Straight Talk – London Mayoral Elections: People or Politics?

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:30 in Discussion Forums

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Where: Dialogue Society, 402 Holloway Road, N7 6PZ, London
Date: 10 April 2012
Time: 19:30-21:30
With: Siobhan Benita, Independent Mayoral Candidate
Krishnan Guru-Murthy, Channel 4 News Presenter and Journalist

Abstract
Biography of Siobhan Benita
Biography of Krishnan Guru-Murthy
Objective
Target Audience
Methodology
Format
News

Abstract

This new series of programmes will probe urgent contemporary issues in an interview format. It is called Straight Talk for a reason: an expert will face direct, searching questions from a seasoned interviewer.

Questions and answers together will help frame the issue and open it up for the audience to debate further.

Through Straight Talk the Dialogue Society aims to provide a platform for experts and opinion-makers to have their say, provided they are willing to be challenged by the interviewer and by the audience.

Biography of Siobhan Benita

Siobhan Benita is standing as an independent candidate in the 2012 London Mayoral election. As an independent candidate, she provides an alternative to the traditional candidates and believes that the Mayor of London should represent people, not politics.

Siobhan joined the Civil Service in 1996 as a graduate “fast streamer”, leading to a career working at the heart of Government for over 15 years. As a senior official in the Cabinet Office she led major projects across Government and worked with ministers and officials at the highest levels.

Siobhan left her post in Whitehall, most recently in the Department of Health, in January 2012 to run in the 2012 London Mayoral election.

Biography of Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Krishnan Guru-Murthy is a Channel 4 News reporter and journalist. He has been working in broadcast journalism for over 20 years after his first appearance on BBC's DEF II programme Open to Question in 1988. He went on to present, report and produce a variety of programmes from Newsround to Newsnight.

Since joining Channel 4 in 1998 he has fronted big events from the Omagh bombing and 9/11 to special war coverage and the Mumbai attacks. Having covered five British general elections he does special political shows for Channel 4 such as the "Ask the Chancellors" debate. Krishnan also shares his thoughts on current affairs on Gurublog.

Objective:

The Dialogue Society Straight Talk series will:

Facilitate an engaging and expansive platform which will offer an opportunity for speakers and members of the audience to enter into a constructive and critical dialogue about important and sometimes controversial issues.
Offer an opportunity to explore and tackle problematic issues through open and transparent dialogue
Provide an opportunity for the public to put forward their concerns to professionals in the discussed field
Open new areas for thought and research

Target Audience:

General Public
Academics and researchers
Think Tanks
Press
Students and others interested in current affairs

Methodology:

The Straight Talk series will operate through a series of sessions. The sessions will include an interview conducted by a prominent journalist that has related interests to the field discussed. The interviewee(s) will be well-known within the discussed field and will be questioned on their perspectives and research.

Session leaders will be professionals engaged in media in a variety of capacities and consequently able to give valuable insights into the discussed topic. Participants will be able to enter into discussion with speakers during the Q and A session following the interview and over refreshments afterwards.

Format:

The sessions will be held in the evening, during weekdays and are expected to attract an audience of between 20 and 50 participants.

The sessions will follow a probing interview format with an interviewer and interviewee(s).The programme will commence with a networking opportunity over refreshments followed by a 45 minute Straight Talk interview and 35 minute Q and A.