“Thoughts Aloud” – new Belarusan video social and political journalism

The Internet television project “Thoughts Aloud” revives traditions of journalistic light entertainment.

 It was reported to the EuroBelarus Information Service by the author of the project Alena Papkova.

“Thoughts Aloud” is a short (3-4 min) video monologue of a person on issues worrying him/her.  A resembling project under another name was on at tut.by for a year. And in general, such a format is known since last century. But nowadays no one works in such a genre and Alena Papkova recollected it and decided to try to revive it.

Alena Papkova explains the goal of the creation of the project this way: “In order to show that there are intelligent, interesting people in Belarus, and to give them an opportunity to express their thoughts aloud. In order to give an opportunity to speak to those who can speak and who have something to say.”

Light entertainment isn’t chosen at random. It is not one-hour or half an hour interview, but a short and capacious reel with an urgent subject. It is, probably, the most successful format for Internet television. Though, as a matter of fact, we see only “speaking heads”, you don’t get tired of them at all as you have no time to become bored – a reel lasts for several minutes. And above all, it gives you food for thought.

Within the scope of the project a wide range of subjects is proposed. Speakers are not limited in the choice of subjects and speak on what they consider important and interesting. In the first editions of the project publicist Jauhenij Ahurcou explains why a smile is the higher display of harmony in our life, head of Belarusan Voluntary Cultural and Historical Monuments Preservation Society Anton Astapovich speaks about the role of a personality in the preservation of architectural heritage, literary man Seviaryn Kviatkouski dwells on the meaning of patriotism and the notions “Bulbash” and “a Belarusan”.

It turns out to be a peculiar video social and political journalism.  In its basis there are text essays written beforehand by the heroes of the project. They could have a right to be on the expanses of the Internet but “they would be just texts, but not a heart-to-heart talks. Video is perceived definitely better than text, - explains Alena Papkova. – Initially this project was planned as a heart-to-heart talk with a viewer. When you watch a reel of “Thoughts Aloud” – as if you were sitting with a close friend in the kitchen, drinking tea or coffee, and discussing different problems that worry you. As if speakers were looking straight into your soul. In a text variant it’s impossible to achieve such an effect.”

In new series of the project “Thoughts Aloud” viewers will see politologist Valery Karbalevich, philosophers Volha Shparaha and Andrei Horny. Also head of the Independent Institute of Socio-Economic and Political Studies (IISEPS) Aleh Manaeu and historian Aliaksei Bratachkin promised to say their thoughts aloud.