A talk, not to be confused with a talk show -- a style of radio program that will be reviewed later in this module -- is a short, scripted story or commentary usually presented by the writer and based on personal experience, observation or analysis. It is often a personal account of the impact of an issue or event in someone's life. It may also be an opinion statement about a political, ethical or moral issue.
Talks can be used to highlight the impact of an issue on individuals or spark discussion on a topic. Generally, they are about two minutes long.
Structure of a Talk
An effective radio talk uses storytelling techniques to grab the listeners' attention and help them identify with an issue or experience. These techniques include:
A clear compelling introduction to hook the listener
Painting pictures with words so that the listener can imagine what is being described
A friendly, personal tone - not a patronizing or preachy tone - to make the listener feel the speaker is talking especially to her
Suspense, twists and surprises
Programs that use Talks
The following programs use talks to supplement or lead into stories:
Magazine programs
Talk shows
A news program may sometimes include a personal commentary about a current event or issue, but other kinds of talks do not usually appear in news shows.
These are the several types of formats that can appear in radio programs.
Participants