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Producing a radio soap for preventing conflict

There are plenty of books, manuals and websites on how to write soaps for social development, for agricultural extension, or to raise HIV/AIDS awareness. Several of these have been important in the development of this manual , but until now nothing has described how to go about producing a radio soap which tackles violent conflict in a positive way; a radio soap designed to reduce tensions and to bring people together. This manual tries to fill that gap within a clear and logical framework, to go from the idea to the finished product. It is divided into two parts; I. A Project Manager’s Manual, an introduction to and discussion of the practicalities (basic issues such as preparation, budgets, contracts and production) II. Training, a practical manual designed for the trainer and the scriptwriters of the soap for conflict prevention/resolution. Produced by SFCG in collaboration with Health Communication Resources, Perth, Australia (for more information on HCR see Part II of the manual). This manual has been written to help those with little or no experience of radio soap opera, but it certainly doesn’t describe the only way of doing things. But Search for Common Ground believes strongly in creative approaches to dealing with issues and with projects, so this is a guide not a blueprint. In fact it would probably be a mistake to try and follow what it says word for word. Much of what is written here is the result of trial and error, of testing an idea in a real situation, and as your soap opera progresses you may well think of or discover other, better, and more imaginative or creative ways of dealing with the problems and issues which present themselves. We hope that you will tell us you experiences and help us improve this manual for others. And finally, don’t forget that radio drama is an art which demands hard work and creative flair. Don’t be put off by those words, but if your soap opera doesn’t have integrity, if it doesn’t reflect real emotions and passions then it won’t succeed in helping to promote change. As writer/trainer/producer Turan Ali says, there are no shortcuts to creating powerful, original drama that really speaks to your audience. Such drama tells rich, resonant, universally relevant stories which explore the world as it is lived by the audience. The story is everything. There are no foolproof recipes or twenty easy to follow steps to create real quality and truth in drama; but there are tried and trusted elements and theories which give you the raw materials from which great drama is crafted. [ ] What we can’t help you with will be described as “creative judgements”. These are the moments when you work as an artist; beware anyone telling you what your “creative judgements” should be. Source: Radio for Peace Building Africa.

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