It’s like I’m in another school entirely studying a fresh course mere here. Thanks to all participants here, I’m gaining more knowledge and skills from you all.
These are very fantastic ideology. Thanks Yakubu
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Broadcasters have to make programs that are meaningful and respond to the needs of their listeners. At the same time the programs should be tailor made to suit all the groups. For example, when preparing for an interview with someone who has specific knowledge like an extension officer or researcher, the broadcaster must first understand the issues that are pertinent to the community that the broadcaster serves. Let’s say the community is suffering from things like climate change, the broadcaster must make sure that the issues to be discussed directly addresses the problems at hand than discussing general agricultural issues. The points for discussion must be specific and be relevant at the same time. The broadcaster should not be seen asking about the markets for agricultural products whilst the farmers are suffering from the effects of drought.
In programming, the broadcaster should try and find out the issues that really affect the constituency. The broadcaster should not be partisan in interviews. We have witnessed some farmer’s organisations that might be influenced by either government or donors who may try to portray the good image of their sponsors even though it might not be the case. In Zimbabwe for example, there was what the current government calls “command agriculture”.
When one takes a closer look, the farmers unions that are sympathetic to the government always like to portray it as a very successful program. As a broadcaster, it is wise to do a background check and get the facts right before an interview.
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Thank you @Yakubu
As a subject matter specialist, it is very important to gather all the knowledge that one needs in preparation for an interview.
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Be very factual and specific all the time. Do not try to water down some questions that are posed by the interviewer.
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In cases where the specialist is limited in terms of responses, it is better to accept that he / she has no mandate to speak about a certain agricultural issue than to maintain a hard line stance just for the sake of interview because the end user ( listener in this case) ought to benefit immensely from the specialist…
I have been involved in just a few successful interviews. These were mainly about community issues. Socio-economic issues that affect the masses on a daily basis. Since we do not do live broadcasts, our programs are pre-recorded. Listeners follow such programs with keen interest. They get to participate by giving feedback.
There are challenges as well. Programs that have got to do with politics or politicians are a challenge in this country. As a broadcaster, you always run a risk of being referred to as so and so’s agent. The country is polarised to an extent that people are expected to see things in black and white. Grey is a colour that does not augur very well with some people, particularly the elite. It becomes a challenge for example if you interview an official from the agriculture ministry about certain programs. They may not disclose the required information and in most cases may undermine whatever facts the broadcaster might have gathered. Say for example the broadcaster has a program about the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, it’s impact and what is being done to curtail the situation. The official from the ministry might misinform the listeners and sugar coat everything so that in the end it will appear as if the ministry would have done it’s part and the blame should go elsewhere.
Hello all
We have come to the end of Week 3. This week we were discussing about gender and radio interviews. Thank you to all who shared their knowledge, ideas and experiences. That is how we learn from each other in a platform like this.
In case you did not get a chance to contribute, we are still here and you are welcome to visit all the discussions threads and share your opinion and experience with others.
These were some of the guiding questions for this week:
It is important that radio programs should address gender issues and include women. This can be better achieved if women are empowered so that both men and women can fully participate equally and have equal access to resources. Jemima Olchawski, head of policy and insight at the London-based Fawcett Society says “Media has a key role in shaping issues and, if women are excluded from the process, it’s emblematic of how society is excluding women and not giving them due voice”. This means broadcasters have a bigger role to play in making sure women are included even in areas where that proves to be a challenge.
We must remember that, if working with women organisations or women in other organisations, it is important to involve management as this will contribute in the confidence and skills women need for their involvement.
In terms of preparing for interviews, it is a must that both the broadcaster and the subject specialist are well briefed about the topics of the day. The interviewer to plan the questions properly and the resource person to plan the points s/he wants to make as well as responses to general questions.
We would have loved to hear more examples of work done by broadcasters whether successful or not. At the end of the day someone will learn from those experiences.
Enjoy your weekend!
Hello everyone here,
Let me also get to answer the questions in Week 3 Discussion:
- What kind of collaboration is necessary to make sure radio programs address gender issues and include women? Do you have any examples from your own work you can share?
a) Information sharing with gender specialists is one kind of collaboration to ensure radio programs tackle gender and women issues. These specialists know the needs of women and gender issues. And know how to get them to participate in the programs.
b) In the communities there is need to collaborate with the women leaders who can tell you the needs of women, the problems they face and what they require. The leaders know what both men and women face. So you will make radio programs accordingly.
- 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) They have to first of all be knowledgeable on gender and women issues or the area of the specialist they are to interview.
b) They have to get the necessary tools or gadgets required for example recorders, questions and pens and a note book for taking notice.
c) They have to fix appointments with the specialists well ahead before the interview and ensure that the time of the interview does not inconvenience the specialist.
c) Make the specialists know what exactly is required in the interview so that he or she can prepare for you well. In any case, send the questions or talking points to the specialist before the interview so that they prepare the information you require well. But this does not mean that you will not ask follow up questions, So you make them know this.
d) Know the location of the specialists or where you will find them either at their offices, home or any organised place.
e) After fixing the time, be at the place early enough so that you do not inconvenience the specialists.
- How can a subject matter specialist prepare for a radio interview?
a) Inform them accordingly for them to prepare the relevant information you need as alluded to above
b) Make them prepare adequately as per the requirement of your interview
c) They will always ask how long your interview is so make them speak within that time and inform them about the subject matter
d) Tell them how they should prepare like the language to use; English or vernacular
e) Also tell them that you will do recordings since because some of them may not want their voices to be tapped. If they accept this yes, if not go by their wish.
- What are some examples of successful and challenging radio interviews (both live and pre-recorded) you’ve been a part of?
Successes:
When i sent the questions, the specialist prepared well and i got the required information
The time i fixed was utilized well and adequate information was got
The specialist was organised and did not fear the interview
In the live interview, the socialist did it very well without sounding organised on air as is common in live programs when not organised.
Challenges
When i needed more information and the time was over, the specialist refused to extend the interview even when i requested humbly.
When a woman expressed herself extensively in the program, the husband heard and came up to the station to blame me for airing the privacy about him on air
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Hello @smawerere
Thank you for your contribution and sharing experiences.
This issue is really serious. Are there no organisations like Sonke Gender Justice in these areas? It seems men need empowerment too, not just women.
Dear Martin, you were honest enough to say what you did that contributed to the failure of your Green Manure interview. You gave out guiding questions to your interviewees. As a matter of rule that singular mistake contributed to the failure of your interview. It has been said severally that once you give out the questions, your interviewee or guest will concentrate on the questions and will not open up their minds naturally to answer questions outside the given questions. Their response will be jerky and unnatural. Therefore what is recommended is to discuss the scope the interview will cover not limiting the interviewee to any area particularly. Again, you did not research about your guests, status - educationally, socially, etc. You could have even allowed the interview in local language or pidgin English or made the interview a talk show where they are made to discuss their experience as per the Green Manure. Cheers
Thanks a bunch smawerere! As professionals, we must work within the dictates of cultural and social situations of our host communities. Despite the universal initiatives of gender streamline, equality, equity and social inclusion, we must make effort to work within the dictates of prevailing social and cultural environment of where we operate. Reform is a gradual thing which the people must first understand and apply by themselves. If interviewing a woman alone on radio in your community is resisted, invite the couple together and interview two of them but concentrate on the woman during the interview. Also apply diplomacy and tact not to upset exisiting norms and create more problems for women more than you are making efforts to solve. Beyond all this, no radio problem is worth the happiness and mutual existence of married couples in any community. Change is resisited only if the people did not buy into it or not carried along. Once the people understand that women freedom on radio is to help build a more progressive and stable develpoed communities, they will accept it. Once again, we now see the more reason to engage the people closely in collaboration, learning and adaptation activities CLA more often. To get the women to collaboarate with us , the men must be involved.
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Danis, thanks for adding light to this week 3 discussion. I found your points educative and best for helping subject matter specialist that are not familiar with farmers radio programs.
Hmmmm! There is some thing I wish to find our from you all. How are gender issues handled in the muslim community in your country and have you ever taken time to observe or asked certain question why the females have less to say or contribute in public opinions?
In India, I learned that it is the woman that gets married to the man? My question is what do you think about this? If we look with a special eyes, there are lots of restrictions to muslim and hindu women in voicing out their mind freely without consulting the man.
Is this due to laws, tradition or religion?
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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?
There is nothing worse than inadequate preparation and practice for an interview with a guest in a specialized field.
It is therefore very important to prepare adequately, rehearse and practice very before the day of the interview. Whosoever is the quest, the following is worth noting and keeping in mind:
- the selected topic should be relevant to the guest and listeners
- scout for guest who has in-depth knowledge in the area
- conduct research in the subject and topic and information on the guest
- organize questions to ask during the interview and ensure the questions are to the point
- give the quest a general overview of the subject area so as to enable him also prepare adequately. This would enable him not to see the interview as an ambush
- for FBOs leadership ensure you grasp what the FBO is all about, what the FBO is into, their functions/roles to members and tailor questions to their operations.
What I do with host either for radio or television is: - for both of us to agree on the topic discuss and the length of the program
- I draft the synopsis and questions for the host to peruse and make inputs and when it is accepted we go on air.
However, subsequent questions during interviews or follow up questions are answered to the best of my knowledge, Those that needs further clarification I tell listeners to call later or visit any of our offices in the districts and region.
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This is much of culture and tradition than religion at play as they are norms we have grown to meet and see.
For in Islam seeking knowledge is paramount, so how does one seek knowledge if not allowed to have an open mind and ask questions.
Some scholars quote and were taking lessons from the Prophet wife Aisha who was very learned.
The Prophet Mohammed (SAW) used to consult his wives on some important issues and acted with advice from his wives.
What we seeing current are all based on one’s understanding and interpretations of the Hadiths and Sunnah of the Prophet Mohammed (SAW).
The first Surah and verses revealed to the Prophet Mohammed (SAW) were “Iqra” meaning read which places emphasis on seeking knowledge and wisdom. The Prophet is quoted saying " seek knowledge even it was in China". During his life on earth, China was far from Arabia and this literally means where ever knowledge is as a Muslim (boy, girl, man, woman) go for it.
Hence no restricts with regards Muslim women speaking and contributing during public discourse. One’s cultural and traditional environment might be placing some restrictions but in Islam emphasis is placed on freedom of choice in everything.
Seeking approval from husbands before talking might just be a sign of respect which must be returned with dignity.
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1. What kind of collaboration is necessary to make sure radio prograames address gender issues and include women? Do you have any examples from your own work you can share?
To answer the question on what kind of collaboration is necessary to make sure radio programmes address gender issues and include women? do you have any examples from your work you can share?
To answer this question ,I will take you back to the meaning of collaboration- Collaboration means the practice of working together guided by specific principles to achieve a common goal to benefit all participants in a group.Basing on this fact, the kind of collaboration to make sure radio programmes address gender issues and include women-Broadcasters must create a situation where there is agreement between None governmental organizations, farmers, Government, and broadcasters so that all work together to ensure delivery of programmes address the needs of female farmers or listeners. All this is guided by the Stations VOICE and FAIR Journalistic standards.
Talking about the VOICE standards, the broadcasters must ensure that the programmes value small-scale farmers, both women and men . These programmes must respect farmers irrespective of whether women or men for their hard work producing nutritious food for their families and the markets, often in the face of major challenges.
The programmes should provide farmers with the opportunity to speak and be heard on all matters. In this case the broadcasting team should encourage farmers to name their concerns, discuss them, and organize to act on them. The Broadcasters should hold to account those with a duty to hear farmers and serve their needs.
Provision of timely information is very important in the farmer programmes.The farmer programmes must provide farmers with the information they need, when they need it. Farmers require specific information and they need it in time to act on it. Do not highlight issues that are not relevant to a farmer season.
Let the programmes be consistent and convenient . The farm programmes should be broadcast at least weekly, at a time when women and men farmers can listen.
Broadcaster should ensure the farm programmes are entertaining and memorable . The content should appeal to the interests and tastes of a wide range of local farmers. Ensure the messages are presented in a way that helps farmers remember.
In September 2014, the Government of Uganda announced a pledge to re store twenty million hectares of degraded land under the Bonn Challenge target of Forest Land Restoration-FLR. As a follow up, the World Conservation Union IUCN partnered with the Ministry of Water and Environment to undertake a Restoration Opportunities Assessment to identify the feasibility and availability of the target restoration area, with specific restoration packages to be promoted in prioritized hot spots. IUCN worked with District Local Governments and Community Based Organization partners to promote restoration of key landscapes including Mt. Elgon. In Mt. Elgon, IUCN implemented the Ecosystem Based Adaptation Approach-EBA project which also included the farm radio approach, opportunities Assessment to identify the feasibility and availability of the target restoration area.Through this intervention, the community understanding and appreciation of the role of healthy ecosystems to their livelihoods was enhanced.
This programme aimed at strengthening capacities of Kween and Kapchorwa districts in eastern Uganda to build resilience for promoting Ecosystem Based Adaptation-EBA options and to reduce the vulnerability of the communities in climate change, with particular emphasis on mountain ecosystems.
In this programme IUCN collaborated with Farm Radio International-FRI to promote the use of Radio and ICTs to raise awareness on the benefits of Forest Land Restoration-FLR to small-scale farmers. The ultimate goal here was to improve the functionality and productivity of the landscape by increasing the number of trees on the landscape.
Farm Radio International worked with stakeholders to design and implement a participatory radio campaign that promoted FLR in the two districts of Kween and Kapchorwa that are situated on the slopes of Mt. Elgon.In the this campaign farmers selected a proven and low cost practice of tree planting. A series of programmes that were broadcast, ensured the participation of all farmers and broadcasters irrespective of the gender differences.The programmes ensured that all farmers voices were featured, women were assigned a studio phone with a specific line to encourage them in their participation.The station ensured that whenever there was any field activity, women farmer voices were always included. By the end of the first campaign in June 2015, female voices were part of the voices in our weekly programmes.
2 How can broadcasters prepare for an interview with someone with specific knowledge such as an extension officer, researcher, a gender specialist, the head of a farmer organization?
This question points to preparatory work prior to during and after the interview. Firstly introduce yourself and tell the interviewee how useful the interview is. But before you speak to this source ensure that before you begin to speak, smile at the interviewee to establish a rapport. And during the interview ensure that the interviewee explains issues in a simple language understood by all the listeners irrespective of their educational background. As a broadcaster, ensure that the expert gets enough time to explain issues.Avoid pushing experts to take sides on issues especially when there are differences.Ensure the experts avoid giving unnecessarily lengthy answers to questions raised-the broadcaster should have researched the topic in advance.
3 How can a subject matter specialist prepare for a radio interview?
Speacialists are key facilitators in a farmer programme by providing scientific knowledge and skill in improving farming. For this expert to attain the objective of providing relevant information to farmers, he/she must be respectful to listeners/farmers.In order to achieve this objective one has; to listen attentively to the interviewer, be on time/keep time and avoid a situation where he/she underrates the farmers or listeners.As the specialist prepares for the interview it is good manners to know that it is the broadcasters responsibility to hold the microphone or recorder, avoid the business of pride in ones professional expertise-in this case the broadcaster was aware of this expertise, the reason why he/she was identified for the interview. Above all, it is not good manners to underrate the broadcaster.
4.What are some examples of successful and challenging radio interviews.
During the implementation of the FLR programme, Women farmers in our area of coverage were often difficult to interview at individual level. We learnt that it was risky to interview housewives without the knowledge of their spouses. We learnt that this would create a situation of doubt. To address this challenge, we hatched a plan of conducting panel discussions with selected members.At times the discussions were live while at other time, they were pre-recorded. This was after revising our lessons acquired while in school and during the FRI In station training. We learnt that it was always important to find quiet places where the interviews would not be distracted, we encouraged our guests to always be free during the intros and making their contributions. We learnt that it was always important to seek consent from husbands whenever we went to the field to interview housewives. This was purposely to avoid security issues on the side of the male broadcasters.
During this campaign we also learnt, it is always good to be prepared at all times.There were times when the technicians/extension workers who were scheduled for the the talk shows were unable because they had been assigned different tasks by their superiors. And because we had always got alternative technical officials, the programmes ran successfully. We ensured in our partners meetings that we gathered contacts of at least two officials to fill gaps of their colleagues in case of their absence. We ensured we were always in touch with our Farm Radio International Radio country office for guidance. To sum it up-Lets be prepared, be respectful, use good good interview technique, understand the traditional customs and other kinds of barriers to field interviews.
On the challenges experienced during the beginning of the FLR programme, I traveled to the field one day on the date meant for running the programme. I was almost late because it rained heavily and it became very difficult for my boda boda (taxi motor cycle) rider to navigate through the muddy and slippery road connecting the village where I was to meet the farmers and come back to the station.This show almost failed because I had to come and edit the clips at the last minute.
By the end of the FLR programme, we had avoided things that frustrate our field and studio work.
Rashid from Kapchorwa Trinity Radio
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- To answer the question of what kind of collaboration is necessary to make sure radio programs address gender and in women.
- to start with, lets keep it in our minds that Radio remains one of the most powerful and accessible channels for reaching rural areas. The proximity of rural and community radio stations makes them important vectors of education, awareness raising and knowledge acquisition as well as a tool for influencing the dynamics of social relations and for addressing gender inequalities.
Having said that, by collaborating with community organizations such as youth association, social self-help groups which women of all ages organize to build relationships of mutual support and tackle financial problems, local coordinating bodies of farmers’ organizations and unions, or federations of producers, both men and women. The existing community organizations can stimulate listening and discussions among members, helping to pass on listeners’ criticism and needs. As the result, the feedback should be put to community participation in their design, development, production and monitoring.
As this is being implemented, the radio station must maintain the ethics of broadcasting of respecting and reflecting gender equity as well as of all components of the community.
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Collaboration can bring change.there is a proverb in Ethiopian " a wood can’t burn". Therefore media organizations and different formally established women associations self-help groups and local and international genders focused should work together to manage financial problems.
Broadcasters have to prepare on technical jargons best before to interview. Has to identify the questions before the interview.
Subject matter specialist has to avoid technical terms, make sure he/she is prepared for the ease interview.
Live recording challenges include move out of the scope, intentionally miss informing,and the like.
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Jaskello you are too much I enjoyed your discussion thank you
Thanks Yakubu, I got abit relief. The puzzel is now fixed. We learn everyday in different ways.
Good morning and happy Sunday, Olusina Motiasan from Ejulenen93.7fm igbodigo,okitipupa,ondo state, Nigeria.I really admired and cherish your question mikepac715 every what you made mentioned responsible gender issue in some places allover the world especially in my country and there should be continuous and constant orientation, enlightenment and sensitization.