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Playlist: Annotations-7.1

Compiled By: Erin Cisewski

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#2 - Putting Words in the Mouth

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 12:26

Radio producers face ethical questions every day. When we remove words, flip sentences, delete a pause, etc., we make ethical choices involving the altering of “truth” (whatever that is). So, what are the ethical considerations when we write words for narration, the addition of words?

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Radio producers face ethical questions every day. Indeed, when cutting tape, we face ethical questions each time we highlight and delete — every few seconds. When we remove words, flip sentences, delete a pause, etc., we make ethical choices involving the altering of “truth” (whatever that is).

So, what are the ethical considerations when we write words for narration, the addition of words? And, taking it a step further, what if we write the words for a character in a story to read/narrate? Are any ethical boundaries crossed?

#15 - Listening to the Northern Lights

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 08:33

What’s it take to produce a radio piece that doesn’t have conflict, tension, or some universal we all can relate to?

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What’s it take to produce a radio piece that doesn’t have conflict, tension, or some universal we all can relate to?

Well, some of the storytelling components that help make up for those missing elements are great sound, an interesting character, a good talker, and an unusual location. Barrett Golding’s “Listening to the Northern Lights” has all of these elements and that’s what makes the piece work — that and Barrett’s excellent production values.

Whisk yourself away for a few minutes and listen to the Northern Lights.

 

Check out Barrett’s other work at HearingVoices.com.

For other stories about nature, try the Nature Stories Podcast. And, one of my favorite environmental recording artists is Bernie Krause. He’s produced several CDs of “biophonies” — biological symphonies — and written some books on environmental field recording. Plus, Bernie produced a cool CD of music composed entirely of sampled animal sounds. Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention R. Murray Schafer and the World Soundscape Project. Okay, that’s enough for now.

#19 - Studs, Natasha, and the Power of Sound

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 08:54

Here are a few thoughts I have on the power of sound. Studs Terkel offers his take on the human voice. And, Salt radio grad Natasha Haverty talks about sound at death.

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At the start of the semester at Salt, we start big, really big.

After listening to a few radio pieces and introducing ourselves, we talk about sound. The power of sound. The conversation ranges from the practical to the spiritual. It’s poetic..

Here are a few thoughts I have on the power of sound. Studs Terkel offers his take on the human voice. And, Salt radio grad Natasha Haverty talks about sound at death.

#38 - Josh: Growing Up With Tourrette's

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 36:00

Joe Richman has made some of the best documentaries on public radio. His work is stellar — sound rich, dramatic, personal. On this Saltcast, Joe joins me and we sift through, scene by scene, a story he produced in 1996 called "Josh: Growing Up With Tourrette's."

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Just over a year ago, I dissected “Dead Animal Man” by Ira Glass for the Saltcast. I think that episode got more responses than any other Saltcast. Since then, I’ve been meaning to dissect a piece in a similar way. It only took a year (!) but I’ve finally gotten around to it. This time, Joe Richman joins me and we sift through, scene by scene, a story he produced in 1996 called “Josh: Growing Up With Tourrette’s.”

Joe Richman has made some of the best documentaries on public radio. His work is stellar — sound rich, dramatic, personal.

Joe may be best known for his radio diaries, stories where an individual is given a tape deck to document their lives. In fact, that’s the name of Joe’s company —Radio Diaries. Much of his work is available to listen to at the Radio Diaries website. But, before you zing off to his website and get lost in all the stories, take a listen to this podcast. Joe gives us the back story on producing “Josh” and he offers great insight on radio storytelling.

This is a long Saltcast so get comfy. And, please post your thoughts and questions here at the blog.

PS – Joe says he was inspired to produce audio diaries by “Ghetto Life 101″ by Dave Isay as well as “Life Stories: First Person Portraits” by Jay Allison. Click and listen. 

#27 - Mei Mei, A Daughter's Song

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 30:41

Independent producer Dmae Roberts produced “Mei Mei, A Daughter’s Song” in 1989. It was cutting edge then and it is, unfortunately, cutting edge now.

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O, how public radio has changed in the last twenty years.

With the exception of WNYC’s Radio Lab and specials from Hearing Voices, there is very little on public radio that tickles the ears. It wasn’t always that way. Up until about the 1990’s, public radio took chances.  Stations experimented and aired risky and unusual work right along with the tried and true.

But, today, much of the programming, aurally speaking, is pretty drab and staid. In fact, I’d say there’s a good chance very few public stations would play the piece featured on this Saltcast because of its non-traditional and artistic approach to production and storytelling — even though it was lauded when it  first hit the air twenty years ago.

Independent producer Dmae Roberts produced “Mei Mei, A Daughter’s Song” in 1989. It was cutting edge then and it is, unfortunately, cutting edge now.

O, to encounter more stories told like Mei Mei on the radio.

I hope you’ll raise a glass with me to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Mei Mei. And, after you listen to this Saltcast, check out Dmae’s other great work at dmaeroberts.com.

#25 - Dyana, Goddess of the Moose Hunt

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 17:43

Hope you enjoy this startling piece about a moose hunt gone sour — “Dyana, Goddess of the Moose Hunt.”

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Ingredients for a doozy of a radio story:

1. Take a seasoned and somewhat crusty moose hunter.

2. Add a wide-eyed first-time huntress.

3. Toss in a student radio reporter.

4. Stir vigorously with increasing heat on bumpy logging roads in the Maine woods for days and days.

5. Sprinkle with an occasional moose sighting.

6. Continue stirring and heating until over-cooked.

Voila! A radio story!!

Hope you enjoy this startling piece about a moose hunt gone sour — “Dyana, Goddess of the Moose Hunt.” Produced by Jamie Yuenger in the fall of 2008.

#21 - Silence Among Friends

From Salt Institute for Documentary Studies | Part of the SaltCast: the Backstory to Great Radio Storytelling series | 12:08

Silence is radio’s worst enemy. Or so the thinking goes. In fact, some commercials stations have alarms that sound when the station goes silent for more than a few seconds.
So, imagine my surprise when Joni Murphy said she wanted to produce a radio story about silence at Quaker meeting.

At first I thought she was kidding. Then I thought some more and I decided Joni’s idea was genius.

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Silence is radio’s worst enemy. Or so the thinking goes. In fact, some commercials stations have alarms that sound when the station goes silent for more than a few seconds.

So, imagine my surprise when Joni Murphy said she wanted to produce a radio story about silence at Quaker meeting.

At first I thought she was kidding. Then I thought about the practical implications. “If a radio piece has a lot of silence, listeners will think their radios are broken or they lost the station or something.”

Then I thought some more and I decided Joni’s idea was genius. Take a listen.

 

PS – Oh, and y’all should know about John Cage, a composer who’s famous (and infamous) for his explorations of sound and silence. Here are links to a performance of 4′ 33″ and a story about Cage’s momentous encounter with absolute silence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUJagb7hL0E
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/4′33″