DISCUSSION:Selection of the TopicKnowledge of the Topic, Narrowing down the topic

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Radio News, Reporting and Production MCM515

LESSON 36

DISCUSSION

Essentials of Producing Discussion

1. Selection of the Topic

The very first step in the planning and production of a discussion is the selection of the topic. The topic

may be assigned by the authorities, may be the demand of the situation, or conceived by the producer.

2. Knowledge of the Topic

Whatever the topic is, the very first thing after the selection of the topic is to get maximum available

knowledge about the subject. Unless a producer has substantial knowledge about all possible aspects of the

topic, he/she will not be able to produce a discussion of standard.

For instance the topic of the discussion is based upon foreign policy of Pakistan with respect to any

particular country or countries. To produce such a discussion the producer first must know about the

foreign policy to the following lines:

What is Foreign Policy?

Determinants of Foreign Policy

· National Interest

· Economics

· Geography

· Security

· Pakistan's foreign policy regarding different countries, e.g., India, USU, UK, Iran, China,

Afghanistan

· Pakistan's stand point on different International Issues such as Kashmir issue, Palestine issue, Iraq-

America war, war on terror

3. Narrowing down the topic

Selection of one topic is not enough to make a discussion program. One topic, as a matter of fact,

represents the whole subject that has many aspects and shades to be discussed. Every shade and every

aspect requires a separate discussion program. Sometimes, to cover the maximum aspects pertaining to one

topic, a series of discussions may also be scheduled.

The process of pin pointing one aspect of a subject is called narrowing down the topic. Following example

will further explain the process of narrowing down a topic:

Women Issues

To talk about women is a topic but some of the issues and problems related to women may be counted as

under:

Women's Education

Women's in Professions

Problems of Working Women

Women's Rights

Let's suppose that a producer decides to pick up Women's rights as a topic of his discussion. This topic may

further be narrowed down. When we talk about women's rights the following aspects come in front of us:

Universal rights

Social rights

Rights given by law

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Rights guaranteed by religion

Women rights are protected or not?

Women's misery --- Myth or Reality

Right to Education

Right to Cast Vote

Right to Work

Right to the Selection of Profession

Right to get share in Inheritance

Right to Marriage after her own choice

4. Selection of Anchorperson

The next step in the production of discussion is the selection of the anchorperson. Here again the producer

has to be very much careful. The anchorpersons are of two kinds:

a) Professional Anchorpersons

These are the ones who have opted for being a compere or an anchorperson as their profession.

b) Experts

These are the ones who are the experts in their respective field or subject and in specialized topics they are

offered to compere the discussion. For instance if the discussion is to evaluate the recently announced

budget, the anchorperson must be an economist.

While selecting this kind of compere following points a producer must keep in his/her mind:

Area of specialization of the compere must be related to the topic.

Must be a good & effective communicator.

Must be spontaneous, witty and sober yet pleasant.

Since while conducting the discussion as a compere he/she is representing radio as well so he/she must

have:

Clear voice

Accurate pronunciation

Besides all the above said features a compere must not get detached from the whole course of the

discussion and must appear involved in the conversation. Another important thing, that he must not be

biased or partial and his tilt of mind must not be noticeable at all.

5. Selection of participants

The number of the participants of a discussion must not be more than 4 and less than 2 depending upon

the duration of the discussion program.

The participants must be:

experts in their field

professionals

good communicators

preferably known to people

well-reputed

representing different schools of thought or opinions

Model Discussion Programs

Topic ---- Government's Policies to improve Agriculture in Pakistan & Benefits to Farmers

Compere

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The compere must know:

Important crops

Sowing season

Harvesting season

Farmers' problems

Irrigation system

Government's different policies

Land reforms if having been introduced

Rates of different crops

Fertilizers

Diseases of the crops

Insects

Pesticides

Participants

In such discussion following participants may be invited:

Minister of Agriculture Federal or Provincial

(If not, any government spokesman)

Representative of farmers

Representative of landlords

Expert of Agricultural Issues

Topic ---- Growing price hike in Pakistan

Compere

An economist

Participants

Market association's representative

Consumers' representative

Price control committee's chairman

An economist

Government's representative

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