The document discusses key codes and conventions for an effective radio trailer for a documentary. It should include facts to inform listeners and convince them the documentary is interesting. It also needs a voiceover to narrate and explain what it is about. Additionally, the trailer should use upbeat background music but ensure the voiceover can still be heard. An ideal length is 30-40 seconds to engage listeners without being too long.

1. CODES AND CONVENTIONS
OF A RADIO TRAILER
Tuesday, 22 January 13

2. FACTS
A radio trailer needs to contains facts and statistics to
make it informative and provide knowledge for the
listener.
These facts should convince the listener to want to
watch the documentary as it should make it sound
interesting.
If we include facts in our documentary radio trailer it
will also sound more professional and realistic.
The use of facts will also show a thoroughly researched
product, which is the effect we are aiming for.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

3. VOICEOVER
A voiceover is important and evident in most radio
trailers as it guides the listener through what is being
portrayed.
A voiceover also explains what the documentary is
about.
It gives a professional feel as most existing radio
trailers include a voiceover.
It is there to inform and entertian the listener and
also sets the mood for the documentary itself.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

4. MUSIC
The music is used in a radio trailer to set a steady
pace and to set the atmosphere for the listener.
However, from listening to existing radio trailers it is
vital to ensure that the voiceover/narration can still
be heard over the top of the background music.
For our documentary we intend the music to be
lively and upbeat as this suits the genre of topic that
we have chosen.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

5. LENGTH
The radio trailer should last around 30-40 seconds
long. This is the suitable amount of time for an advert
for a documentary as it is short enough to engage a
listener yet long enough to be able to include all the
necessary information.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

6. OTHER
The radio trailer should include extracts from the
documentary itself to engage and draw in the reader to
want to go and watch it.
It should be formal
At the end of the trailer the voiceover should state what
time the documentary is on and also what channel.
The trailer should intrigue its target audience and also
contain different opinions and beliefs.
The trailer should have more than one person speaking
in it.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

7. SOUND EFFECTS
Sounds effects can be used to keep the listener
interested and to create a certain effect/atmosphere.
For example, in the “Italian grand prix” radio trailer
we listened to, the sound of cars racing along a track
can be heard in the background.
Sound effects also indicate to the listener what they
should expect from the documentary.
Tuesday, 22 January 13

8. VOX POPS/INTERVIEWS
Vox pops and interviews taken from the documentary
itself can be cooperated into the radio trailer.
This gives an insight into what is involved in the
documentary and also gives a variety of different
opinions.
Tuesday, 22 January 13