Urban Unrest

30 December 2005 | Business, Community | Ernesto Aguilar

A little something for volunteers developing programming, courtesy of PRPD. This tipsheet focuses on drawing out core values in programming…

What is the purpose of the program?

Selecting and Shaping Content

· Is the topic right for your program and its (target) core listeners?

· What makes it appropriate for the show?

· What is the central purpose of the proposed topic?

· What is the essential story to be told?

· What are the “chapters” to be covered

· What questions will best shape and advance the discussion of the topic?

· What is the segment’s internal narrative structure – how will we tell the story?

· What information/research do we need to tell the story in a distinct way?

Shaping Content’s Local Service and “Sense of Place”

· What special/unique meaning does this topic have in our community?

· How does it interconnect our community with our nation, our world?

· Has it happened here before?

· Has it happened elsewhere?

· Is it part of a pattern?

· What is the cause?

· What is the effect/impact?

Selecting and Shaping Talent

· Are they curious? Are they eager to learn something new?

· Do they embody the purpose and goals of the program?

· Do they live the content? Do they do their homework?

· Are they engaged with public life and culture?

· Do they speak with and to listeners (not at them)? Do they connect?

· Do they respect the intelligence of the audience?

· Do they write well? Do they express themselves clearly and articulately?

· Are they genuinely interesting, someone you want to spend time with?

· Are they solution-oriented?

· Are they willing to let the content/the guest be the star?

· Can they be prepared but also listen to/respond to what the guest says?

· Is your format designed to bring out their best and hide their worst?

Selecting and Shaping Craft

· Interview: Who would be the best/most appropriate and articulate guest(s)?

· Call-in: What is the question for the listener?

· Commentary: Is there a point/opinion an “outside” voice can best make?

· Texture: Vox pops, movie clips, actualities, ambience, music

· Feature Piece: Will a setup piece help tell the story/frame the discussion?

· Reporter debriefing: Is there someone who can help set up the issue/topic?

Other Questions to ask:

· How can we promote this on the air both pre-show and during the show?

· Can we add value for listeners via our website?

· And finally…how do we sound? Are we sounding as good as we can?

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