Brief summary of activity
Participants will be asked to form opinions on specific topics and to present arguments to support their opinions.
Aim of the activity
Learning to debate and discuss when part of a panel discussion or playing devil’s advocate in an interview
Expected Outcomes
At the end of this activity, participants would know how to:
- Express a point of view when a guest in a panel discussion
- Playing devil’s advocate in an interview
- Make my opinion understood
- Understand what their opponents think
- Understand the other guests’ arguments
Experience and skills required
Facilitation skills. Some knowledge of regulations and media law to advise participants on their comments if required.
Infrastructure, setting, resources
Large room of length of at least 5 meters or an outside space of the same dimensions.
Length
Minimum 30 minutes
Material
Tape or rope ( or chalk if outdoors ), signs/boards marked “yes”, “no”, “undecided”
How the activity should take place
Create relevant and controversial questions or topics (should the music archive be separated into good and bad music sections? Is everyone allowed to choose their own music? is it okay to play band “xy” without any comment? On community radio, is any music okay?
Draw a red line across the room (or if you cannot draw, place a cable or rope) the middle of that line is to be marked as “undecided”, one end is to be marked as “yes” and the other as “no”. (Or you can ask participants to move to the left of the room if the answer is Yes, to the right if the answer is no, or move to the middle of the room if undecided)
Ask the relevant question/topic and ask the participants to position themselves on the line (or in the room) according to their answer/opinion.
After everyone has taking their position they have to reason why they are “for/against/undecided”
Then a debate is to take place
Therefore the participants in opposite groups would present their arguments. So the groups are standing face to face and are debating back and forth their arguments, and during the discussion they might decide to change sides.
Recommended max. number of participants and trainees to trainers ratio
At least 6 participants per trainer (4 vision impaired/blind trainees or participants with learning difficulties per trainer)
Variations
Some comments or arguments could not agree with regulations, media law or ethos of community radio. Trainer should be prepared to react promptly if required.
Tips for Trainers
- Trainers do not take part they just moderate the procedure
- Ensure that all participants take a position and reason it (if not, trainers would have to split the debate into a part where participants have to reason their positions and the other part where they discuss them
- Ensure all participants are taking part
- Introduce some comments on relation to media law and regulations that might apply to their arguments (if there is a balance and fair reporting regulation in place, presenters should play devil’s advocate)
Analysis and evaluation
Have they learn to listen to each other?
How clearly have they express their opinion?
Do they know what is admissible and what is not according to law, regulations and ethos governing community radio?
Scheduling
Any time