A group of SIUC students have thrown their hat into the talk-show ring by creating a television program stressing diversity on the University’s campus.

Essence of Soul, is a talk-show from the African-American point of view, Ronnivashti Whitehead, the shows producer, said..

Whitehead said she decided to do an African-American oriented show because Student Programming Council and the campus needed diversity.

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First of all, this is my own experience, she said. Second, there were few programs that focused on the African-American experience on campus.

The show is usually taped once a month and aired three times for a one week. Every show focuses on a different theme. The topic of the first show this semester, which ran Sept. 24, was female and male relationships.

But the show is not trying to copy Riki Lake or Oprah, Christi Harber, host of the show, said

We wanted to do something different, she said. We do not want to slander people or make people feel bad.

We encourage constructive interaction between the panelists and the audience.

Whitehead said the program is structured like a professional show with many elements going into the final project. First she and other members of the talk show brainstorm to find a topic for discussion. They then do research on the subject.

Whitehead said since she knows much of the faculty in Black American Studies, she has no problem finding panelist who are experts on the topic the talk show chooses to discuss.

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The show is usually taped in three 17-minute segments. After taping the show they edit the show and add music and credits.

If nothing goes wrong during the taping, then we usually spend little time in the editing process, she said . So far we have been pretty lucky.

Alphonso Johnson, camera operator for the show, said everyone on the show works together well, and they are seeing increased potential.

The show has and will grow steadily, he said. We are doing a great job considering how young we are to be starting our own show.

Johnson, a sophomore in radio-television from Chicago, said the work he is doing on the show is helping him with his future.

I am getting good experience and building a resume, he said.

Whitehead said she is not sure when the next show will be, but there will be fliers and advertisements soon. The tapings take place in the video lounge on the fourth floor of the Student Center. Everyone is invited to be an audience member.