| Along with newspapers,
talk radio is another venue for molding public opinion. The number of
listeners is often very large. For example, 2.2 million people per week
listen to NPR's Talk of the Nation. Here are some general tips. |
| 1. |
| Plan. Determine
beforehand when a topic of interest will be discussed and prepare your
viewpoints early. The topics are often announced a week in advance on
the radio, in print, or on their web sites. |
| 2. |
| Take advantage
of your time. Plan on no more that two minutes. Prepare a main comment
or question that gets to the point quickly. Plan on several related
comments or insights, since the host may want you to elaborate. Do not
be afraid to ask questions or rephrase a question into terms that are
easier for you to answer. |
| 3. |
| Be natural. Talk
as though you're talking across the table, not across the town or nation.
Be sure to turn your radio down when you are on the air because the
sound of your own voice can be pretty intimidating. Don't take yourself
too seriously-- have fun. |
| 4. |
| Avoid fillers.
When you hear, "you're on the air," go to your comment right
away. There is no need to ask "Am I on…?" or "This
is my first time." These kinds of comments take away valuable time
that you need to direct to your issue. |
| 5. |
| Be courteous to
the host and to the listening audience. |
| |
