How to Write a Radio Serial Drama for Social Development- PDF

Chapter One: Introduction to the Use of Radio Drama for Social Development 11
6. Provide a brief recap at the beginning of each episode to remind listeners
what took place in the previous episode. Then, they will not be deterred
from listening if they cannot remember what has been happening in the
story. Keep the recap brief, however, and start the action as soon as
possible. (The recap is covered in Chapter 3.)
The effort that the writer must put into developing the listening
literacy of the audience varies from culture to culture. Research during
the analysis phase of the project usually reveals some information about
the listening ability of the audience and their familiarity with learning by
radio. Writers can learn more about audience listening habits and
preferences during visits to the community and during pilot tests.
(Testing pilot programs is discussed in Chapter 10.)
The serial drama format is an excellent medium for overcoming many of
the difficulties of learning by radio because it includes:
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• A strong and relevant story;
• Exciting, believable characters;
• A wide range of emotional stimulation; and
• A variety of ongoing plots.
Each of these essential elements of the radio serial drama is discussed in
greater detail in subsequent chapters.