(Transcribed from notes)
Martin Spinelli - Week 9 lecture.
As lecture hall was filling, Radio Radio playedover the soundsystem; produced by Spinelli. Broadcast 10 years ago, interviewing Pierce Plowright. Very important piece of radio production. Studied in contemporary courses; included in museum collections.
All of our projects this year must reference the historical growth of the medium they are in - have a lot of theoretical evidence and weight.
Spinelli: BA in English & Media at Virginia Tech. Had a show on the campus radio station. Led him to National Public Radio (US equivalent of BBC). More decentralized than BBC, so easier to break in to. Varied radio permitted. Opportunities given to independent producers.
Encourages students to submit work to Transform or PRX to get distribution, higher profile, and portfolio work.
Spinelli used his resourcefullness, determination and motivation to secure his first internship, even after first being told he was unsuitable for the position. Stayed long enough that he eventually got employed part-time by the station. 'News Stringer'.
MA in Sussex (English) in early 90's.
Returned to US for PhD in Buffalo State University, also employed at NPR.
Added more theory to the application of his practical work - became more critical.
Think about: specialization in a field or niche.
Important: Be consistent, persistant, and professional.
Practice pitching work regularly - helps when you need to get 'out there' in the future.
He used this to develop relationships with station owners/ producers/ directors etc.
To develop professionally: get in a habit of producing work on a regular schedule (eg fortnightly, monthly) which grows skills quickly and stops you getting stuck in a perfectionist rutt.
Recommends: McLuhan 'Understanding Media', 'the Guttenberg Galaxy'.
