart balance of underwriting and promotional inventory with enough time to deliver local information that is important to your audience. In this session, you will learn how to map all your inventory and conduct regular audits to ensure it is being well managed. Christina Shockley is the moderator and is joined by Douglas Bell of WAMU and Sheila Rue of WUSF. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDING AND OTHER WEBINAR RESOURCES.
SESSION 2: Making the Most of On-air Promotion - Wed, April 28 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET - If you actually paid for your on-air promotion time, you would be surprised by its value. You must treat your promotional inventory like the valuable resource that it is and use it to achieve results. Your promotional inventory is one of the most important levers you can pull to drive listening to key dayparts. In this session, you will learn how to create an on-air promotion plan and manage the demands for promotional inventory across your organization. Abby Goldstein moderates and is joined by Izzi Smith, Managing Director, Programming and Audience Development at WBEZ and Molly Davis, Assistant General Manager at WFDD. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDING AND OTHER WEBINAR RESOURCES.
SESSION 3: Your “Stationality” - Wed, May 12 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET - There has never been more competition for the attention of your listeners and if you want to stand out, you must stand for something. Every local break is a chance to develop and cement a relationship with your audience that is based on shared values and experiences. There are hundreds of choices made over the course of an hour that affect how your station is perceived by your audience. Even the smallest details can have a big effect on your sound. In this session, you will learn about the best techniques for staying consistent in how you execute local breaks and proven methods for keeping your station’s brand top of mind at every step. Christina Shockley moderates this discussion with Zoe Clark, Program Director at Michigan Radio; Kelsey McConnell, Manager of Content Production and Programming at USC Radio Group; and Charlee Robles, Operations Manager at KUVO and The DROP in Denver, and On Air Talent for Westwood One. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDING AND OTHER WEBINAR RESOURCES.
SESSION 4: Great Copy - Wed, May 26 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET - Writing for the ear is not the same as writing for the eye and when time is limited, every word in a script matters. There is usually a lot of information that needs to be conveyed clearly in :15 or :30, which means you must be economical about the words you choose. When it comes to underwriting, chances are you spend considerable time working with your sales team on ensuring that copy meets legal guidelines while also meeting the needs of the client. In this session, you will learn valuable techniques for writing great broadcast promos and live announcements with attention to the specific nature of underwriting copy. Christina Shockley moderates this discussion with Laura Landress, Corporate Support Advisor at Greater Public; Sheila Rue, Program Director at WSMR and WUSF; and Stacy Owen, Program Director at WFPK. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDING AND OTHER WEBINAR RESOURCES.
SESSION 5: Great Production - Wed, June 9 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 ET - Every recorded element that airs on your station, from an event promo to a membership spot to a legal ID's, has a powerful impression on your audience. Messaging needs to be conveyed, but if you want people to respond to it and achieve your desired outcome, your production must truly connect with your listeners. Great production is a creative endeavor and even a brief membership spot can disrupt someone's listening experience if it is not well produced. In this session, you'll be inspired to create great production that captures people’s attention and moves them to action. PRPD President Abby Goldstein moderates a discussion with nationally recognized production master and voice actor Jim Cutler and we'll listen to examples from stations around the country. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE RECORDING AND OTHER WEBINAR RESOURCES.