A media skills club can begin with a few people who want to practise interviewing, recording and telling clear stories. You do not need to promise a finished radio show at the first meeting. Start with a small activity that everyone can complete and discuss together.
This is a general project guide, not an Intsetse FM training programme or an offer of accreditation.
Agree on a manageable first project
Choose a topic that does not require difficult travel or expensive equipment. Members could practise introducing a favourite song without including the recording, describe a public place or interview each other about a hobby.
Set a short time limit for each piece and agree on the audience. Decide whether the work is private practice or intended for publication. Those are different commitments, especially when recordings include other people’s voices.
Rotate the practical roles
Let members try researching, asking questions, recording and reviewing. Someone who does not enjoy presenting may be a careful fact-checker or a helpful organiser. Rotating roles gives the group a better understanding of how a small production team works.
Create a simple shared checklist: names checked, permission discussed, audio listened to and contact details handled appropriately. If young people are involved, organise suitable adult supervision and agree on how recordings will be shared before work begins.
Review work constructively
Ask each listener to identify one clear strength and one specific improvement. “I could not hear the final sentence” is more useful than “the recording was bad.” Give the creator a chance to explain a choice before suggesting a different one.
Keep the next meeting focused on one skill the group wants to improve. Our presenting practice guide and voice-note guide provide starting exercises.
If the group later develops a community story, use the Intsetse FM contact page to ask whether it fits the station’s interests and submission requirements.