Memorandum

MEMORANDUM

DATE: February 27, 2013

TO: Professor Parr, English 202 Professor

FROM: Ann Chin, A.C.

SUBJECT: Comparison of radio and television broadcasting

Radio and Television Broadcasting

            The way radio and television broadcasts their news is similar and different in various ways. NPR and WGN both provide their audience with the news; however, the way they layout it out is fairly interesting.

            NPR had a very interesting piece on how more young women have been diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. The audio was approximately slightly over three minutes long and started right into the point with no fluff. They first introduced the person first before place in a live quote. The entire audio was set in present tense, which strongly reflected the effective usage of immediacy. I found the usage of the quotes were not random but very informative and portrayed a conversational feeling to the audio. NPR did an amazing job of using the right people that have experienced having the cancer or had friends for the quotes to show that they knew what they were talking about. The language was crisp and provided amazing clarity without beating around the bush, which gave the listener the impression of how serious this matter is.

            WGN had a very interesting piece with the same story; however, the way they portrayed it was slightly different. They first had the camera focused on the newsroom and then switched to a different reporter, who introduced the news and they showed a live recording of a doctor and a colleague discussing a dear friend who was diagnosed with breast cancer. The visual impact reached its high point when they showed a hospital scene with a doctor asking how a breast cancer patient was doing. They didn’t tell the news through the people but only showed recordings of professionals giving a brief overview of breast cancer conditions and showed random shots of a hospital hallway. There is a good use of immediacy in keeping in present tense. There is a less conversational tone from the reporter because they have a time limit and they have to be consise.