A radio documentary is an audio recording that is a form of journalism that describes real events, stories, issues or characters, often using intimate interviews and sound effects.
Features of radio documentaries include the use of live sound and sound effects to create atmosphere and attract the listener's attention. They should be informative, objective, emotionally charged and sometimes inviting to consider unusual corners of the topic. Emphasis is placed on exploration, preparation, and navigation through complex stories through audio.
Radio documentary works are created by journalists, radio presenters, sound engineers and other specialists in the field of radio broadcasting.
Participants in radio documentaries may include people talking about their experiences, experts, actors, specialists on the topic, as well as authors and performers of special sound effects.
The topics of radio documentaries can be very diverse - from historical events to everyday life situations, from scientific discoveries to social problems.
The target audience for radio documentaries depends on the specific content, but in general they are people interested in news, culture, history, science or social issues.
Words and phrases used in radio documentaries may include: interview, explanation, report, sound footage, reconstruction, background music, sound effects, etc.
Examples of radio documentaries include such programs as “Echo of Moscow”, “TED Radio Hour”, “This American Life”, “Radio Culture” and many other radio stations and projects dedicated to the documentary genre.