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. 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. 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.