music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
The music department is responsible for obtaining and processing all the recorded music that comes into the station. Unlike many stations' music departments, BSR's generally does not dictate what music should be played by DJs - instead it is the driving force behind the rapid expansion and diversification of our music library. Music Department staff includes the Music Director, the Genre Directors, and the Librarian. The department has occasional meetings to sort out its business and review problems and policies. Working in the Music Department is a great way of putting your appreciation and knowledge of music to good use- and you're guaranteed to learn more about music, even if you think you're an expert.
Music Director
The Music Director (MD) coordinates all the music department activities. The MD's primary responsibilities are to oversee the work of the Genre Directors- in order to insure that BSR continues to get a diverse range of new music- and the Librarian(s)- to make sure that all that music, new and old, stays organized. The MD is also responsible for keeping genre and reviewing labels stocked, making sure that CD's and records are being reviewed properly, checking mail and email, answering phones, tracking down overdue CD's and records, and just being generally encouraging. This position requires a minimum of four office hours per week.
Genre Directors
The Genre Directors (GDs) are responsible for obtaining all the new music that BSR gets. Their duties include schmoozing with record promoters, record labels and bands via phone and email; labeling new music as it comes into the station and entering it into the database; cleaning off their genre's Features Shelf; and reporting their genre's top-played charts to CMJ and then sending these charts to said promoters, labels and bands, if applicable. Yes, GD's take requests- if you don't see something in the station that we should have, ask your friendly neighborhood GD. There is usually a GD for each CMJ genre (Top 200 [Rock], Alternative [Latin], HipHop, Loud Rock, Jazz, New World [International], RPM [Electronic]), as well as for other genres when necessary; in the past this has included Classical, "Jambands," Country & Folk and Blues. There is, of course, tons of overlap. More practically, GD's also answer phones, check mail and email, put review labels on and tattoo "BSR" on CD's and records, and track down delinquent reviewers. Though most of the excess music and other goodies that BSR gets are saved for on-air giveaways and promotions, the GD's can occasionally get free music stuff and often get on the guest list at concerts. The GD is also the person to talk to for getting in touch with bands for shows, on-air performances, interviews, etc. This position requires a minimum of four office hours per week, but two people can split the position (two hours each).
Music Librarian(s)
The Librarian maintains the Music Library. Everyone is responsible for re-filing records and CDs after they are done using them, but inevitably things get misfiled or left out on occasion, at which point the heroic Librarian intervenes! This position requires a minimum of four hours per week, per person, as there may be more than one Librarian.
music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
The Programming Department is responsible for supervising all on-air programming. They develop a schedule each semester, administrate the training program for all new programmers, review programming throughout each semester, and propose any new station policy regarding programming. They work closely with the Music Director, Sports Director, News Director, Production Director, and Features Director to coordinate the programming from these distinct departments and oversee any on-air special events. They ensure that all programming follows our Mission Statement of "diverse student and community produced non-commercial radio", balances the goal of building a regular audience with the goal of providing an educational experience to students, and follows Brown Student Radio and FCC regulations. The Programming Board chooses shows based on a number of factors, including the amount of work the DJ puts into the station, the entertainment and education value of the potential show, and how the show will fit in with the other shows that may be applying in the same round of allocations.
Programming Director
The Programming Director (PD) coordinates the actions of the Programming Department. The PD is responsible for channeling the (sometimes) conflicting priorities and preferences of the individual Programming Board members into a cohesive schedule, general programming policy, and overall on-air sound. The Programming Director has the power to overrule the action of any programmer if they find the action to go against station policy, until the matter can be reviewed by the Programming Board, or by the Executive Board if disciplinary action is necessary. The Programming Director is appointed by the Executive Board.
The Programming Board
Members of the Programming Board work with the PD to supervise all on-air programming. There are six members of the Programming Board, in addition to the PD. The Programming Board members are elected for a one-year term by general Station Membership, three members elected at the end of each semester so that their terms are staggered. All members have had at least a year's experience on-air. The Programming Board members review shows throughout the semester, ensuring that each show gets reviewed at least twice per semester. They also work one-on-one with new recruits during Programmer Training, and they create the schedule for each semester in conjunction with the PD.
Live event Coordinator
The Live Event Coordinator works with the Programming Director, the Features Director, and the Music Director to coordinate live events such as bands, panel discussions, or other live events to be aired on BSR. He or she may work closely with a few other station members who will engineer these live events as well.
music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
The Features Department is the place for people interested in creative non-music programming, including documentary, drama and comedy, interviews, call-in discussions, poetical expression and much more. The creative potential for programming that is interesting, innovative, and entertaining is unlimited. Because features programming often blurs the lines between departments, and can incorporate elements of music, news, or sports, collaboration between features producers and between departments is highly encouraged. Diversity and collaboration are the strengths and assets of the department. In addition, the Features Department tries to build ties to the Providence community and address local concerns in our programming.
Features Director
The features director is responsible for the coordination and oversight of the features department, for acting as a resource to show producers, for helping develop new programming, for helping existing programming to continually improve, and for aiding in any specialized training that is not covered in the station wide training sessions. It is also the Features Director's responsibility to familiarize producers with the range of existing features programming, both BSR produced and otherwise.
Evaluation of Shows
Formal evaluation of Features shows will be done by the Programming Board, but as part of training and development, and for the sake of keeping track of how shows progress over the course of the semester, periodic evaluation, feedback and review will be conducted on a departmental level.
Features Show Producers
Each show will have at least one person designated as "producer," who is responsible for the content of each show, making sure that the show goes on when it is scheduled, and reporting any problems to the Features Director. The designated producer is also responsible for coming to features departmental meetings throughout the semester. Producers should arrive at the station and be ready to go on the air at least ten minutes prior to the start of their show. If for some reason a show cannot go on, the producer is also the person responsible for finding a sub, or if necessary notifying the Features Director and Programming Director so that he/she may find a sub.
music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
The Brown Student Radio Sports Network is dedicated to providing undergraduates with an experience in on-air sports broadcasting and reporting. We generate live sports broadcasts of Brown Athletics as well as a weekly Brown sports roundup show, "The Bear's Den," for the listening enjoyment of the University, campus, community, and surrounding area as well as users of the internet. The Sports Department tries to broadcast live sports broadcasts every weekend that BSR is on the air and that Brown sports teams are playing. The schedule is limited by budgetary and travel concerns, but the Sports Department has been successful in covering many home and away games. Occasionally, games are taped and then broadcast during the Sports Department's designated on-air hours (Fri. & Sat. from 7:00 until games are completed (usually 9:00-9:30).
Sports Director
The BSR Sports Director is a member of the BSR executive board and is responsible for overseeing and organizing all broadcasts, events and tasks carried out by the BSR Sports Network. This includes: selecting broadcast teams, statisticians and engineers for live games; selecting reporting and interview assignments and making sure the Sports staff has the proper training and equipment to carry out these tasks; communicating with the Brown Sports Information Department to obtain team schedules and information; selecting a schedule of games to broadcast that is finalized in conjunction with the non-music and programming directors and the Brown Sports Information Department; contacting and making broadcast agreements with other schools sports information departments for road games; getting invoices and checks cut for line fees for road games; keeping two full sets of remote broadcast equipment together in good working order; writing, obtaining and recording production such as station ID's, intros and outros for live games and the roundup show, promos for live games and the roundup show to be played during other shows and previews of upcoming games, in conjunction with the BSR Production Director; and delegating these and other responsibilities to other members of the BSR Sports staff. The Sports Director is also accountable for all the tasks carried out by members of his/her BSR Sports staff. The BSR Sports Director, or someone he or she delegates, is responsible, in conjunction with the BSR station Publicity Director, to ensure that members of the Brown community and the surrounding area are aware of the BSR Sports Network's broadcast schedule. The Sports Promo Director is also in charge of finding sponsors to underwrite BSR Sports Broadcasts using the accepted station underwriting formula.
Live Game Broadcasters
The live game sportscasters call the live action from the game for Brown soccer, lacrosse, basketball and hockey, baseball and softball matches. The Sports Director assigns all broadcast teams for every game. Calling a game is a privilege and all live game commentators are expected to fulfill other tasks within the Sports Department. Broadcasters are on air talent and are responsible for researching and gathering information on the sport or story assigned to them by the Sports Director.
Engineers
Sports Engineers run the studio during remote live game broadcasts. They are in charge of putting the sportscaster, production and sponsors on the air. Sports engineers are assigned on a game-by-game basis by the director or someone he or she delegates. There must be an in-studio engineer for every live broadcast.
Interviewers
Interviewers must acquire recorded interviews to be played during intermissions or half times of matches and during the weekly show.
music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
Prod, short for production, consists of pre-recorded announcements. These announcements create an identity for the station, make broadcasts sound more professional, and communicate simple messages and announcements about upcoming events. Most prod is a combination of music and voiceovers and is carefully produced to sound as professional as possible. Prod pieces can be as short as a 10 second station ID ("You're listening to Brown Student Radio") or as long as a 2-minute calendar of events. The prod department is involved a number of different areas. Among these are the Events Calendar, Events Promotion, Show Promotion, and special BSR events promotion. The prod department is also involved in working on special projects for other departments, including "bleeping" songs and speeches and working on technical matters.
Production Director
The Production Director is responsible for ensuring that pre-produced show promotions, special event promotions, the events calendar, and other departmental responsibilities are produced. He or she is also responsible for responding to requests from station members or other department heads to clean up audio that a station member wishes to play on air. He or she will coordinate and oversee a department in doing so, and will work with the programming director on any specialized training necessary.
music | programming | features | sports | production | publicity
General
Ultimately, the mission of the BSR Publicity Department is to represent the station to the outside world: the Brown and RISD campuses, greater Providence, and beyond. While, in the past, Publicity's main target audience was the student community, it seems that a more appropriate target is the greater Providence community. This forces the Publicity Department to expand and cater to a more diverse listenership, including different neighborhoods of the city and state, different age groups, musical tastes, etc. Primarily, Publicity's distribution force, the streeteem, needs to develop a regular presence in more areas of Providence, thus helping the station build its identity as an entity powerful enough to cater to the many tastes of such a diverse city.
The Publicity Department also seeks to graphically represent this station in as aesthetically powerful and pleasing way as possible. The department accepts and encourages all design submissions from its members. The challenge that Publicity's designers face is: how do you visually represent such a diverse station while still maintaining a cohesive BSR image? Given the fact that Publicity's designers come from varied skill levels and artistic backgrounds, the Publicity Director will have discretion over the general direction the image should take. Publicity must maintain a fine balance between the distribution of information and the visual means of doing so. It must work to seek out new venues of promotion to capture new listeners, and inform the public of all that BSR has to offer. The publicity department is mainly focused on advertising the station and its many aspects, including special on-air events, general radio news, individual shows, BSR sporting events, BSR sponsored lectures or concerts, schedules (both general and features), BSR recruitment, and general station promotion. This promotion is done with flyers, newspaper ads, table slips, stickers, buttons, T-shirts, posters, and anything else that can get the message across.
Publicity Director
The Publicity Director is responsible for coordinating all of the activities of the department. He or she works with other departments and the Director of Operations to coordinate a schedule of what needs to be publicized, and coordinates within the department who will do the actual design and dissemination. He or she should also be willing to train other members in design programs so that the design team can grow. The Publicity director should also always be seeking new ideas for new ways to make BSR visible.
Webmaster
The Webmaster is part of the BSR publicity department and works to make sure that BSR's events are being properly listed and represented online. He or she should also be responsible for seeking out other websites with whom to create mutual links, ultimately helping BSR's internet radio.