Mixed Media

Archiving the Airwaves

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Abstract

Within the universe of audiovisual archives materials, broadcast collections present unique challenges. Having been involved with the archives of both a commercial television station and a public radio station, I’ve dealt with audio and video materials in a broadcast setting. There are similarities and differences between the radio and television worlds. The ways these materials are created, kept, and reused offer special challenges for the archivist. The stations I’ve been involved with are independently owned and operated. They are not ruled by a distant parent company. This allowed these broadcasting entities to autonomously decide the disposition of aired product. In both cases there is an extensive collection of programming going back to the earliest days of station operation.

How to Cite:

Mohn, S., (2005) “Archiving the Airwaves”, MAC Newsletter 33(1), 34-37.