Topic Refinement

I’d say the pitch exercise definitely helped me to refine my topic and decide upon it. I actually ended up changing my topic completely, as I prepared for my pitch. I came to realize that my topic needed to be an issue relating to the media that has undergone some critical shift over a span of many years. This was a requirement for the episodes on the show I chose, Under the Influence. I didn’t consider this requirement and came to notice therefore that my topic wasn’t suitable for the show I would be emulating. If it wasn't for the pitch assignment, I wouldn't have researched the Under the Influence podcast show so thoroughly and to the extent that I did. By doing so, I came to learn certain things about it that would help me emulate it more closely.
I came up with a topic that I believe I can do more with. I think there is more information available out there on this topic which will be beneficial for the researching aspect of this project. As well, my new topic is so much more interesting to me which is important. I feel more excited to explore this topic, and am eager to learn more about it.
The pitch is a useful pre-writing exercise for other writing assignments. This assignment forced me to pull out the key ideas which I would present in my pitch. I was given the task to make a compelling argument in selling my pitch idea to my produces, and had a very limited time to do so- only a few minutes. This was a challenge because I had to decide what the most important information was to include in my pitch. This is often the way most writing exercises are. Essays for example, are usually assigned with a specific word count or page number to abide by and to do so, you must determine what is relevant versus what is not. The pitch assignment helped me to practice this tool.
My refined show idea is on why brand names have such an effect on people and appeal to them so greatly. This topic is incredibly interesting to me because I am so easily able to relate to it. I very much so love to shop and enjoy brand name products, like clothing and accessories, and I often don’t settle for anything less than a brand name. Why is this so? I am curious to find out how marketing companies can have such an influence on consumers, so much as to get them hooked on brand name products which are typically more costly than generic ones. Many opt for the products which have a label on them, rather than very similar ones which simply do not. This could be for many different reasons and I am excited to determine what they are! I think I will come to learn something about myself and about the world’s population in general, as I research this topic for my podcast episode.