Week Three: Accurate content and appropriate terminology

Addressing sensitive issues
#1

Hello everyone!

I trust we all had a wonderful weekend and you are ready for this new week!

Today we are starting week 3 of Farm Radio International’s e-Discussion on addressing sensitive issues on air.

Using up-to-date content, appropriate terminology and dealing with conflicting opinions on air require engagement and dedication to the community served. This week, our focus will be on the use of accurate content and the choice of best words to address sensitive issues on air.

We therefore expect you to share your practices and challenges on the choice of words you use on air and how you try to keep the balance in open discussions.

This is what you have to do this week:

  1. Share your best practices and challenges with regards to the following
  • How do you do research or gather expert knowledge on sensitive issues?
  • How do you ensure the accuracy of the information you share on sensitive issues?
  • How comfortable do you feel when you produce and steer radio programs on sensitive issues?
  • What about your personal opinion when you steer programs on sensitive issues? Do you admit all view points on air?
  1. Comment on other participant’s contributions.

Active participants who introduce themselves and post at least three meaningful messages during weeks 2, 3 and 4 will receive an ‘active participant’ certificate issued by Farm Radio International.

Wishing you all a great day!

Busi

#2
#3

Hello!
This is Jipson Banda, Nyanthepa Community Radio Station, Nsanje district, Malawi.

  1. Expert knowledge is gathered through one on one interviews with experts, experts press releases, consultation of policies and other related documents.

  2. Accuracy of information is in most cases validated by considering a number of factors such as:
    -credibility of the expert
    -cross-checking different expert facts (comparing notes)
    -cross-checking facts from an expert with a research on the ground
    -use of a sensitive issues reporting policy or guideline for example: in Malawi during national election time, the electoral commission formulate a media election coverage guide.

  3. It is challenging to produce or steer radio programs on sensitive issues. I once had a guest whilst conducting a youth program who went on to mention his once secondary school teacher as a disabled person (in a demeaning manner)

Later on an activist invited me for questioning, fortunately the issue died out, he didn’t press any charges.

Ever since that day, I felt that handling on radio sensitive issues demands the presenter to be active in controlling guests or participants, making sure emotions are not taking part, suspension of one’s own beliefs, suspension of prejudice, impartiality et cetera

So handling sensitive issues on radio is a task that separates men from boys

  1. On personal opinions
    It is tricky but I would say that as long as your opinions are within the objective of the program and do not put the impartiality aspect of a program in jeopardy it may stand.
    The presenters personal opinion may stand if it may lead to new discoveries on a sensitive issue.

Where the opinion seems that the presenter is conflicted and may jeopardize the program or coming from an emotional angle. The producer has to come in and direct the presenter.

I don’t know if I will be wrong to conclude that in these questions posed to answer them in our handling of sensitive issues on radio, objectiveof the program be be the principal guide

2 Likes
#4
  • How do you do research or gather expert knowledge on sensitive issues?

Via Google, available document, talk with subject matter experts, review previous programs on the topic.

  • How do you ensure the accuracy of the information you share on sensitive issues?
    By Fact-Checking all information available. One can Fact Check with experts, authentic documents or interviewing the group of people involved. This is sometimes difficult though. This is why sensitive issues takes a long time to produce.

  • How comfortable do you feel when you produce and steer radio programs on sensitive issues?

I feel very comfortable because before covering any sensitive issues I make sure I thoroughly research on the subject matter and seek advice from.authorities concerned. I make sure my program is participatory by getting all the sides to it.

  • What about your personal opinion when you steer programs on sensitive issues? Do you admit all view points on air?

I personally don’t put my opinion when steering sensitive issues on air. I don’t admit view point either.

Sensitive issues if well handled can be very good programs on air because the content can be very interesting to the audience because this is something they want to learn more about. For example a broadcaster in a typical African setting should not just go.and do a program on LGBTQ. The broadcaster should sound the views of people and then use their opinion to do follow up questions on the topic.

#5

This is a great example to let broadcasters know their choice of words including those of their guest on sensitive issues aswell as any other program. As a Media Trainer, I see gap in this area…

1 Like
#6

Hello @Jipbanda

Thank you for sharing. Indeed it is important to do your research for your program so that you do not step on people’s toes with small issues. It is really important to use the correct terminology otherwise people will be offended and as a presenter you might end up in hot water.

getting accurate information and checking policies and expert opinion is important. It gets you prepared so you may know what questions to ask.

Coming to the presenter’s opinion, sometimes presenters use their opinion to provoke people to talk about the issue. This may be very tricky if the issue is sensitive in nature and may require one to use the disclaimer so as not to get the station in trouble as well. In most cases, the presenter is just the driver of the program, allowing all sides to be on board and listeners to make their own decisions without being influenced by the presenter.

1 Like
#7

I am Fredrick Silwimba from Radio Chimwemwe Community Radio Station, Ndola , Zambia.

  • How do you do research or gather expert knowledge on sensitive issues?

.through interviews with experts , press releases, listening to other radio programs and social media.

  • How do you ensure the accuracy of the information you share on sensitive issues?

carefully checking information made available. confirming with experts, through interviewing people concerned with the issue .

  • How comfortable do you feel when you produce and steer radio programs on sensitive issues?

its a bit scaring especially where politics are concerned , But you just have to put your work in order , l mean research thoroughly consult from the policy makers and it will be okay with you.

  • What about your personal opinion when you steer programs on sensitive issues? Do you admit all view points on air?

sometimes sensitive issues differs where your personally opinion will matter to steer the program . for a example issues of gender based violence am usually tempted to put my personal opinion . in some cases l do admit
view point as well .

However in conclusion Sensitive issues on Radio if well handled it can be beneficial both to the listeners and the radio station in many ways.

#8

thanks for sharing indeed for some one to handle a sensitive issue on radio has to know the objective of the program.

1 Like
#9

Thank you, I hope we are all healthy and we have met again this our third week.
Enter directly to present what I do in the collection of information that is useful!
According to the first question: first I always search for important sources of information such as magazines and read various information from important news networks or visit experts and have regular conversations with them related to the matter I need while asking the basic questions of the matter I intended and then they ask for an interview.

The information I share is to satisfy myself, I always try to talk to more than one source when questioning the same type of information, then I visit some sources to compare the information.

Because I have become a direct participant in programs that discuss sensitive issues, all my programs are magazines, so I feel happy because I always get more comments from participants who enjoy the sensitive things we discuss.

But I have received direct calls from parties such as government information officers, heads of departments such as agriculture, District Heads who react to our topics in a negative and positive way, although this is dangerous, but it has given me joy because it has given us feedback that the discussion ours they hear and act on.

Although we receive different opinions, I use strong opinions to make them easier to present and as an announcer I always use the freedom of independent opinion as an announcer but I always strive to be right professionally I should not be neutral in my opinion.

1 Like
#10
  • How do you do research or gather expert knowledge on sensitive issues?*
    Through Interviews with specialists on the different sensitive themes, topics or subjects that I am tackling.
    Reading and watching different online resources that have previously been shared on the sensitive issue(s).
  • How do you ensure the accuracy of the information you share on sensitive issues?
    Taking the information through a variety of fact checking mechanisms, for instance can the information got be collaborated by an other expert? What is the reality on the “ground” can the information and data that has been got correspond to what is on the ground? How credible is the Expert or other source?
  • How comfortable do you feel when you produce and steer radio programs on sensitive issues?
    I find no problem in steering radio programs on sensitive issues if I can comfortably defend my ideas and opinions without causing intentional offence.
  • What about your personal opinion when you steer programs on sensitive issues? Do you admit all view points on air?
    If I can speak it out, I can own it (opinion).
1 Like
#11

Cant agree more with you on staying on the objective of the program. The program should always be planned and designed in advance of being aired and if a presenter needs to air out their personal opinions, they should be in line with the program plan without being contradictory.

#12

Journalism is a powerful tool for social justice, particularly in the fight against gender-based violence. It has the potential to raise the voices of women and girls, shed light on the forms of violence that target them, and assist communities in addressing the social norms that underpin gender inequality.

1- Do you allow people to speak or contribute anonymously?

Yes, when reporting GBV, victims or witnesses can contribute anonymously.

2- What techniques do you apply to protect the identity of survivors who do not want to be identified?

By using over voice and hide their real voice, giving them different names, using someone else to narrate their stories

3- According to you, which radio formats best stimulate listener’s participation on topics such as gender based violence, religion, politics and sexual reproductive health?

Radio discussion programmes on GBV, types, risk and how to end it.

Also a radio campaign against GBV is also useful through spots and dramas

#13

Iam Rashid Muzungyo from Kapchorwa Trinity Radio-KTR in Kapchorwa District in Eastern Uganda.
In my understanding, the expert knowledge is collected through one on one interviews with experts, press releases and consultation of policies.
Accuracy of information is analysed by among others, considering a number of factors that include: credibility of the expert, cross-Checking different expert facts and use of a reporting guidelines for example: in Uganda, the Electoral Commission has formulated a media election coverage guide.

It is a big challenge to produce or steer a radio programme that handles sensitive issues. At one time I read a Kupsabiny language announcement from a civil society organization that had conflicts with one religious organization all based in Kapchorwa Town. The CSO handles children’s sponsorship programme previously. Handled by the same religious body.
A member of the same religious body either out of anger or lack of information reported the matter to the police alleging that I hadincited the communities to get sticks to beat up the pastors, something, I never did.
The commander immediately drove to our station and immediately arrested me and put me under custody for about nine-9 hours and after which, got released on bond.
The person who reported the matter, I believe mistook the announcement on radio to be one to mobilise the people to fight the pastors. While in police I had a recorder and copy of announcements read.
From that day, I realized that handling sensitive issues on radio should be
handled carefully, without bias, backed with evidence in form of recordings and notes.

#14

Thank you Mamsul. I do do appreciate that handling sensitive issues takes time and may require additional resources.