Alice Worsley - Going Live

Going Live by Jenny Haworth

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a talkback host when the calls don't come? From nine to noon, Alice Worsley, with her co-host Martin Crump, sit behind the mike of Radio Pacific waiting for calls. The subject matter is wide open and callers can give their opinions on whatever moves them to call in. "We bait hooks first at the beginning of the show, hoping to find the topics the public will want to talk about." She adds, "We are dependent on the listeners making the programme and so we are flying by the seats of our pants."

To fulfil the role of a talkback host requires considerable mental agility, one that comes from a long career in broadcasting. Since Alice started in 1975 with Radio Taranaki, she has had many roles in broadcasting and even three and half years on Prime TV hosting an advertorial lifestyle programme. "I have had a great variety of roles - everything from nine to noon on 1ZB to working on the midnight to dawn show with Radio Pacific."

Alice had no wish to become a talkback host, but she has come to see its value. "It's a place where people can vent their spleen if they are angry, but more importantly it brings out what New Zealanders are thinking about the issues of the day. Politicians have become very interested in talkback radio because they can gauge what people are thinking. Sometimes people just want to share memories. For instance we have recently discussed memories of the Napier earthquake and of Opo, the friendly dolphin, which played with the swimmers in Opononi 50 years ago."

Such programmes require research. Alice is well primed for the programme as she appears briefly on John Banks's Breakfast Show reading the news and "adding a feminine touch to his programme". She also reads at least two newspapers, watches TV news and searches the Internet for what is current and of concern.

"I feel such programmes make a tremendous contribution in dealing with issues that affect us all and enable us to see more than one point of view. We try to concentrate on the positive and treat all our callers with respect. Anyone who is prepared to ring us is entitled to that."

Author details:
Jenny Haworth, Freelance Journalist and Writer, 03 354 3456
Email: jjhaworth@xtra.co.nz

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