IT'S NOT EASY EVALUATING A TALK SHOW

ThinkTech is always looking to improve production values for its talk shows.  We want to make our hosts look and sound great, and we and our editors work hard at that.  We review our shows in Content Committee meetings every two weeks.  We rate the shows numerically and subjectively to get a handle on whether they meet production standards, and we often write or call hosts to let them know how they are doing and how they can improve their shows.

But there's something else, too.  It's the track of the show, beginning with the choice of the subject and the selection of the title and tagline for the show,  and then writing up the descriptions on what they will want to talk about, the takeaway they hope to give their viewers, and the keywords they will post to make it easier for people to find their shows.

There is, of course, the track, i.e., the logical progression of the show.  We want them to think about that before and find the best way to develop the content as the discussion unfolds.  It's an art form, a way to move among the points they want to make, to educate and keep viewers interested.  If viewers leave, it's not a successful show.  We want them to stay, learn and follow the discussion.  That's a successful show.

We review these shows with those things in mind.  And we want our hosts and guests to conduct their discussion with these expectations and goals in mind.  At the same time, we hope our viewers will watch these shows with those same things in mind.  We know our viewers can and do vote with their feet by not coming back to a series they didn't like or by leaving a show that isn't interesting to them.

But you can help.  You can write comments on YouTube.  Not insults or improprieties, but remarks that help hosts and guests know whether you liked the way they conducted the discussion, and how they can do a better job next time.  This is really helpful to them, and to us as producers.  So if you watch our shows, even just once in a while, please post your comments on YouTube.  We take them seriously.  By helping us improve the content, you'll be helping us better serve our collective community.

 ThinkTech, appreciating your viewership and feedback.




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