Media Dossier Workshop: Focus Groups

Objective: Refine your project pitch by presenting it to a small focus group of peers, gaining insights through targeted questions, and improving clarity, persuasiveness, and cultural relevance.

Instructions:

1. Initial Pitch Drafting (20 minutes):
• Develop Your Pitch: Begin by drafting a rough version of your 5-minute pitch. Focus on the core aspects of your project: the concept, target audience, cultural relevance, and why your project should be greenlit.
• Supporting Visuals: Create any supporting visuals (e.g., slides, images, or mockups) that will help convey your ideas effectively during the pitch.
2. Form Focus Groups (5 minutes):
• Break into Groups: Form groups of four students. Each group will function as a mini focus group, providing feedback on each member's pitch.
3. Preparing Focus Group Questions (15 minutes):
• Develop Questions: Before presenting, each student should develop a series of 3-5 questions that they want the focus group to answer after hearing their pitch. These questions should aim to:
• Gauge clarity: "Was the main idea of my pitch clear and easy to understand?"
• Assess persuasiveness: "Did you feel convinced that this project has potential? Why or why not?"
• Evaluate cultural relevance: "Do you think this project effectively addresses cultural nuances? What could be improved?"
• Gather constructive feedback: "What elements of the pitch could be refined or expanded?"
• Guidelines for Good Questions:
• Be Specific: Avoid vague questions; instead, ask for feedback on particular aspects of your pitch.
• Be Open-Ended: Encourage detailed responses rather than yes/no answers.
• Focus on Improvement: Frame questions to identify areas for refinement, not just praise.
4. Pitch Presentation & Focus Group (40 minutes):
• Present Your Pitch: Each student presents their pitch to the group, using their visuals to support their ideas. Keep it to 5 minutes.
• Conduct the Focus Group: After each pitch, the presenter asks their prepared questions, and the group provides feedback. Each group member should offer specific, constructive responses to help the presenter refine their pitch.
5. Group Discussion & Feedback (15 minutes):
• Collaborative Analysis: After all pitches have been presented, engage in a group discussion about common themes or challenges identified during the focus groups. Share insights and suggestions that might help everyone improve their pitches.
6. Final Reflection (10 minutes):
• Journal Entry: Reflect on the feedback you received during the focus group. Write about how your pitch has evolved as a result of this exercise, what you learned about presenting ideas, and how you plan to further refine your pitch before the final submission.