Talk of the Nation

KSFC, Monday-Thursday, 11am-1pm
Repeats 10pm-midnight (no call in)

Coming up on Talk of the Nation:

GET YOUR QUESTIONS TO THE CANDIDATES RIGHT NOW!
Currently, you can post your questions online prior to the debate, as well as see what other's are asking. Log on to:
NPR.org/debate to get started.
Talk of the Nation ® links the headlines with what's on people's minds, providing a springboard for listeners and experts to exchange ideas and pose critical questions about major events in the news and the world around them. Each day, Talk of the Nation combines the award-winning resources of NPR News with the vital participation of listeners. The result is a spirited and productive exchange of knowledge and insight that delves deeply into the news and ideas of the day.

An award-winning journalist, host Neal Conan brings 25 years of news and radio experience to the show, which reaches more than 2.2 million listeners a week.

Conan is familiar to listeners from his long involvement with NPR as a division-wide reporter and editor for NPR News, anchoring of NPR live events coverage, and work hosting NPR's Weekly Edition: The Best of NPR News.

Conan's awards include the 1987 Armstrong Award for his coverage of U.S. military actions in the Persian Gulf and two Citations of Excellence from the Overseas Press Club (for his 1972 reporting on Northern Ireland and for 1980 coverage of events in Afghanistan). During his tenure as producer and executive producer of All Things Considered, the show won numerous awards, including the Washington Journalism Review's Best in the Business Award.

How to participate on Talk of the Nation

Every weekday, the phones at NPR’s Talk of the Nation ring for two hours straight, with people across the country eager to give their opinions, comments, or ask questions of the day’s panelists. As they answer calls, TOTN producers Susan Lund, CeCe Modupe Fadope, Setsuko Sato, and Devin Robins have only a few moments to decide if a call should be sent to the studio and put on the air. Here are a few of the key points they look for in the calls they screen.

Before You Call:

• Listen to the program from the beginning. That way, you’ll be sure to have a question or comment that hasn’t been on the air yet.

• Don’t call until the host reads the introduction and the guest and issues are presented. Screeners clear the lines of callers who ring up before the show has begun.

• Have a specific idea or question that you can articulate concisely. If you are vague, ramble, or can’t explain your point to the screener, you won’t make it to the host.

• Be conversational. Aim for comments that contribute to the discourse, i.e. “I disagree with Professor Donaldson’s point because….” Steer away from general statements about an issue.

• Don’t just tell a story - use it to make a comment. For a recent program on travel snafus, callers phoned in with their travel horror stories. Those who made it on the air had comments based on their stories.

• Don’t forget to give the screener your first name and the city and state from which you are calling.

Now what?

• Don’t ask if you are on the air, or if anyone can hear you. If you heard your name, you have the spotlight - take it away!

• Start your comment with “hello,” then jump right into your question or comment.

• Keep your comments directed at the host, in-studio guests, and on-air discussion. Refrain from commenting on what a previous caller has said. Without the other caller on the line, you can’t debate your point with him or her.

• Have one point. If you have several, the national audience may have a hard time keeping all your questions and comments straight.

• If you plan to hang up after giving your comment or question, let the host know by concluding with, “I’ll listen to your answer off the air.”

Why Despite Doing All Of This You May Not Make it on the Air

Sad but true - not everyone has a place at the table each show. Because TOTN is a national show, screeners have to select a variety of callers -- individuals with different viewpoints and from different areas of the country. If several callers from your area have already been on the air, or your perspectives were voiced by another caller, you may not be selected. Time restrictions may prevent your call from being accepted, too. Don’t take it personally!

The Special Exception: TOTN Book Club of the Air Programs

On the third Thursday of each month, the TOTN Book Club of the Air meets. The TOTN host and a literary aficionado discuss a selected book with several callers at one time. While the general guidelines about what makes a good caller still apply, the groundrules are a little different on book club days. Here are a few book club hints:

• Read the book! And make sure you’ve read it within the last few months.

• Have a point or question to contribute to the ongoing discussion. (Don’t call just to talk to the book buddy!)

• Once on the air, identify yourself every time you start to speak (“This is Mark - and I’d like to know …”). And be sure to address the fellow callers -- not just the host or book buddy. It’s a book club meeting -- don’t forget to talk to your fellow book club members!

• Expect to remain on the air for about ten minutes, to allow you to engage in the ongoing book discussion.

• When you are on the air, speak up and contribute. Participate in the conversation going on around you -- don’t be shy!