CapeTalk content producers Bruce Hong & Maxine Peters discuss what goes into taking a show to air
A peek behind-the-scenes with the people who make things happen!
Pippa Hudson speaks to Good Morning CapeTalk producer, Bruce Hong and Lunch with Pippa Hudson producer, Maxine Peters.
Listen below:
Have you ever wondered, what does a content producer do?
Content producers have a dual role and are part of the team planning what the host will talk about on air, who will be spoken to, making connections with guests and once the show airs, they are in the producer booth attending to WhatsApp messages, calls, queries and questions from listeners.
Some shows have one, while others have up to three content producers, the number is dependant on how many calls come through during a show, and on the number of hours to be filled.
Hong explains that he's been with CapeTalk since 2001, where he started off as a freelancer... while Peters has 14 years of service with CapeTalk.
But how did these two first get into radio?
For Hong, campus radio at Wits University started his radio journey...
"It was strictly canteen radio, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it immensely. After I graduated from varsity with a BCom degree, and after my first failed interview, I gave 702 a call asking for a slot... and Alan Matthews - who is still with 702 - gave me a shot working at the traffic desk, feeding information to the helicopter."
- Bruce Hong, Good Morning Cape Town - Producer
For Peters, her experience encompasses various radio roles, which ultimately led to the one of content producer...
"I studied Journalism at Pentech and in second year we had to do our in-service training and I got a job offer at the Cape Argus. But then SABC said, 'come work for us'... that was in 1995 and from there, I worked at the SABC for six years as a reporter. Then, I came to Kfm and worked as a news reader for 12 years, left for a while, moved to Botswana for a while, and then came to CapeTalk. Once a week, I would report from Botswana, telling the breakfast show what was happening in Southern Africa, and when I came back I did online publishing for a radio service. Then I heard that CapeTalk was looking for a producer for Pippa Hudson's show and I thought, 'why don't I try that...' and our boss here said, 'yes, why don't you come back?' And that's how I landed back here."
- Maxine Peters, Lunch with Pippa Hudson - Producer
What goes into producing before going on-air?
Hong says the breakfast show has scaled down on interviews, because they want more calls and interactions with listeners.
"We balance the content with fun interviews, which is typically at the start of the show... and then we head into the very serious hard news, which we cover between 7am and 7:30am."
The content team will sit down and ask, "what are the big news items we have to cover for the next day?" while planning for weeks ahead, adds Hong.
"When it comes to what listeners want to know, or something we spot while driving through the City, we'll bring it to the table and discuss it."
"What brings us joy is we bring listeners answers, debunk myths and hear people say 'oh, did you hear this on CapeTalk?'..."
- Bruce Hong, Good Morning Cape Town - Producer
For Peters, she explains that Hudson's show has a lot more features, which means it can be planned in advance, while interacting with listeners... and cover what listeners find interesting and want to hear more of.
"We're looking for specific things. For example, we know that every Friday we need someone to talk about a health issue for a health feature and so we don't have to wait for a big health issue to break... if something does happen, we're able to slot it in but if we need to talk about how to care for your feet, it can be booked to give listeners more information."
- Maxine Peters, Lunch with Pippa Hudson - Producer
In terms of social media, both Hong and Peters say it has changed their jobs 'immensely.'
It often helps a lot for contacting people, Hong explains.
"When I started in radio three decades ago, we didn't have the internet, we had to rely on newspapers, looking at stories to try and track people down and going through telephone directories. Social media has widened things because you're not restricted by newspapers because that's news that's 24 hours old. Social media brings an immediacy and a certain level of competitiveness... everybody is fighting for that same story, immediacy and relevance at the same time, so it's highly competitive because of social media."
- Bruce Hong, Good Morning Cape Town - Producer
What happens when the wheels fall off...
For example, when producers book a guest but they don't show up on time or at all?
Peters explains that after the mini heart attack producers have while presenters are looking to them for answers, they always have to be prepared for the worst by having another content piece ready to go.
And that's a wrap with a moment for radio producers who make things happen!
Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interview.