My reflections after having listened to thirty minutes of “On Topic.”

Questions are vital when I produce a radio conversation. My friend and researcher wondered if I had enough questions to fill the hour I had. Filling the hour is and isn’t my major concern. If I were wanting to fill it, then I need to find a different passion. When I think fill, I think fluff. I think filler. I think “absent of substance.” Wright’s Words are supposed to start conversations. They are not supposed to be escapism.

When I was in the midst of the conversation, I was focused on making sure that I asked great, evocative and information questions. These questions would keep the conversation flowing well. I would try to stay out of the way of the story. “On Topic” is about a story.

My second goal, after ensuring that I’ve prepared the best questions, is to make sure that there’s a story being told. I don’t want to bore my listeners. Boredom doesn’t start conversations. Well, if you’re boring enough, that will start a conversation. That conversation is not worthy of Wright’s Words, though.

When I’m in the studio broadcasting or recording and guiding a conversation, I’m completely ignorant of flow and pace. I have no objectivity when I’m in front of that “hot“ mic. Then, everything seems to move slowly, very slowly.

When I listened to this Gordon Parks conversation, I heard how well it all stuck together. There were good questions and great answers.

I am fresh from the fog of live radio narrative production.

My reflections on the latest “On Topic.”

I finished recording an hour of “On Topic” on Minneapolis’ KFAI radio on Sunday night. That focused on Gordon Parks’ life. It’s so hard to cover the topic of Gordon Parks’ legacy and life lessons in an hour of live radio. There was no post-production, just “hot” mics. There are so many stories from his life, and the nieces’ and nephews’ recollections, that will amuse, inspire and intrigue listeners. The pre-interview process helped me there.

I have not yet listened to what I produced.


The Comparisons...

It’s difficult for me to compete and compare my work to Terry Gross’ “Fresh Air”, Dick Gordon’s “The Story” and Ira Glass’ “This American Life”. They are all on National Public Radio, where I want to do, at least, some work. I haven’t the staff or technical competence or practice to compete with my role models. Should I want that? What I want is to do excellent radio narrative journalism to improve my skills and also have more clips to promote my talent. A former co-worker reminded me of the words of Saturday Night Live’s Stuart Smalley, “compare and despair.”

I am sure that, sometimes, my inquisitive nature gives me a bigger mouth or appetite than that which one hour of live radio will accommodate. Still, “On Topic” is a different program that often has a different editorial standard and objective than those of my role models’ programs.

I’m eager to listen to the latest “On Topic.”

For me to cover any of Gordon Parks’ films, literature, photography, paintings or musical compositions thoroughly, or even just enough to demonstrate respect, is arduous. I would need to have at least fifteen minutes, easily! I would prefer thirty minutes to present a great conversation that is "On Topic."