ABSTRACT
The invasion of the computer has changed the face of radio news and the revolution isn’t over yet. The days of clattering typewriters and wire service machines spewing miles of paper have long since vanished and the use of magnetic tape in news gathering and transmission is in swift decline. The new equipment has done nothing to minimise the almost traditional friction between journalists and engineers – who themselves are having to keep abreast of sometimes bewildering change. There are four main types of portable recorders in common use: Marantz cassette recorders, Sony Pro Walkman, Sony DAT recorders and Sony Minidisc recorders. There are two systems of monitoring sound levels: VU and PPM and there are three ways of displaying this information: light emitting diode (LED), liquid crystal display (LCD) and a wagging needle. Most independent local stations broadcast a combination of music and news bulletins, and their bulletins are usually broadcast from a separate, smaller production booth.
