Schools QT - a success?
I'll be honest - Schools Question Time can be a bit of a pain.
It's a huge amount of extra work for everyone involved, way beyond the call of duty, full of hassle, etc etc. And it's risky for programme makers to give away a bit of their control.
And when I said in the last blog that I was worried about whether we'd find a suitable Joe Public panelist, aged between 18 and 25 - well, I really meant it.
So if I say there's a feeling of relief, it's not just because it's all over (arggh - we've ) - but because all the worries turned out to be totally unjustified and the response from all those involved, as well as the viewing audience, was truly inspirational.
Four young people, shortlisted for the job, appeared on a mini Question Time () to decide which one should do the real thing. All four were terrific and could have done the job.
But the winner, Matt Pollard, was amazing. Cool and confident, but not cocky; knowledgeable without sounding nerdy; politely combative. We could not have asked for more - he carried off the surrounding media interviews with the seasoned assurance of a pro (at least, once he realised he didn't have to answer the Telegraph's question about girlfriends...). A star is born. Even if he has to return to his summer job of being a waiter, it can only stand him in great stead for the future.
So thanks, Matt - and Gareth, Sarah and Louise - and of course the eight teenagers who helped produced the programme, as well as the thousands of others earlier in the challenge, who used the Question Time format in their lessons and in local events - for turning one of those high-ideal-sounding ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ objectives ("engaging young people in citizenship and politics") into an excellent programme which exuded their enthusiasm and engagement...
O God, here we go again...
Comments
I thought Matt was excellent. But if someone who has a natural flair like this doesn't want to go into politics, isn't a celebrity, and doesn't want to go into the media, what way is there for them to maintain a public profile? It's a bit of a failing in our society.
I'm 23 and have long sat watching Question Time wishing that someone would make sense …
The politicians stick rigidly to party lines and would swear that black is white until the sun finally implodes and everyone on earth breaths their last! There are then the populist panellists that make tabloid comments just to receive the adulation of the baying mob that is the Question Time audience! I exaggerate for effect – there are some panellists that are very good value – but you will understand what I am driving at.
Then last week, finally there was a bloke that talked some common sense! I’m not saying that I agreed with every word that Matt said, but it was so refreshing to hear someone speak who could express his opinion with clarity and without trying to pander or to stick to an untenable position.
I very much enjoy Question Time but also hope that they can find a way to build on this success in the future. It would be very interesting to see if development of the format (possibly using members of the public) could lead to even more informative television.
Ric
Have you any idea how snide and sneery the opening of your entry reads?
"I'll be honest - Schools Question Time can be a bit of a pain."
"It's a huge amount of extra work for everyone involved, way beyond the call of duty, full of hassle, etc etc."
I'm sure there are many hundreds of producers who would love to be responsible for the only opportunity many citizens get to question and challenge their poltical leaders and equally who would relish and delight in empowering the generation who least likely to engage in party poltics.
Maybe if you dislike it as much as your post suggests it's time for a job change?
Indeed - a brilliant programme!
Matt was brilliant, also!
Great to see the issue of Votes at 16 coming up in the programme as well as stories going on in the news.
What was particularly noticable was the amount of points raised from the audience concerning the Iraq War - obviously a very passionate topic to young people! (Shame the Government didn't listen to us though wasn't it?)
Looking forward to the next School's edition! It's hard work, yes, but it's certainly rewarding don't you think?
The approach to this Question time did rather highlight a problem that seems to have crept up on the programme. Apparently the panel-v-public format has engendered some misapprehensions, since the appearance of the young panellist was trailed as being a unique opportunity for a "member of the public" to be on the panel. How did it come about that anyone got the idea that most of the usual panellists are anything other than "members of the public"? Perhaps a change of format is needed?
I found your first couple of paragraphs a bit surprising. It sounded like an attempt to connect with the people out there, who don't enjoy their job, but do it anyway, because of the money or commitment or whatever.
Or if you genuinely think that school QT was a pain why tell the whole world? Looking for sympathy? I just don't get it.
Congratulations to Matt, he was very good.
To the people complaining above, don't be so dramatic. All Ric is doing is being honest and i'd rather that than some spiel about how much he'd been looking forward to it (and I think his reasons are pretty understandable).
I am not going to suger-coat it just because this edition was done by high school students. The pictures jumped about a bit too much, I actually started feeling a bit nauseous half way into the show.
Matt's words really inspired me. If only the leaders of today would pay more attention to the youth like Matt. Maybe they would learn a thing or two!
I would really like to know how to get in to contact with Matt. And to know whether he has a website or is interested in creating a youth movement that can have somekind of influence on politics and the media.
inspirational? pull the other one! He was just ticking over, playing down time hoping that it would all end soon! The young lad had nothing to say of any worth for god's sake! I was expecting a bit of a debate, a bit of punch n judy from the "young panellist" but all he did was agree with everybody! bad tv. if he was told to be bland by bbc executives then shame on the bbc, and if he was being like that out of choice, then shame on the bbc again for choosing him. it was a real let down. and a "youth movement"? schools need to be targeted just as question time did with this, not by creating a silly movement which will not reach out to people at all because it is run by the same old types of kids that will always be interested in politics!