Here are three radio segments that I recorded with a few colleagues at a recent Ideastap radio workshop, which really helped me to get closer to the craft of broadcasting. What you say, how you say it and when.
1. Media Talk - Is breaking news breaking us?
This came out of an article (http://www.salon.com/2014/02/04/how_breaking_news_is_breaking_us_the_rush_to_report_philip_seymour_hoffmans_death/) I read recently about the instantaneous warts-n-all coverage of Philip Seymour Hoffman's death. Did you know that within seven minutes of his body being discovered, the Wall Street Journal had tweeted about it - before his family even knew about it? The article asks if that's morally and ethically right. Within 20-30 minutes we had developed this into a discussion about the unnecessarily detailed coverage of drugs deaths. asking whether the conveyor belt of salacious stories is somehow eroding reader empathy. Please note, the views of my character are not necessarily my own. Thanks to Bethany and Daniel. This was high-pressure fun. And a huge thank you to our mentor and producer, Radio 4's Ella-Mai Robey. So knowledgeable, funny and encouraging.
Presenter - Bethany Minelle (www.girlaboutguildford.blogspot.co.uk)
Journalist - Amar Patel (imakesense.org)
Youth worker - Daniel Oduntan (http://danieloduntan.com)
2. Music Club with... photographer Daniel Oduntan
Here I sit back into the more familiar role of presenter and interviewer, asking Daniel about the albums that made him. Respect to Daniel for the selections. Ebenezer Obey, yes! What's Going On? Every time.
3. Roots with... Amar Patel
Daniel and I switch roles. This time he quizzes me about my ancestry and path to London. He asks two poignant questions, particularly for a third-generation Indian: "How did you get here?" and "Where do you belong?"