It might look very simple - get somebody who can answer questions to the studio and the show is on. Wow, I wish it is as simple as that. However there are various elements and inputs to be considered in order to produce an interesting and informative radio talk.
Firstly, the producer has to think of an appropriate theme to be discussed. Of course there are countless theme that could be put forward for discussion. It could be a general topic such as changing weather pattern for the last few years, the agricultural development in a particular district, youth activities to specific and hadtalk material such as the Malay sovereignty in Malaysia, non-Malaysia muslims, or turtle conservations in Malaysia.
The relevancy of any topic depends on the current issues and talk of the town or the national legislative gallery. Of couse the food prices, the short supply of rice and the latest happenings in the Academy Fantasia or a Down the Memory Lane episode would appeal to certain groups.
Once a topic is selected the producer has to think of the aproach or the outcome needed from the show he is producing. he has to regfer to specific instruction or guidelines laid down by his institutions or the party he is answerable to.
He would be making a choice between an interesting topic which would be considered inappopriate by his seniors and banal and irrelavant topic which his seniors would consider as brilliant.
Having a topic chosen means he has to look for a speaker or a couple of speakers who can dig out the points or gists he wants to be made known or relavant to the issues at hand. He can have a academician who can explain and elaborate the issues by giving the necessary definitions, comparative materials, data and may be quotations which might unpalatable for most of the easy listeners to understand, or an activists who might not be able to give an in depth elaboration but interesting anecdotes, but does not contribute much to the understanding of the issues concerned.
After deciding the ‘artists’ to be invited, he has to contact them and discuss with them about the talk show he is offering for them to discuss. It should be remembered that rarely does a producer get his men or expert at the first telephone call. The person he is inviting might not be around on the stated date, or he has prior appointment. It means he has to have a list of invitees at hand who are equally able to take on the topic.
The producer then has to design the format or the questions to be asked by his anchor or anchors while on the air or recording the talk. Herewith he has to apply all his skill in puting together elements like interviews with various group of people (known a vox pox or vouice of the peoples), recorded inerts in form of materials from indepth research, and views exprassed by experts and the authorities concerned.
Having the talk show format he has to brief the production team which include the technical staff of the coming show. During the briefing he might learn about some shortcomings he has to overcome. The studio might not available, or the telephones might be faulty or the recording facilities neewd servicing. All these need attention and actions to be taken.
The producer also has to reconfirm with his guests before the actual date of live broadcast or recording because the other party might be to busy or preoccupied with other commitments which to him/her are of higher priority.
On the very day the show is to be broadcast live or to be recorded he has to make sure all the equipments and notes, musical pieces and so forth are in the places, and he must be present during the broadcast or recording.
