Steps for story-based farm radio programming – Step 1: Topical thinking
Date Posted: December 22nd, 2008
As you’ll read below in the Farm Radio Action section, radio practitioners involved in the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) recently took part in a training session to hone their broadcasting skills. As part of this training, they reviewed eight steps for story-based farm radio programming. These steps will be reprinted in the Radio Resource section of upcoming FRWs. Here is Step 1: Topical thinking:
Topics don’t make for very interesting broadcasting. Good radio is more often found in people talking to people about people. So, you’ll want to break down a broad topic or issue to identify possible angles, and, from there, possible stories. “Free-thinking” (naming all the issues people associate with the main topic) can help you break down a topic into an interesting subject for a story. Try using a mind map, such as the one illustrated below.
Mind map on the subject of hybrid maize (Mangochi, Malawi)
Example: In Malawi, the AFRRI team used the mind map technique to break down the broad topic of “hybrid maize.” The mind map revealed many possible angles they could pursue for a single program, or a series of programs, on the topic. As you can see in the example below, many interesting story ideas arose from their mind map, including: access to hybrid seeds, “poundability,” and storage.
Questions:
-Select a topic you want to use for a story and create your own mind map. What do you see? ?
-What might make for an interesting program? Explain why your subject might make an interesting story.
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:03 am
[...] Farm Radio Weekly » Farm Radio Weekly Archive » Steps for story … [...]
January 5th, 2009 at 8:03 pm
[...] Broadcasters participating in the African Farm Radio Research Initiative (AFRRI) recently engaged in training to produce story-based radio programming. We’re sharing part of the training materials here, in the Radio Resource Bank. Below you’ll find Step 2 of an eight-step guide to story-based farm radio programming, on practical research. To re-visit Step 1: Topical thinking, click: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/12/22/steps-for-story-based-farm-radio-programming-%E2%80%9…. [...]
January 12th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
[...] farm radio programming, on focus and story idea. – To re-visit Step 1: Topical thinking, click: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/12/22/steps-for-story-based-farm-radio-programming-%E2%80%9…. -To re-visit Step 2: Practical research, click: [...]
January 19th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
[...] on choosing a format and developing a program plan. – To re-visit Step 1: Topical thinking, click: http://weekly.farmradio.org/2008/12/22/steps-for-story-based-farm-radio-programming-%E2%80%9…. -To re-visit Step 2: Practical research, click: [...]
January 26th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
[...] re-visit the first four steps, visit the following: -Step 1: Topical thinking -Step 2: Practical research -Step 3: Focus and story idea -Step 4: Formats and program [...]
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:14 pm
[...] re-visit the first four steps, visit the following: -Step 1: Topical thinking -Step 2: Practical research -Step 3: Focus and story idea -Step 4: Formats and program plan -Step [...]
February 9th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
[...] adjust the focus of your program. To re-visit the first four steps, visit the following: -Step 1: Topical thinking -Step 2: Practical research -Step 3: Focus and story idea -Step 4: Formats and program plan -Step [...]
February 23rd, 2009 at 8:56 pm
[...] re-visit the first four steps, visit the following: -Step 1: Topical thinking -Step 2: Practical research -Step 3: Focus and story idea -Step 4: Formats and program plan -Step [...]