Ideas for Creating a Radio Show

• The purpose of the radio show could be to get people’s ideas on a theme or topic, such as family histories of community members, child rearing methods, traditional beliefs and values, or what life was like when people first started moving into your community. Or the purpose of the show could be to collect songs, pisiit, aqausiit or stories or information about how to do a specific skill.
• The show could be a one-time event or part of a series of radio shows to collect ideas and information on different topics or themes.
• Your group may have already done a lot of research on a topic or theme and want to share it with the community.

or...

• The radio show could be another research technique – another way that your group collects information.
• You could ask Elders to be on a panel – to be the experts – either at the radio station or ready to phone in from home. People can phone in to ask them questions or contribute information
• The literacy group could make a presentation on what they already know about the topic. Then people in the community could phone in to add information or to ask questions.
• Or the show could be a discussion between a group of Elders and some members of the literacy group.

Planning the Radio Show

• Find out from the Radio Committee when the group could schedule a phone in show.
• Decide what questions your group wants to ask. Write the questions on cards or type them on the computer.
• Decide who will ask which questions. The work could be divided up so everyone gets a chance to speak. People who feel less comfortable speaking in public could take smaller parts.
• Plan an introduction for the show, a description of your project and the work you have done so far. If the literacy group has already produced writing or collected songs, you might share your work during the radio show.
• Have a practice session of the radio show. Someone can be the host; some people can pose questions; some can phone in replies, others can be in charge of the recording equipment.
• As you were doing your research, you will have been noting traditional vocabulary and meanings. Try to use these words in your own writing and speaking.
• Go and see the radio station before the show. Ask for a demonstration of how to work the equipment. Make sure everyone is comfortable and knows what their job is when the time comes to do the show.
• During the show someone in your group can be in charge of making sure Elders have comfortable chairs, tea and water and an available washroom at the radio station.
• Record the radio show to make sure valuable information is not lost.
• Write up the transcripts from the show later.
• After the show everyone in the group can write a summary. Or divide into groups and each group can write a summary of one part of the show.
• The facilitator teaches mini-lessons on the writing process, syllabic keyboarding, grammar and any other topics as they come up.