Please, don't say that again!

 

Recently heard on my radio 

(What not to say)

Best practices for radio announcers eliminates barriers between the audience and the person behind the mic. There should also be a sincere effort to promote an increase in time listening. Seems basic, yet I still hear:

"We'll be right back after this"  

First: You're not going anywhere.

Second: This is really lame forward promotion. Promote to something specific coming up in less than 20 minutes.

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"More on that story at 5:44." 

You don't need a specific time. Say something like this, "Senators react to the resignation of Ted Cruz, in 15 minutes on Baltic Public Media's  All Things Considered." Don't expect me to make an appointment for listening, but if it's only 15 minutes away, I'll probably stick around. The goal is to increase Time Spent Listening.

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"Wow, it's really cold out there! Windchills are expected to be minus 32 outside tonight."

You don't need to say 'out there' or 'outside.' We'll get it. Instead say, "Stay safe and bundle up. Windchills are expected be 32 below tonight." Saying 'out there' puts up an unconscious barrier between you and your listener.

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"All of you out there." (Often heard during fundraisers.) "We need all of you out there to step up to the plate and make a donation so we can raise 20 thousand dollars." 

Where do I even begin with this? Radio is a personal medium. Most listening is done alone. Throwing up the barrier of "all of you out there" is so wrong on so many levels. Most importantly you've destroyed the intimate relationship you're trying to build with the listener.

What is special about radio?

Based on the human voice, radio is a uniquely personal medium, invoking a listener's imagination to fill in mental images around the broadcast sounds. Radio also can employ a boundless plethora of sound and music effects to entertain and enthrall listeners. -britannica

Why do people love listening to radio?

People love listening to radio according to a recent survey by Edison research - It's ability to connect listeners with new music, both local and global news, and the added benefit of going mobile are the main driving factors why audiences keep coming back for more.  -radio.com