What is WHYS?
It’s two things. It’s the name we use to describe the conversation between all the BBC World Service’s news programme and our audience. And it’s a BBC News discussion programme where people around the world set the agenda. We endeavour to use all technology available to us to make the programme as open as possible. We receive phone calls, calls over the net, text messages, emails and comments on our blog. We aim to create a global conversation where the BBC provides the platform, but our contributors control the topics we discuss and how they are discussed.
When does WHYS broadcast?
The programme broadcasts at 1800GMT from October until April, then depending where you are in the world at 1700GMT or 1800GMT between April and October.
Is WHYS always live?
Yes. We may sometimes run pre-recorded discussions if it has proved impossible for them to take place during our hour on air. This doesn’t happen very often. If it does, there will always be time after we’ve played these discussions for you to comment.
How can I listen?
A good place to find an answer is the BBC World Service website. If you can’t receive the BBC on the radio, you can always listen online. Some television services also provide BBC World Service.
How do the people we hear on WHYS get on air?
WHYS often gets mistaken for straight phone-in where we go on air, mention a topic and people call in. It’s a bit more complicated than that. There are lots of ways people end up on the programme. Here are all the ones we can think of.
1. They phone the show while we’re on air.
2. They text or email the show while we’re on air, and we reply asking if they’d like to speak to us.
3. They text or email the show while we’re on air and give their phone number and we ring them back.
4. They post on a debate on bbcnews.com and leave their phone number. One of the WHYS team gives them a ring and invites them on to the show.
5. The same as No.4, but they get in touch through our blog.
6. Subscribers to the WHYS Daily Email often reply saying they want to take part and give their phone number.
7. We get in touch with people who have taken part in discussions related to that day’s subject if we think they would like contribute.
8. We get in touch with people with experiences that may give them a view or insight into that day’s subject and invite them on.
How do stories get on WHYS?
The whole WHYS team sits down at around 1100GMT (if you’d like to join us on the phone let us know). We talk through story suggestions we’ve received from listeners, we make suggestions ourselves, and we monitor the stories which are being discussed the most online. We also check which stories on bbcnews.com are being read the most and commented on the most. We then discuss which stories and issues warrant a place in the programmes running order. No story will make the show unless the person suggesting it (whether listener or WHYS staff) can prove it is of global interest.
How do I pitch a story to WHYS?
Get in touch with us and make your case. If it’s a possibility, we’ll discuss it and we’ll post it on the blog to see if everyone else wants to talk about. If the answer is yes, then it’ll make the show.
You can email worldhaveyoursay@bbc.co.uk, post at http://www.worldhaveyoursay.com or call the office on country 44 20 7557 0635. We’re in the office from mid-morning to mid-evening UK time.
How often does WHYS go on the road?
Quite often in recent times, but there’s no hard and fast rule. In 2007, we went to India, America (four times), South Africa, Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and France. We’ve no idea what 2008 will bring.
How do you choose where you go when you’re on the road?
There are a few different reasons why we leave the studio in London.
1. The most common is that there’s an editorial reason to visit somewhere. For instance when we broadcast from the South Africa Zimbabwe border, or when we went to Amsterdam to discuss a proposed ban on the burkha.
2. The BBC is increasingly seeking to reach new audiences with the help of re-broadcast partners. For instance, in Oregon people can hear us on OPB. Sometimes we want to visit partner stations either to continue an on-going relationship or to start one.
3. We get invited to take the show somewhere. For instance, twice in 2007 we were asked to take the show to major radio conferences in the States. It’s important to us to discuss our work with fellow radio professionals around the world. Doing a show in front of them gives us a fantastic opportunity to get some constructive criticism from people who know plenty about making great radio programmes. It also helps us tell them about what we’re doing.
Who presents WHYS and when?
Ros Atkins presents on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays, and a number of presenters including Peter Dobbie and Chloe Tilley present the show on a Wednesday.
How many people work on WHYS?
We have an editor (Mark Sandell), a presenter and five producers.
Where is the WHYS studio?
It’s in the south-east wing of Bush House, which is just by Covent Garden in the West End of London.
How long has WHYS been around?
Our first show was on October 31 2005.
Are you related to the other ‘Have Your Say’ programmes?
Yes we are. The BBC wants to provide a number of platforms for what it calls ‘the global conversation’. Part of this is our programme, Have Your Say (which broadcasts on TV and radio), the Have Your Say section of bbcnews.com and Africa Have Your Say. There are also Have Your Say programmes produced by the BBC World Service’s language services. All that said, the editorial agenda of all the different programmes are not intertwined. We go our own way on that front.
Why are the phone lines so bad?
Well we’d like to think they aren’t most of the time, but we do sometimes have problems especially when speaking to those of you in Africa. Sometimes we have to abandon a call because of the quality of the line. Sometimes though we will persevere if we are hearing from someone in a place where we have trouble speaking to people. So if we get a call from Afghanistan we’re more likely to tolerate a poor quality phone line than we would if it was a call from the States.
Your questions
In February 2008, some of you sent us questions about the show which we did our best to answer. You read them all here.
@1700 GMT
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Hi Guys,
Just wanted to congratulate you on a great program. I have only just discovered your show (shame on me!) and until recently listened in on Medium Wave. However, having battled with three other radio stations interfering with the frequency, I treated myself to a DAB radio last week. A real joy to hear you in digital stereo!
I prefer to just listen rather than contribute to the show. However, it is very interesting listening to differences of opinion from around the world on the same subject. It’s funny how we are all human, yet interpret an issue in a different way.
Many thanks; keep up the good work.
Jason.
PS. The new website is very good. Much easier to navigate than the earlier version!
i have never listened to world have your say….but i read the whys daily email….
I didnt realize Copenhagen was burning! I have visited Sweden and Denmark many times between 1999 to 2000 and I could see that one day an explosion would occur betweeen the Danes(and Swedes) and the immigrants. I am black and I was treated well…as exotic. I didnt like it but I prefered that to how the USA treats blacks(I was invisible).
I know the Scandinavians are liberal and well-meaning but they do not understand the Muslims. I am highly-educated and I understand the concept”freedom of speech” but most Muslims just dont understand that concept.
Sorry, Scandinavians…. you meant well when you took these people in but they and you are miles apart.
Sorry Muslims…. the Danes dont mean to offend you… No way to bridge the cultural divide! In fact, one day we are going to have a World War over religion and cultural differences! This is just the tip of the iceberg.
Issues such as democracy vs theocracy, male-female relationships, sex, which religion is right, art….. plus oil, water, food….
Hi guys!
I have been listening the BBC for a long time now. A long time, eh.I’m only 20. More recently I learnt of WHYS in the radio and when I started listening It was hard to miss. I was compelled to stay awake till 9.30pm East African time shortly after listening your Somali service. I acquinated with myself with WHYS team especially Ros Atkins as they engage listeners across the globe in constructive debate. As for Ros, he has was asking me where I listen after including me in his Daily Email list. I normally tune in from my home town Mandera in Norh-Eastern Province of Kenya, but don’t be amazed if you find me listening in the capital, Nairobi or perhaps across the border in Baidoa, Somalia.
I prefer taking part in the show through email or the blog. I am a quiet and shy person only when I write do I express my true feelings. I fought with stage fright in high school journalism and dramatic clubs which interestingly, I founded. This doesn’t mean I wont make direct phone contacts. To tickle much I want to be a BBC correspondent. Thank you WHYS team and the rest in London for setting the pace in this age of open news.
hi ros, i will like to be a blogger taking part in most of yuor programmes when i’m available, how can i become blogger? then i will also like to take part in the live programme through the phone line, my telephone nuumber is (00232-76-619-943) i will realy appreciate it if you can get me on the air, also i will want you to submit to me the topics of discussions today. thanks
royston.
hi ros, in the area of the increase in price of food and other essential commodities like petroleum products, i will advice the west,i.e. ( the developed indusrial economies) to continue to increase subsidies to their farmers, because when the west have more than enough for their people, they are generous and compassionate to help we the under priviledge who dont understand what is happening in the global stage, because at the moment, the increase demand for bio-fuels is one of the factors of the major increase of food price, and the neglect african government and even the indegines are giving agriculture and the agro-industry are also a major components,because look for example in my country Sierra Leone, you see able bodied people who can plant and produce food for themselves and families, live their villages or towns come to major cities parading the streets of these major cities with business in their hands worth less than three(3) U.S. dollars. some of these people need to be sensitized about the importance of agriculture, not only as a self sufficient means, but a tool of poverty alleviation to improved standard of living for their very selves.
Royston Roberts
Hello WHYS,
To put it mildly, I am a BBC addict and Have Your Say listener resident in Bamenda, the English-speaking North West Province of Cameroon. I eloped with the BBC after graduating from the Anglo-Saxon University of Buea in November 2004 and when I had this professional stint with a Medical Supplier firm in Bamenda, my brazen quest for news and information led me to the BBC. God willing a partnership accord was signed between your broadcasting service and our Ministry of Communications which led to the establishment of an FM relay station in our metropolis.
I obtained membership into the Have Your Say contributor’s list in November 2005 and since then I have not relented in making my views known on issues which capture my interest. At home when my radio set is not tuned to the BBC then it must be off. At the job site my cell phone battery constantly run down because I listen to the BBC all the time.
The BBC means so much to me as it enlightens and gives me that sense of magnaminity to view the world as one global village. I read Business Mangement in the University but my appetite for news tells me I choose the wrong career path. I feel the field of journalism is my preserve.
However, I do not rule out the possibility of strutting my stuff with a microphone and recorder someday.
Freemasonry within the NHS is a concern to me as a health care provider.
I have seen 1st hand patient harm investigations covered up.
Anaesthetic records with factual details omitted that should have been documented.
All anaesthetics should have computerized print outs so ommisions of effects of the drugs administered can not be left out …especially when the effects cause harm such as cerebral bleeding.
I have witnessed repeat offenders go on and cause the same problems time and time again ….the public would have no legal recourse because of the ommisions in a court of law.
As an update to the section , “Are you related to the other ‘Have Your Say’ programmes?” Have Your Say (which broadcasts on TV and radio) is no longer on the air.
I hope it will come back soon.
I find it interesting to get your wide news coverage. I would like to continue to receive worldwide news as they help me to pray here in our monastery. Continue to inform us of your news
Simeon
hi WHYS
i live in the coastal part of kenya and i always listen to ur show and it is realy intrestig i congratulate you guys your the best
Hi Ros and Partners (as we usually say in Kampala),
I love your show, I said i love your show. And if loving your show is wrong, i don’t wanna be right! I have been listening to it for over a year and it’s a powerful example of what voice (over)media can be. Two thumbs up guys!
i live in kenya and i was listening ur programe for the last 3 months and i love it. i just wanna say, u guys are the bomb! and sometimes talk bout somali and please show them how important is to live peacefully and if u can invite those who are so called leaders and let the world see how selfish they are. thnx keep it up bbc team
Hey my name is on the above i 21yrs live in Somalia and very hapy to share idea in the world, just near one yrs listening ur’s and very interesing ur news.
so I want to tell u that Somalia needs to become peiceful countery and u WHYS is to help Somali youths becouse if the old geys become ignorent you have to take idea the young generations and built their morel and send their adies around the world so the and the Somalians it self recognise to share idea the teanagers. so if you invite our leaders let us to share and ask them what we need and what they need us.
Thanks alot WHYS.
Hey guys,
It is so amazing to share with you the WHYs BBCWorld have your say which i came to know as of today. I am a regular bbc world service listener living in south sudan and let me says iam really excitted having found this programme today.
may be one more question, can you tell me where moarine ankhamode sorry,there should be missed spellings) who was a bbc focus on africa news presenter because i could not hear voice nowadays. if you could first tell me where she is before i interact with guys in this programme.
kindest regards!
Deng francis is south sudanese in upper nile state, Malakal.
Hello!
I have wondered for quite a time why the BBC bothers to keep contacts the world over - it must be very time consuming and distracting from the regular engagements and duties of the broadcaster.
I seem to have got an idea while reading your blog. Still it is an immense undertaking to have the world have its say. It is even awe-inspiring. Thank you.
although i disagree with the on-air editing process, which usually cuts what i write so that the context is lost, the program is very interesting. at least the blog allows me to present my whole opinion. i would recommend any new contributor to mark their words very carefully, lest the on-air editors present them in a misconstrued manner.
that said, ros and the rest of the on air moderators do a very good job of keeping the discussions even handed and balanced.