Anchoring: Talk Radio & Presenting phone ins

Talk Radio & Presenting phone ins

In broadcasting, a phone-in or call-in is a programme format in which viewers or listeners are invited to air their live comments by telephone, usually in respect of a specific topic selected for discussion on the day of the broadcast.

Phone in programme – in this age of technological development, phone-in is the most important format. This is called interactive programming where the listener and the presenter talk to each other. Their talk goes on air instantly. The listener has the satisfaction that his voice is being listened to and replied immediately. Other listeners also listen to him. Such presentations need advance publicity so that the listeners get ready to air their grievances/queries or requests. They dial up the announced telephone number at a stipulated time and get their problems discussed with experts in the studio. Initially this format was introduced for playing the listeners’ request based film songs. Now it is being used for health related programmes, rural broadcasts, complaints against the government/ administrative machinery etc.

Conducting Successful Radio Phone in Programs

Getting the question right is essential to a successful phone-in. Julian Worricker hosts You & Yours on Radio 4 and The World Today on the BBC World Service. He shares his years of experience in a comprehensive briefing on what works and what tends not to.

When you are planning a phone-in, focus first on the question you want your listeners to debate. People need to be clear about what they are being asked to form an opinion on before they feel confident enough to pick up the phone and call in.

That question needs to be short, clear and probably requires a 'yes' or 'no' answer. 

'Is it time for X to resign?' or 'Is the so-called war on terror being won?' are good examples because they keep a focus but don't prevent the presenter from asking follow-up questions. 

A phone-in should not be about an orderly queue of callers coming on air saying their piece and then bidding you a polite goodbye before the next one appears. 

Let your callers talk to each other - not just to you. Drop text messages, emails and tweets into the conversation, and put some of these points to your callers and guests. 

The phone-in is about the contributors. It is not all about you, the presenter. 

Broadening the debate

Once you have asked the short, clear question you can bring in some background to encourage subsequent callers to broaden their comments. 

'There are reports in today's papers that a senior cabinet minister has called for X to resign immediately. If he's losing the support of those closest to him, can he hang on to his job? Is he doing his party any good by staying on? Or maybe you think he should ignore his critics and carry on? Resign or stand firm?' 

"A phone-in shouldn't be about an orderly queue of callers coming on-air, saying their piece and bidding you a polite goodbye"

A little more information like this gives callers something to get their teeth into, but acts as a reminder of the central question. 

‘Please call’

A clip of a critic or supporter helps to fuel the debate. 

This is basically a sales pitch. What you are saying is 'please call', but you are doing it in a slightly more sophisticated fashion. 

Try to trail your phone-in during the programme prior to yours, and do not forget to repeat the phone-in number often. 

The first caller 

Get the first caller on air as soon as you can. Most people need to pluck up courage before they pick up the phone, but once they hear others do it they will be more confident. Even if the first caller is not the best caller, they are better than no caller at all.

Contributors

If you have a panel of guests lined up to comment on the opening question, do not feel obliged to go to them first. Try to vary your guests during a phone-in because it will be less predictable and more interesting. 

Different guests may attract different callers. You could book one guest for the first 20 minutes then move on to a replacement. 

Testing the callers

The longer you present a phone-in, the more callers feel they get to know you and your style. 

Callers should not expect to rant unchallenged on a given topic, but they are not politicians and do not warrant a forensic grilling either. As a presenter, you have to be prepared to upset a few people, and to be criticised for allowing people to say too much without a great deal of evidence to back it up. 

It is impossible to know how much of what they claim is true and you can guarantee someone who is listening will know something that you do not. Fortunately the balance of knowledge is usually restored by the end of the programme. 

Prepare for the unexpected

Even when you are well prepared, it is live radio and anything can happen. If someone comes on air and swears or libels someone, for example, have a form of words ready. 

'Mr X is not here to answer that specific allegation and nor do we have any way of knowing what you say is true. So for that reason I'm going to let you go and move on.' 

With swearing, interrupt and apologise to your audience. 

'Some people listening may be offended by what you've just said so I'm going to move on to the next caller.' 

A phone-in presenter needs to develop a fairly thick skin. Some input from callers, via texts and emails that do not get to air, can be thoroughly unpleasant. Most importantly, do not take it home with you.