Radio Does Not Need Pictures

In the age of multiple ways to get your fix of news, I would like to put a hand up for radio journalism.

It is a little known fact that there were 19 finalists from Australia at the recent New York Festivals International Radio Program Awards. These ranged from biographies to coverage of international affairs, from breaking stories to insightful community portraits.

A podcast on life on Manus Island by the Wheeler Centre won a top honour. To be a finalist you need world class production values, story organisation and presentation, and creative use of the medium. Choose one and take a listen. Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg for great radio content. Two of my favourites are the BBC World Service Witness program – snapshots of history and moments mostly forgotten. A further is From Our own Correspondent, short format personal observations from journalists as they go about their day to day activities. These make you sit up and listen through the power of their narrative and tight, illustrative use of language.

And then there is National Public Radio, in particular All Things Considered. I long remember a powerful series of articles on the death penalty and how lethal injections are actually administered, and sometimes fail. Plenty to listen to and lots to learn.