Week 3: All about gender and interviews

For a gender sensitive collaboration we have encouraged resource persons and partners to always consider balance representation on air and field visits, whenever we take the show out we give equal opportunity to all.
For preparations for interview, program Producer does appointment, later mind mapping the idea, more research then guiding questions.
For subject matter, it is good to read widely and come early, also provide facts with something to back it
I experienced hardship mostly in Health interview because of terminologies , also cases where the resource person is not in good moods meanwhile i enjoyed interviewing female farmers whom i made appointment with them while making them know the reason for it. They were jolly and happy that their views would be heard on Radio

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The questions to help guide our e-discussion for week 3, were carefully split into 5 questions to tackle one at a time. My opinion on topic gender and radio interviews were equally compounded to share my understanding about the scope of the topic. This piece of mine is a bit long, but you would enjoy and find it very interesting if you go through. Good, lets Rock and Roll!

1. What kind of collaboration is necessary to make sure radio programs address gender issues and include women?

I think there is really no specific kind of collaboration necessary to make sure radio programs address gender issues and include women, because men and women differ, that much is obvious. I understand some society treats men and women differently. For example, division of labour, access to credit, decision-making, ownership of land, opportunities for education and many others. Those involved in women empowerment and gender most often say, the above examples are social constructs and not biological facts. Permit me answer our week3 questions by saying;

Collaboration would hardly be effective if the right tools necessary to address gender issues at the radio are not effectively used by both parties collaborating. Be it in file sharing, instant messaging, document synchronization, cloud storage, video-conferencing, whiteboards just to name a few. I hold firmly that, calendar sharing in collaboration would always be first in my scale of preference, because shared calendar facilitates the organization of appointments and meetings without the need to consult all participants except otherwise.

Calendar sharing best answers the check list below when look with a special eye:

  • Do you invite women to visit the station at a time of day when it is safe for them to travel?
  • Do you provide washroom facilities for women and girls?
  • Does everyone at the station treat women and men with equal respect?
  • Do listeners hear women broadcasters doing the same kinds of on-air work as men? (Radio stations do not generally have a good record on featuring women program hosts.)
  • Does your station have a gender equality policy, and is it implemented and supported at all levels?

2. Do you have any examples from your own work you can share?
A thematic series the Root of Life.pdf (123.3 KB)

http://drive.google.com/file/d/182u3lv8aKtrvNPTf4bChW29SoKTFzOGe/view?usp=drivesdk

3. How can broadcasters prepare for an interview with someone with specific knowledge such as an extension officer, a researcher, a gender specialist, the head of a farmers’ organization?
a) Be prepared
b) Beginnings and endings
c) Be respectful
d) Use good interviewing techniques
e) Is there a difference between interviews with experts and interviews with farmers?
f) Conflicts of interest, different perspectives on knowledge
g) Troubleshooting
h) Navigating traditional customs and other kinds of barriers to a good interview
i) Men interviewing women and women interviewing men
j) Build the relationship

4. How can a subject matter specialist prepare for a radio interview?

The underline shared resource doc contains the outline points below which answers how a subject matter specialist can be prepared for a radio interview. 106-12-Interviewing-expert-Best-practices-for-broadcasters-and-experts-1 .docx (69.9 KB)

For the expert:

Study the topic of the interview, in order to have the pertinent facts at hand, and to feel confident.

Turn off your phone before a face-to-face interview to minimize distractions.

You might want to write down your perspectives on some of the key issues in a clear succinct manner to avoid rambling on during an interview, even when you do not have a list of established questions for an interview. However, it is not good radio to read out your answers as if you were reading out a lecture. An interview should be a conversation, so respond to the interviewer`s questions as they are asked, and in a conversational manner.

For example, in Uganda, an expert might prepare for an interview by making a list of the top gender-related stereotypes related to bananas: 1) a married woman is not supposed to harvest bananas because she will be regarded as a thief; 2) women are not supposed to sell bananas which produce juice; 3) women do not own banana plantations.

Note : It’s always the broadcaster’s responsibility both to choose the topic and to steer the interview, because he or she knows the purpose of the program and has the responsibility to serve the listening audience with the information they need.

5. What are some examples of successful and challenging radio interviews (both live and pre-recorded) you’ve been a part of?

I would recommend and advise mid-career practitioners working actively in the field of journalism that; interviews on phone should be dealt with wisely for a good number of reasons as coin herein “ let the reader get understanding” . Because what is shared below is an in-depth knowledge of The Journalists written by James Achanyi Fontem. A veteran Journalists currently CEO/ Director of programmes at Cameroon Link, old partner to FRI for close to 30years.

THE TELEPHONE INTERVIEW

Unless the time or distance factors make it impossible, always carry out an interview in person rather than by telephone. It is far too easy for the person at the other end of the line to hang-up on you, when you are interviewing by phone and you cannot see their faces when they speak…

But if you have to interview by phone, there are certain points that must be watched. Develop a courteous, pleasing, but NOT obsequious manner. Learn to guard the reaction of the person you are calling from the first time to speak, and adjust your attitude accordingly. State the reason for your call clearly and quickly and invite the subject matter specialists (stakeholder) to co-operation.

It very often happens that, you are asked to telephone someone for comments about a report, which is of itself, not complete; you may infact have the briefest outline of the story and may not even know whether or not it is true. It will be your job, in addition to getting the subject comment, to get him/her to give you all the information you are lacking too, so that you can go to press with a complete story.

A perfectly legitimate gambit in a case like this is not to let the person you are calling know that you have only the vague outline of the story in your possession. You will begin by telling the subject that, you have a story on such-and-such a topic in the office and that the editor, before printing it, wanted to give him/her the opportunity of commenting on it. This, of course is pure flattery! But it works in almost every case. It creates a responsibility responsiveness in the person at the other end of the line; he feels important, that he is being given consideration.

While you are ostensibly letting subject comment on it, you will also be gently and unobtrusively filling in the gaps in your story. For instance, the current Cameroon crisis with the Lebialem waste land story. Supposing all that you had heard in your office was that the waste land was to be developed, but that you did not know for certain if this were true or not. You might be asked to call the housing loans committee chairman to see what you could find out.

You may being by telling subject that you had a story in the office to the effect that the lands were to be developed but that the editor thought it only right to give him/her the opportunity of commenting on it before printing it. If the response to this was angry and not cooperative, you will then tell subject, politely, that since you had given him/her the opportunity of commenting and he/she had chosen not to take it, you would have to use the story as you had it.

This might not produce any immediate effect because he/she might still hang-up on you. But you can be reasonably certain that, when he has had a few minutes to think it over quietly, he/she will ring you back in a different frame of mind.

You can then proceed to dig for your missing information. You might, for instance, have no knowledge of what new buildings were to be put on the site. If you ask directly what the site is used for, the subject might well sidestep you and say that, he/she divulge that at the moment. Many in official positions seem to have an absolute mania for keeping things secret. But if you say that, you understand the site is to be used for; say a new college, then he/she has to confirm or deny this; and in denying it there is a chance he will tell you what is to be built there.

The moral of this little story is that, a good reporter never gives up trying to get all the FACTS. To pen-off it should be remembered that; facts are the life-blood of Journalism.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kOq5Kyz6owXlj00Zp820FHuFrJMir1ex/view?usp=drivesdk

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To me I think a lot of programmes collaboration that can necessarily address issue of genders are many. Both farming and other programme collaboration can do so. The one I have done is not on farming but was on political leadership. I have both genders guest to addressed the reasons behind why female are not allowed to occupied elective positions such as president and state governors in Nigeria.

To prepared an interview program with an extension officer or someone with specific knowledge, I think a good research of the person by broadcaster is highly necessary.

I may not right but his is the little I know about this week topic.

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Good evening, Olusina Motiasan is my name from Ejulenen93.7fm igbodigo,okitipupa,ondo state, Nigeria.I really appreciate you all for the wonderful contributions,agriculture for all will address gender sensitive, as we all know that we have some aspects in agriculture that women specialized on and find joy and interest in doing if that aspect can be on air like radio programs you will discover that they will participate more and even willing to disseminate vital information that will suit and beneficial to every body

Mikepac715 you are wonderful in fact you are too much for this ever Jamie lecture of yours thank you very much am grateful

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Martinmwape,rehema,and others you people are too much

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I am enjoying the discussion on gender. I am tempted to find out what the situation in our areas. Do we have areas where women are so highly sidelined? If so, is laws of the country, tradition or what. In my country, gender policies, gender this and gender that are all over. Infact, its like now men are the ones who are sidelined.

I guess most countries have these. However we must be careful not to compromise the quality of the programme. Avoiding to use a male farmer who can communicate properly and using female farmer who can not deliver on the expense of gender may not be the right thing.

In my its not tradition but I think social noums. On their own women feel unconfortable to do certain things like mention their age. One of us said

This I believe is not culture but social noum and it happens in my area. If you force them to sit on the chair, you see their unconfort and even their partcipatation will be affected. I guess we need to let them do what makesd them feel free.

My take is “Find women who do something for a reason, do programmes with them.” Other women who listen will be encouraged and will join in. It has worked for me. Care must be taken. Do not concentrate on the highly educated women only. When you start with women who are considered least educated or not educated at all, it really encourages others as they will be saying, "If that one one managed to talk, how about me who is better.

This is my stand as well.

I have a question here. All our attempts is to bring equality. At mmy station, we work hard to ensure this is achieved but one of the challenge is the quote above. Certain situations puts women at risk and in trying to protect them, we seem to be showing that they are inferior. Actually men have asked, why not women to do things at this time when we are equal. Take for instance at our radio station, women radio staff do not work at night. We say its not safe for them and that already we are saying men are superior. I tried to make arrangement for women to also work at night but those days women were working at night, I had sleepless nights thinking of the safety of the female staff on duty and before long, the females themselves declared they are not safe.

So my question is, when we ensure that we protect females in this way, are we in the right direction on gender?

Give details. I did not understand what you meant. Did someone understood what is meant here?

My understanding was that he is appreciating your contributions, learning a lot from them. That is the main aim of the discussion, to learn from each other.

The kind of collaboration necessary in this regard is to scout and identify stakeholders who are into gender and female /women related issues. The stakeholders could be Government, NGOs, Development partners and projects that emphasis female participation and inclusion.
At the community and farmer level, one could identify farmer groups, farmers associations and farmer based organisation. When a such groupings are identified, one can then build relationship with them by attending theirs meetings and briefly seeking to gain their trust after which gender and female issues could be raised asking for their opinion and testing the grounds with probing questions.
We identify the gender issues from the groups through focus group discussions and during these discussion one could ask to record without participants mentioning their names to be played late on radio.
The participants could be told to tune in and make contributions to the discussion. The in studio play could have a guess in the gender issues to contribute, clarify and make clears certain key issues raised.
My interaction with farmers during capacity building I ensure I adopt the quota approach 60% male and 40% female participation. Additionally, I ensure female participants contribute to the discussion.
The time for the program takes into contribution the chores of females/women and market days so as to ensure women come and participate in the program.

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Good morning, Olusina Motiasan from Ejulenen93.7fm igbodigo,okitipupa,ondo state, Nigeria. What I was trying to say was that I really enjoyed all your discussion and enlightenment thank you all

@Olusina and @Busi_Ngcebetsha

Thank you, I had missed the point.

Hi! Olusina,
Thanks for the complement. We give God all the Glory because it from Him we tap our sources of knowlegde, wisdom and understanding as we go about our various day to day activities to bring change in our community first. Then expanding our works to bring a positive change to other parts of the world who need us. untill then,

Lets keep collaborating.

Cheers!

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Olusina Motiasan is my name from Ejulenen93. 7fm igbodigo, okitipupa, ondo state,Nigeria. Women should be giving a considerable chance as to exercise and share their experience because most of them has more than enough that can be beneficial to our society but due to old believes and inferiority complex some of them were neglected but giving them special or creating special radio programs for them especially those in agriculture this will address gender issue

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I am Yaa Sefa, Host of Farmradio programme Todays radio, Ejura in the Ashanti Region ( Ghana ). Talking about gender issues, I think we all deserve to be given the opportunity. We were once facing problem like this ,where you will visit the farmers in the community but the women were not allowed to contribute by their husband’s and brothers because of their culture so my crew and I decided to find different method by helping the women by explaining to the men how important it will be for a woman to engage in farming as well as helping them to know different methods to adopt to help them in farming. Actually it wasn’t easy but we tried to convince them and there was a time we invite them to the station for farming discussion and some times we give them special lines which they can call us during the programme to share their views on a topic and it was great I must say.

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Olusina Motiasan is my name from Ejulenen93. 7fm igbodigo, okitipupa, ondo state, Nigeria. I really appreciate everyone that shared their experience on this week topic all said and done thank you

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How can a subject matter specialist prepare for a radio interview?
A subject matter specialist should prepare for a radio interview by doing the following:

  • Be clear of the specific subject area of the broad special area to discuss or talk
  • Prepare adequately for the interview taking into consideration the audience or listeners of the program, their individual background, education, opinions, cultural difference, etc.
  • Use less technical terms or terminologies ( explain technical terms when he must necessarily do so)
  • If it is the subject matter specialist’s first time to speak on the radio or to the mic, the subject matter specialist must practice, practice and practice several times before the day of the interview.
  • The specialist to arrive at the venue or studio at least 15 minutes to the start of the program.
  • He could prepare some postcards to guide his thoughts and presentation or have some brief notes handy
  • Take a deep breath and manage the studio fright
  • He should always remain calm during talking and phone in / call by listeners.
  • The specialist should also endeavor to make the talk more practical with real-life examples and practice
  • He should avoid been bookish and underestimating the level of comprehension and knowledge of listeners
  • Subject matter specialists must act and speak professionally and must endeavor not to sound political or appear to be partisan in his presentation delivery even when the issue discussed has political colorations.
  • He should always thank the listeners at the end of the program and the station for granting such an opportunity.

Olusina Motiasan is my name from Ejulenen93. 7fm,I will like to ask question and I will also like all the intellectuals to answer me, in some areas where women are not allowed to mingle with others and deprived from some amenities,how can we address gender issue in that regard thank you I stand to be corrected

Thank you very much Yakubu for this educative contribution

Olusina Motiasan from Ejulenen93. 7fm igbodigo, okitipupa, ondo state, Nigeria. Thank you Buzo for this wonderful discussion it really reflected that you are a professional more grease to your elbow